Malicious DLL Execution via Wuauclt Update Handler (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218System Binary Proxy Execution
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects wuauclt.exe invoked with UpdateDeploymentProvider and RunHandlerComServer arguments, which loads an attacker DLL through the Windows Update client, a signed-binary proxy technique. Wuauclt abuse is a defense-evasion technique tracked in the Red Canary Threat Detection Report. Detecting this invocation surfaces trusted-binary DLL loading.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious DLL Execution via Wuauclt Update Handler (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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