MITRE ATT&CK Technique
Execution
T1569.003
Description
Adversaries may abuse systemctl to execute commands or programs. Systemctl is the primary interface for systemd, the Linux init system and service manager. Typically invoked from a shell, Systemctl can also be integrated into scripts or applications. Adversaries may use systemctl to execute commands or programs as [Systemd Service](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/002)s. Common subcommands include: `systemctl start`, `systemctl stop`, `systemctl enable`, `systemctl disable`, and `systemctl status`.(Citation: Red Hat Systemctl 2022)
Supported Platforms
Linux
Created
April 29, 2026
Last Updated
April 29, 2026
STIX Data
{'created': '2025-03-18T13:44:12.618Z',
'created_by_ref': 'identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5',
'description': 'Adversaries may abuse systemctl to execute commands or '
'programs. Systemctl is the primary interface for systemd, the '
'Linux init system and service manager. Typically invoked from '
'a shell, Systemctl can also be integrated into scripts or '
'applications. \n'
'\n'
'Adversaries may use systemctl to execute commands or programs '
'as [Systemd '
'Service](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1543/002)s. '
'Common subcommands include: `systemctl start`, `systemctl '
'stop`, `systemctl enable`, `systemctl disable`, and '
'`systemctl status`.(Citation: Red Hat Systemctl 2022)',
'external_references': [{'external_id': 'T1569.003',
'source_name': 'mitre-attack',
'url': 'https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1569/003'},
{'description': 'Damon Garn. (2022, May 17). How to '
'use systemctl to manage Linux '
'services. Retrieved March 18, 2025.',
'source_name': 'Red Hat Systemctl 2022',
'url': 'https://www.redhat.com/en/blog/linux-systemctl-manage-services'}],
'id': 'attack-pattern--4b46767d-4a61-4f30-995e-c19a75c2e536',
'kill_chain_phases': [{'kill_chain_name': 'mitre-attack',
'phase_name': 'execution'}],
'modified': '2025-04-15T19:58:28.694Z',
'name': 'Systemctl',
'object_marking_refs': ['marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168'],
'revoked': False,
'spec_version': '2.1',
'type': 'attack-pattern',
'x_mitre_attack_spec_version': '3.2.0',
'x_mitre_deprecated': False,
'x_mitre_detection': '',
'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'],
'x_mitre_remote_support': False,
'x_mitre_version': '1.0'}