{
  "type": "attack-pattern",
  "spec_version": "2.1",
  "id": "attack-pattern--2acf44aa-542f-4366-b4eb-55ef5747759c",
  "created": "2019-12-03T14:25:00.538Z",
  "created_by_ref": "identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5",
  "revoked": false,
  "external_references": [
    {
      "source_name": "mitre-attack",
      "url": "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1053/003",
      "external_id": "T1053.003"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "CloudSEK ESXiArgs 2023",
      "description": "Mehardeep Singh Sawhney. (2023, February 9). Analysis of Files Used in ESXiArgs Ransomware Attack Against VMware ESXi Servers. Retrieved March 26, 2025.",
      "url": "https://www.cloudsek.com/blog/analysis-of-files-used-in-esxiargs-ransomware-attack-against-vmware-esxi-servers"
    },
    {
      "source_name": "20 macOS Common Tools and Techniques",
      "description": "Phil Stokes. (2021, February 16). 20 Common Tools & Techniques Used by macOS Threat Actors & Malware. Retrieved August 23, 2021.",
      "url": "https://labs.sentinelone.com/20-common-tools-techniques-used-by-macos-threat-actors-malware/"
    }
  ],
  "object_marking_refs": [
    "marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168"
  ],
  "modified": "2025-10-24T17:48:33.856Z",
  "name": "Cron",
  "description": "Adversaries may abuse the <code>cron</code> utility to perform task scheduling for initial or recurring execution of malicious code.(Citation: 20 macOS Common Tools and Techniques) The <code>cron</code> utility is a time-based job scheduler for Unix-like operating systems.  The <code> crontab</code> file contains the schedule of cron entries to be run and the specified times for execution. Any <code>crontab</code> files are stored in operating system-specific file paths.\n\nAn adversary may use <code>cron</code> in Linux or Unix environments to execute programs at system startup or on a scheduled basis for [Persistence](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0003). In ESXi environments, cron jobs must be created directly via the crontab file (e.g., `/var/spool/cron/crontabs/root`).(Citation: CloudSEK ESXiArgs 2023)",
  "kill_chain_phases": [
    {
      "kill_chain_name": "mitre-attack",
      "phase_name": "execution"
    },
    {
      "kill_chain_name": "mitre-attack",
      "phase_name": "persistence"
    },
    {
      "kill_chain_name": "mitre-attack",
      "phase_name": "privilege-escalation"
    }
  ],
  "x_mitre_attack_spec_version": "3.2.0",
  "x_mitre_deprecated": false,
  "x_mitre_domains": [
    "enterprise-attack"
  ],
  "x_mitre_is_subtechnique": true,
  "x_mitre_modified_by_ref": "identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5",
  "x_mitre_platforms": [
    "Linux",
    "macOS",
    "ESXi"
  ],
  "x_mitre_version": "1.3"
}