Malicious PlugX DLL Side-Loading via LMIGuardianSvc from SamsungDriver Directory (via process_creation)

PremiumReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
HuntRule
Published
2026-06-12
Updated
2026-08-28

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 legitimate LMIGuardianSvc binary executing from a SamsungDriver directory created by Mustang Panda to side-load PlugX. The signed binary search-order loads a malicious LMIGuardianDll from this attacker-controlled path. Running this LogMeIn component from a non-standard user directory is anomalous.

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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.