Malicious Cobalt Strike Loader via rundll32 From ProgramData (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218.011Rundll32
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects rundll32.exe executing a DLL from the ProgramData directory using the DllRegisterServer export, the Cobalt Strike loading pattern seen in a LockBit 3.0 intrusion. Legitimate DLLs are rarely staged in ProgramData and run this way. Proxying a beacon through a signed binary from a writable path enables stealthy command-and-control ahead of ransomware deployment.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Cobalt Strike Loader via rundll32 From ProgramData (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1218.011 · 9 related

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