---
title: Scheduled Task Execution at Scale via GPO
description: Detects the modification of Group Policy Object attributes to execute a scheduled task in the objects controlled by the GPO. Rule type: eql Rule indices:...
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/security/prebuilt-rules/rules/windows/privilege_escalation_group_policy_scheduled_task
products:
  - Elastic Security
---

# Scheduled Task Execution at Scale via GPO
Detects the modification of Group Policy Object attributes to execute a scheduled task in the objects controlled by the
GPO.
**Rule type**: eql
**Rule indices**:
- logs-system.security*
- logs-windows.forwarded*
- winlogbeat-*

**Rule Severity**: medium
**Risk Score**: 47
**Runs every**: 
**Searches indices from**: ``
**Maximum alerts per execution**: 100
**References**:
- [[https://github.com/atc-project/atc-data/blob/master/docs/Logging_Policies/LP_0025_windows_audit_directory_service_changes.md](https://github.com/atc-project/atc-data/blob/master/docs/Logging_Policies/LP_0025_windows_audit_directory_service_changes.md)](https://github.com/atc-project/atc-data/blob/master/docs/Logging_Policies/LP_0025_windows_audit_directory_service_changes.md)
- [[https://github.com/atc-project/atc-data/blob/f2bbb51ecf68e2c9f488e3c70dcdd3df51d2a46b/docs/Logging_Policies/LP_0029_windows_audit_detailed_file_share.md](https://github.com/atc-project/atc-data/blob/f2bbb51ecf68e2c9f488e3c70dcdd3df51d2a46b/docs/Logging_Policies/LP_0029_windows_audit_detailed_file_share.md)](https://github.com/atc-project/atc-data/blob/f2bbb51ecf68e2c9f488e3c70dcdd3df51d2a46b/docs/Logging_Policies/LP_0029_windows_audit_detailed_file_share.md)
- [[https://github.com/ReversecLabs/SharpGPOAbuse](https://github.com/ReversecLabs/SharpGPOAbuse)](https://github.com/ReversecLabs/SharpGPOAbuse)
- [[https://twitter.com/menasec1/status/1106899890377052160](https://twitter.com/menasec1/status/1106899890377052160)](https://twitter.com/menasec1/status/1106899890377052160)
- [[https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_gpo_scheduledtasks.yml](https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_gpo_scheduledtasks.yml)](https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_gpo_scheduledtasks.yml)

**Tags**:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Windows
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Privilege Escalation
- Tactic: Lateral Movement
- Data Source: Active Directory
- Resources: Investigation Guide
- Use Case: Active Directory Monitoring
- Data Source: Windows Security Event Logs
- Noise: Low
- Performance: Normal
- Rule Type: Event Correlation (EQL)
- Platform: Windows

**Version**: 217
**Rule authors**:
- Elastic

**Rule license**: Elastic License v2

## Setup

The following Windows audit policies must be enabled to generate the events used by this rule:
- [Audit Directory Service Changes](https://ela.st/audit-directory-service-changes)
- [Audit Detailed File Share](https://ela.st/audit-detailed-file-share)


## Investigation guide


## Triage and analysis


### Investigating Scheduled Task Execution at Scale via GPO

Group Policy Objects (GPOs) can be used by attackers to execute scheduled tasks at scale to compromise objects controlled by a given GPO. This is done by changing the contents of the `<GPOPath>\Machine\Preferences\ScheduledTasks\ScheduledTasks.xml` file.

#### Possible investigation steps

- This attack abuses a legitimate mechanism of Active Directory, so it is important to determine whether the activity is legitimate and the administrator is authorized to perform this operation.
- Retrieve the contents of the `ScheduledTasks.xml` file, and check the `<Command>` and `<Arguments>` XML tags for any potentially malicious commands or binaries.
- Investigate other alerts associated with the user/host during the past 48 hours.
- Scope which objects may be compromised by retrieving information about which objects are controlled by the GPO.


### False positive analysis

- Verify if the execution is allowed and done under change management, and if the execution is legitimate.


### Related rules

- Group Policy Abuse for Privilege Addition - b9554892-5e0e-424b-83a0-5aef95aa43bf
- Startup/Logon Script added to Group Policy Object - 16fac1a1-21ee-4ca6-b720-458e3855d046


### Response and remediation

- Initiate the incident response process based on the outcome of the triage.
- The investigation and containment must be performed in every computer controlled by the GPO, where necessary.
- Remove the script from the GPO.
- Check if other GPOs have suspicious scheduled tasks attached.
- Determine the initial vector abused by the attacker and take action to prevent reinfection through the same vector.
- Using the incident response data, update logging and audit policies to improve the mean time to detect (MTTD) and the mean time to respond (MTTR).


## Rule Query

```eql
any where host.os.type == "windows" and event.code in ("5136", "5145") and
(
  (
    winlog.event_data.AttributeLDAPDisplayName : (
      "gPCMachineExtensionNames",
      "gPCUserExtensionNames"
    ) and
    winlog.event_data.AttributeValue : "*CAB54552-DEEA-4691-817E-ED4A4D1AFC72*" and
    winlog.event_data.AttributeValue : "*AADCED64-746C-4633-A97C-D61349046527*"
  ) or
  (
    winlog.event_data.ShareName : "\\\\*\\SYSVOL" and
    winlog.event_data.RelativeTargetName : "*ScheduledTasks.xml" and
    winlog.event_data.AccessList:"*%%4417*"
  )
)
```

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Privilege Escalation
  - Id: TA0004
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0004/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Scheduled Task/Job
  - Id: T1053
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/)
- Sub Technique:
  - Name: Scheduled Task
  - Id: T1053.005
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/005/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/005/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/005/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Domain or Tenant Policy Modification
  - Id: T1484
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1484/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1484/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1484/)
- Sub Technique:
  - Name: Group Policy Modification
  - Id: T1484.001
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1484/001/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1484/001/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1484/001/)

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Lateral Movement
  - Id: TA0008
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0008/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Lateral Tool Transfer
  - Id: T1570
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1570/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1570/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1570/)