Malicious LockBit Rundll32 Execution With gdll Export and -pass Argument

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion → Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218.011Rundll32
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
- T1486Data Encrypted for Impact

What it detects

This rule detects rundll32.exe invoking a DLL export named gdll together with a -pass argument, the loader pattern used by LockBit 3.0 payloads staged from a batch file on the user Desktop. Huntress observed operators abusing a TeamViewer session to drop and run this payload for ransomware deployment. Catching the export and password-flag combination flags encryptor execution before file encryption completes.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218.011 — drag to rearrange

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Suspicious Rundll32 Execution Without a DLL Reference via Process Creation (via process_creation)

Suspicious WebDAV Retrieval via rundll32 and davclnt.dll (via process_creation)

Suspicious Rundll32 Execution with Latrodectus Loader Exports (via process_creation)

Suspicious Rundll32 Execution with IcedID Loader Export (via process_creation)

Malicious Scheduled Task Running rundll32 w32analytics (via process_creation)

Suspicious StrelaStealer DLL Execution via Rundll32 Hello Export from Temp (via process_creation)

Malicious LockBit Rundll32 Execution With gdll Export and -pass Argument

Pivot detection · T1218.011 · 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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