> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cortex-docs.paloaltonetworks.com/analytics-alerts/alerts-by-name/uncommon-signed-process-execution-by-scheduled-task.md).

# Uncommon signed process execution by scheduled task

### Synopsis

| Field                | Value                      |
| -------------------- | -------------------------- |
| Activation Period    | 14 Days                    |
| Training Period      | 30 Days                    |
| Test Period          | N/A (single event)         |
| Deduplication Period | 1 Day                      |
| Required Data        | XDR Agent                  |
| Detector Tags        | Scheduled tasks Analytics  |
| ATT\&CK Tactic       | Persistence (TA0003)       |
| ATT\&CK Technique    | Scheduled Task/Job (T1053) |
| Severity             | Informational              |

### Description

An uncommon process was executed by a scheduled task.

### Attacker's Goals

Attackers may attempt to gain persistence, privilege escalation or proxy execution on the endpoint using scheduled tasks.

### Investigative actions

* Review the process executed by the schedule task.
* Investigate the specific scheduled task execution chain.
* Check if the vendor is known in the organization for creating scheduled tasks to execute his product.

### Variations

<details>

<summary>Uncommon Microsoft signed process execution by scheduled task</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                      |
| ----------------- | -------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003)       |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Scheduled Task/Job (T1053) |
| Severity          | Informational              |

**Description**

An uncommon process was executed by a scheduled task.

**Attacker's Goals**

Attackers may attempt to gain persistence, privilege escalation or proxy execution on the endpoint using scheduled tasks.

**Investigative actions**

* Review the process executed by the schedule task.
* Investigate the specific scheduled task execution chain.
* Check if the vendor is known in the organization for creating scheduled tasks to execute his product.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Uncommon signed process execution by scheduled task on a sensitive server</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                      |
| ----------------- | -------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003)       |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Scheduled Task/Job (T1053) |
| Severity          | Low                        |

**Description**

An uncommon process was executed by a scheduled task.

**Attacker's Goals**

Attackers may attempt to gain persistence, privilege escalation or proxy execution on the endpoint using scheduled tasks.

**Investigative actions**

* Review the process executed by the schedule task.
* Investigate the specific scheduled task execution chain.
* Check if the vendor is known in the organization for creating scheduled tasks to execute his product.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Rare signed process execution by scheduled task</summary>

**Synopsis**

| Field             | Value                      |
| ----------------- | -------------------------- |
| ATT\&CK Tactic    | Persistence (TA0003)       |
| ATT\&CK Technique | Scheduled Task/Job (T1053) |
| Severity          | Low                        |

**Description**

A rare process was executed by a scheduled task.

**Attacker's Goals**

Attackers may attempt to gain persistence, privilege escalation or proxy execution on the endpoint using scheduled tasks.

**Investigative actions**

* Review the process executed by the schedule task.
* Investigate the specific scheduled task execution chain.
* Check if the vendor is known in the organization for creating scheduled tasks to execute his product.

</details>


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