Threaticon
Toggle sidebar

You're viewing a limited, public preview. Log in for full access.

Log in User Guide
Log in Get started
Attack Patterns T1036.004 — Masquerade Task or Service
T1036.004

Masquerade Task or Service

Stealth
TLP:CLEAR

Description

Adversaries may attempt to manipulate the name of a task or service to make it appear legitimate or benign. Tasks/services executed by the Task Scheduler or systemd will typically be given a name and/or description.(Citation: TechNet Schtasks)(Citation: Systemd Service Units) Windows services will have a service name as well as a display name. Many benign tasks and services exist that have commonly associated names. Adversaries may give tasks or services names that are similar or identical to those of legitimate ones. Tasks or services contain other fields, such as a description, that adversaries may attempt to make appear legitimate.(Citation: Palo Alto Shamoon Nov 2016)(Citation: Fysbis Dr Web Analysis)

MITRE ATT&CK Detection Strategies
1

DET0117 Detection of Masqueraded Tasks or Services with Suspicious Naming and Execution
AN0324 Windows

Creation or modification of Windows services or scheduled tasks with names or descriptions mimicking legitimate entries, followed by anomalous execution of untrusted binaries or LOLBAS.

WinEventLog:System WinEventLog:Security WinEventLog:Sysmon
AN0325 Linux

Creation or modification of `systemd` service units or cron jobs using deceptive naming and untrusted command paths, often followed by lateral network activity or privilege escalation.

auditd:CONFIG_CHANGE linux:osquery linux:cron
AN0326 macOS

Creation of LaunchAgents or LaunchDaemons with names resembling known system services but executing non-Apple signed code or scripts.

fs:fileevents macos:endpointsecurity macos:unifiedlog

Details

Platforms
Linux
Macos
Windows
Added
May 2, 2026
Leaving Threaticon

This link opens an external site that isn't part of the platform.