Malicious PlugX DLL Sideloading via CEFHelper from RECYCLER.BIN

ATT&CK techniques

Initial Access → Lateral Movement

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
- T1091Replication Through Removable Media
Execution
- T1574.001DLL
Persistence
- T1574.001DLL
Priv Esc
- T1574.001DLL
Defense Evasion
- T1574.001DLL
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
- T1091Replication Through Removable Media
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the PlugX loader CEFHelper.exe running from a hidden RECYCLER.BIN directory on a USB or local volume. The worm sideloads its payload DLL through this renamed helper stored in a fake recycle bin folder to evade inspection.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1574.001 — drag to rearrange

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Malicious PlugX DLL Sideloading via CEFHelper from RECYCLER.BIN

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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