Possible Initial Access through DLL Search Order Hijacking (via file_event)

title: Possible Initial Access through DLL Search Order Hijacking (via file_event)
id: adbe92ee-9c0a-53c7-8a94-9315c54b8632
status: stable
description: This rule detects attempts to create a DLL file to a known desktop application dependencies folder such as Slack, Teams or OneDrive and by an unusual process. This may indicate an attempt to load a hostile module via DLL search order hijacking.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/001/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/001/
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1566/
    - https://github.com/elastic/protections-artifacts/commit/746086721fd385d9f5c6647cada1788db4aea95f#diff-5d46dd4ac6866b4337ec126be8cee0e115467b3e8703794ba6f6df6432c806bc
    - https://posts.specterops.io/automating-dll-hijack-discovery-81c4295904b0
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-04-11
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1566
    - attack.t1566.001
    - attack.initial-access
    - attack.t1574
    - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: file_event
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\winword.exe'
            - '\excel.exe'
            - '\powerpnt.exe'
            - '\MSACCESS.EXE'
            - '\MSPUB.EXE'
            - '\fltldr.exe'
            - '\cmd.exe'
            - '\certutil.exe'
            - '\mshta.exe'
            - '\cscript.exe'
            - '\wscript.exe'
            - '\curl.exe'
            - '\powershell.exe'
            - '\pwsh.exe'
        TargetFilename|endswith: '.dll'
        TargetFilename|contains|all:
            - '\Users\'
            - '\AppData\'
        TargetFilename|contains:
            - '\Microsoft\OneDrive\'
            - '\Microsoft OneDrive\'
            - '\Microsoft\Teams\'
            - '\Local\slack\app-'
            - '\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\'
    filter:
        Image|endswith: '\cmd.exe'
        TargetFilename|contains|all:
            - '\Users\'
            - '\AppData\'
            - '\Microsoft\OneDrive\'
            - '\api-ms-win-core-'
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium