Malicious Storm-2561 DLL Sideloading via Fake Pulse Secure Directory (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 DLL sideloading where dwmapi.dll or inspector.dll is loaded from a fake Pulse Secure directory under Common Files, the execution technique used by Storm-2561 to run credential-stealing code under a trusted-looking VPN process. The inspector.dll payload then reads the connectionstore.dat credential store, so loading these modules from the planted directory reveals active theft of VPN and stored credentials.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Storm-2561 DLL Sideloading via Fake Pulse Secure Directory (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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