Malicious Khmer Shadow DLL Sideloading via VMwareNamespaceCmd Loading vmtools (via image_load)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1574.001DLL
Persistence
- T1574.001DLL
Priv Esc
- T1574.001DLL
Defense Evasion
- T1574.001DLL
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the signed VMwareNamespaceCmd binary loading a vmtools DLL from outside the trusted VMware install path, the side-loading behavior used to run the Khmer Shadow loader against Cambodian government entities. Adversaries drop a malicious vmtools.dll beside a relocated VMware binary to execute under a trusted process. Loads originating outside Program Files expose the sideloaded implant.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Khmer Shadow DLL Sideloading via VMwareNamespaceCmd Loading vmtools (via image_load)

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.

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