Scheduled Task Hide

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Id	6dd2629c-534b-4275-8201-d7968b4fa77e
Rulename	Scheduled Task Hide
Description	This query detects attempts by malware to hide the scheduled task by deleting the SD (Security Descriptor) value. Removal of SD value results in the scheduled task disappearing from schtasks /query and Task Scheduler. The query requires auditing to be turned on for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree registry hive as well as audit policy for registry auditing to be turned on. Reference: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/04/12/tarrask-malware-uses-scheduled-tasks-for-defense-evasion/ Reference: https://4sysops.com/archives/audit-changes-in-the-windows-registry/
Severity	High
Tactics	DefenseEvasion
Techniques	T1562
Required data connectors	SecurityEvents WindowsSecurityEvents
Kind	Scheduled
Query frequency	1d
Query period	1d
Trigger threshold	0
Trigger operator	gt
Source Uri	https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Windows Security Events/Analytic Rules/ScheduleTaskHide.yaml
Version	1.0.0
Arm template	6dd2629c-534b-4275-8201-d7968b4fa77e.json

KQL

SecurityEvent
| where EventID == 4657
| extend EventData = parse_xml(EventData).EventData.Data
| mv-expand bagexpansion=array EventData
| evaluate bag_unpack(EventData)
| extend Key = tostring(column_ifexists('@Name', "")), Value = column_ifexists('#text', "")
| evaluate pivot(Key, any(Value), TimeGenerated, TargetAccount, Computer, EventSourceName, Channel, Task, Level, EventID, Activity, TargetLogonId, SourceComputerId, EventOriginId, Type, _ResourceId, TenantId, SourceSystem, ManagementGroupName, IpAddress, Account)
| extend ObjectName = column_ifexists('ObjectName', ""), OperationType = column_ifexists('OperationType', ""), ObjectValueName = column_ifexists('ObjectValueName', "")
| where ObjectName has 'Schedule\\TaskCache\\Tree' and ObjectValueName == "SD" and OperationType == "%%1906"  // %%1906 - Registry value deleted
| extend timestamp = TimeGenerated, HostCustomEntity = Computer, AccountCustomEntity = Account

YAML

queryFrequency: 1d
triggerOperator: gt
tactics:
- DefenseEvasion
description: |
  'This query detects attempts by malware to hide the scheduled task by deleting the SD (Security Descriptor) value. Removal of SD value results in the scheduled task disappearing from schtasks /query and Task Scheduler.
   The query requires auditing to be turned on for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree registry hive as well as audit policy for registry auditing to be turned on.
   Reference: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/04/12/tarrask-malware-uses-scheduled-tasks-for-defense-evasion/
   Reference: https://4sysops.com/archives/audit-changes-in-the-windows-registry/'  
status: Available
relevantTechniques:
- T1562
name: Scheduled Task Hide
OriginalUri: https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Windows Security Events/Analytic Rules/ScheduleTaskHide.yaml
severity: High
triggerThreshold: 0
version: 1.0.0
entityMappings:
- entityType: Account
  fieldMappings:
  - identifier: FullName
    columnName: AccountCustomEntity
- entityType: Host
  fieldMappings:
  - identifier: FullName
    columnName: HostCustomEntity
tags:
- Tarrask
id: 6dd2629c-534b-4275-8201-d7968b4fa77e
requiredDataConnectors:
- connectorId: SecurityEvents
  dataTypes:
  - SecurityEvent
- connectorId: WindowsSecurityEvents
  dataTypes:
  - SecurityEvent
kind: Scheduled
query: |
  SecurityEvent
  | where EventID == 4657
  | extend EventData = parse_xml(EventData).EventData.Data
  | mv-expand bagexpansion=array EventData
  | evaluate bag_unpack(EventData)
  | extend Key = tostring(column_ifexists('@Name', "")), Value = column_ifexists('#text', "")
  | evaluate pivot(Key, any(Value), TimeGenerated, TargetAccount, Computer, EventSourceName, Channel, Task, Level, EventID, Activity, TargetLogonId, SourceComputerId, EventOriginId, Type, _ResourceId, TenantId, SourceSystem, ManagementGroupName, IpAddress, Account)
  | extend ObjectName = column_ifexists('ObjectName', ""), OperationType = column_ifexists('OperationType', ""), ObjectValueName = column_ifexists('ObjectValueName', "")
  | where ObjectName has 'Schedule\\TaskCache\\Tree' and ObjectValueName == "SD" and OperationType == "%%1906"  // %%1906 - Registry value deleted
  | extend timestamp = TimeGenerated, HostCustomEntity = Computer, AccountCustomEntity = Account  
queryPeriod: 1d

ARM

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "parameters": {
    "workspace": {
      "type": "String"
    }
  },
  "resources": [
    {
      "id": "[concat(resourceId('Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers', parameters('workspace'), 'Microsoft.SecurityInsights'),'/alertRules/6dd2629c-534b-4275-8201-d7968b4fa77e')]",
      "name": "[concat(parameters('workspace'),'/Microsoft.SecurityInsights/6dd2629c-534b-4275-8201-d7968b4fa77e')]",
      "type": "Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers/alertRules",
      "kind": "Scheduled",
      "apiVersion": "2022-11-01",
      "properties": {
        "displayName": "Scheduled Task Hide",
        "description": "'This query detects attempts by malware to hide the scheduled task by deleting the SD (Security Descriptor) value. Removal of SD value results in the scheduled task disappearing from schtasks /query and Task Scheduler.\n The query requires auditing to be turned on for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows NT\\CurrentVersion\\Schedule\\TaskCache\\Tree registry hive as well as audit policy for registry auditing to be turned on.\n Reference: https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2022/04/12/tarrask-malware-uses-scheduled-tasks-for-defense-evasion/\n Reference: https://4sysops.com/archives/audit-changes-in-the-windows-registry/'\n",
        "severity": "High",
        "enabled": true,
        "query": "SecurityEvent\n| where EventID == 4657\n| extend EventData = parse_xml(EventData).EventData.Data\n| mv-expand bagexpansion=array EventData\n| evaluate bag_unpack(EventData)\n| extend Key = tostring(column_ifexists('@Name', \"\")), Value = column_ifexists('#text', \"\")\n| evaluate pivot(Key, any(Value), TimeGenerated, TargetAccount, Computer, EventSourceName, Channel, Task, Level, EventID, Activity, TargetLogonId, SourceComputerId, EventOriginId, Type, _ResourceId, TenantId, SourceSystem, ManagementGroupName, IpAddress, Account)\n| extend ObjectName = column_ifexists('ObjectName', \"\"), OperationType = column_ifexists('OperationType', \"\"), ObjectValueName = column_ifexists('ObjectValueName', \"\")\n| where ObjectName has 'Schedule\\\\TaskCache\\\\Tree' and ObjectValueName == \"SD\" and OperationType == \"%%1906\"  // %%1906 - Registry value deleted\n| extend timestamp = TimeGenerated, HostCustomEntity = Computer, AccountCustomEntity = Account\n",
        "queryFrequency": "P1D",
        "queryPeriod": "P1D",
        "triggerOperator": "GreaterThan",
        "triggerThreshold": 0,
        "suppressionDuration": "PT1H",
        "suppressionEnabled": false,
        "tactics": [
          "DefenseEvasion"
        ],
        "techniques": [
          "T1562"
        ],
        "alertRuleTemplateName": "6dd2629c-534b-4275-8201-d7968b4fa77e",
        "customDetails": null,
        "entityMappings": [
          {
            "entityType": "Account",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "identifier": "FullName",
                "columnName": "AccountCustomEntity"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "entityType": "Host",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "identifier": "FullName",
                "columnName": "HostCustomEntity"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "OriginalUri": "https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/Windows Security Events/Analytic Rules/ScheduleTaskHide.yaml",
        "status": "Available",
        "tags": [
          "Tarrask"
        ],
        "templateVersion": "1.0.0"
      }
    }
  ]
}