Malicious Gh0st RAT DLL Side-Loading via wsc_proxy Loading wsc.dll (via image_load)

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
image_load
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-10-18
Updated
2026-10-18

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion
  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the signed helper wsc_proxy.exe loading a wsc.dll module, the DLL side-loading chain abused by impersonation campaigns distributing Gh0st RAT. Adversaries drop a malicious wsc.dll beside the trusted loader so the payload runs under a benign process, evading endpoint defenses and establishing covert execution.

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Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 9 related

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