Windows Scheduled Tasks for CompMgmtLauncher or Eventvwr

Description

The following analytic detects the creation or modification of Windows Scheduled Tasks related to CompMgmtLauncher or Eventvwr. These legitimate system utilities, used for launching the Computer Management Console and Event Viewer, can be abused by attackers to execute malicious payloads under the guise of normal system processes. By leveraging these tasks, adversaries can establish persistence or elevate privileges without raising suspicion. This detection helps security analysts identify unusual or unauthorized scheduled tasks involving these executables, allowing for timely investigation and remediation of potential threats.

Query · spl

`wineventlog_security` EventCode=4698 TaskContent = "*<Command>C:\\Windows\\System32\\CompMgmtLauncher.exe</Command>*" OR TaskContent = "*<Command>C:\\Windows\\System32\\zh-CN\\eventvwr.msc</Command>*" OR TaskContent = "*<Command>C:\\Windows\\System32\\eventvwr.msc</Command>*" | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by dest action EventData_Xml TaskContent TaskName | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_scheduled_tasks_for_compmgmtlauncher_or_eventvwr_filter`

Implementation guide

To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting Windows Security Event Logs with 4698 EventCode enabled. The Windows TA as well as the URL ToolBox application are also required.

Known false positives

  • No false positives have been identified at this time.

Analyst notes

Known false positives: No false positives have been identified at this time.

Raw source Windows Scheduled Tasks for CompMgmtLauncher or Eventvwr · SPL
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Published by splunk/security_content ↗, licensed under Apache 2.0 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified. 
name: Windows Scheduled Tasks for CompMgmtLauncher or Eventvwr
id: feb43b86-8c38-46cd-865e-20ce8a96c26c
version: 11
creation_date: '2024-09-18'
modification_date: '2026-05-13'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: TTP
description: The following analytic detects the creation or modification of Windows Scheduled Tasks related to CompMgmtLauncher or Eventvwr. These legitimate system utilities, used for launching the Computer Management Console and Event Viewer, can be abused by attackers to execute malicious payloads under the guise of normal system processes. By leveraging these tasks, adversaries can establish persistence or elevate privileges without raising suspicion. This detection helps security analysts identify unusual or unauthorized scheduled tasks involving these executables, allowing for timely investigation and remediation of potential threats.
data_source:
    - Windows Event Log Security 4698
search: '`wineventlog_security` EventCode=4698 TaskContent = "*<Command>C:\\Windows\\System32\\CompMgmtLauncher.exe</Command>*" OR TaskContent = "*<Command>C:\\Windows\\System32\\zh-CN\\eventvwr.msc</Command>*" OR TaskContent = "*<Command>C:\\Windows\\System32\\eventvwr.msc</Command>*" | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime by dest action EventData_Xml TaskContent TaskName | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)` | `windows_scheduled_tasks_for_compmgmtlauncher_or_eventvwr_filter`'
how_to_implement: To successfully implement this search, you need to be ingesting Windows Security Event Logs with 4698 EventCode enabled. The Windows TA as well as the URL ToolBox application are also required.
known_false_positives: No false positives have been identified at this time.
references:
    - https://www.proofpoint.com/us/blog/threat-insight/chinese-malware-appears-earnest-across-cybercrime-threat-landscape
    - https://www.fortinet.com/blog/threat-research/valleyrat-campaign-targeting-chinese-speakers
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$") | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: 7d
      latest_offset: "0"
finding:
    title: A schedule task created for CompMgmtLauncher or Eventvwr on [$dest$].
    entity:
        field: dest
        type: system
        score: 50
analytic_story:
    - ValleyRAT
    - Water Gamayun
asset_type: Endpoint
mitre_attack_id:
    - T1053
product:
    - Splunk Enterprise
    - Splunk Enterprise Security
    - Splunk Cloud
category: endpoint
security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1053/valleyrat_schedtask/valleyrat_schedtask.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Security
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog
      test_type: unit

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