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MediumSplunk security contentRaven Tait +1

Windows Scheduled Task Created in a Group Policy Object

When a scheduled task is created within a Group Policy, a characteristic file ScheduledTasks.xml with its definition is created in the respective subfolder of the SYSVOL share. This rule can hit on legitimate GPO…

Description

When a scheduled task is created within a Group Policy, a characteristic file ScheduledTasks.xml with its definition is created in the respective subfolder of the SYSVOL share. This rule can hit on legitimate GPO scheduled task creation, but this does not happen often and is therefore an effective way to monitor for malicious scheduled tasks.

Detection logic

Detection requirements

Platform
Windows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.

Log source category
windows_event_log_security_5145

Known benign triggers

  • Some legitimate scheduled tasks are occasionally created via Group Policy Objects in managed environments. Filter alerts for approved GPO deployments to reduce false positives.

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