T1569.001: Launchctl

View on MITRE ATT&CK T1569.001
Tactic(s) Execution

Data from MITRE ATT&CK®:

Adversaries may abuse launchctl to execute commands or programs. Launchctl interfaces with launchd, the service management framework for macOS. Launchctl supports taking subcommands on the command-line, interactively, or even redirected from standard input.(Citation: Launchctl Man)

Adversaries use launchctl to execute commands and programs as Launch Agents or Launch Daemons. Common subcommands include: launchctl load,launchctl unload, and launchctl start. Adversaries can use scripts or manually run the commands launchctl load -w "%s/Library/LaunchAgents/%s" or /bin/launchctl load to execute Launch Agents or Launch Daemons.(Citation: Sofacy Komplex Trojan)(Citation: 20 macOS Common Tools and Techniques)

© 2024 The MITRE Corporation. This work is reproduced and distributed with the permission of The MITRE Corporation.

Cyber Threat Graph Context

Explore how this ATT&CK Technique relates to the wider threat graph

Mitigations for this technique

MITRE ATT&CK Mitigations

How to detect this technique

MITRE ATT&CK Data Components

Control Validation Tests for this Technique

Use Atomic Red Team tests to test your defenses against this technique.

SP800-53 Controls

See which controls can help protect against this MITRE ATT&CK technique. This is based on mappings to associated SP800-53 controls produced by the MITRE Engenuity Center for Threat-Informed Defense.