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 linkedT1486 — drag to rearrange

Possible Akira Ransomware Note or Encrypted Extension Creation

Malicious Storm-2603 Ransom Note File Creation

Possible Ransomware Note or Encrypted File Extension Creation

Malicious Rundll32 Loading an Export From a User Path (via process_creation)

Renamed Regsvr32 or Rundll32 Loading a DLL With a Non-Standard Extension (via process_creation)

BitLocker Feature Activation on Multiple Hosts - Native (via bitlocker)

FunkSec Ransomware Encryption Artifacts via funksec Extension and Markdown Ransom Note (via file_event)

Malicious Rundll32 DllRegisterServer Execution From a User-Writable Path (via process_creation)

IMEEX Framework DLL Execution via Rundll32 Loading imaadp (via process_creation)

Malicious LockBit Rundll32 Execution With gdll Export and -pass Argument

Pivot detection · T1486 · 9 related

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