Windows DLL Side-Loading: OleView loading aclui.dll
Alerts on OleView.exe loading aclui.dll on Windows, excluding common benign paths to highlight potential DLL side-loading.
FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5
- Product
- windows
- Category
- image_load
- Author
- Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2024-07-31
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags Windows processes where OleView.exe loads a DLL named aclui.dll. Such DLL side-loading can be used to execute attacker-controlled code by forcing a trusted loader to load an unexpected library. The detection relies on image load telemetry indicating the loaded DLL path and the originating executable path, with exclusions for common legitimate OleView locations and signed OleView binaries.
Reporting behind it
- research.checkpoint.comhttps://research.checkpoint.com/2024/raspberry-robin-keeps-riding-the-wave-of-endless-1-days/
- globetech.bizhttps://globetech.biz/index.php/2023/05/19/evading-edr-by-dll-sideloading-in-csharp/
- decoded.avast.iohttps://decoded.avast.io/threatintel/apt-treasure-trove-avast-suspects-chinese-apt-group-mustang-panda-is-collecting-data-from-burmese-government-agencies-and-opposition-groups/
- hexacorn.comhttps://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2016/03/10/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-36/
- strontic.github.iohttps://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/aclui.dll-F883E9CA757B622B032FDCA5BF33D0DF.html
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2024/Malware/Raspberry-Robin/image_load_malware_raspberry_robin_side_load_aclui_oleview.yml
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
potential-oleview-and-aclui-dll-side-loading-on-windows-0f3a9db2
title: "Windows DLL Side-Loading: OleView loading aclui.dll"
id: 5d5ac63e-e93e-4e3d-8968-a01354d9906e
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows processes where OleView.exe loads a DLL named aclui.dll. Such DLL side-loading can be used to execute attacker-controlled code by forcing a trusted loader to load an unexpected library. The detection relies on image load telemetry indicating the loaded DLL path and the originating executable path, with exclusions for common legitimate OleView locations and signed OleView binaries.
references:
- https://research.checkpoint.com/2024/raspberry-robin-keeps-riding-the-wave-of-endless-1-days/
- https://globetech.biz/index.php/2023/05/19/evading-edr-by-dll-sideloading-in-csharp/
- https://decoded.avast.io/threatintel/apt-treasure-trove-avast-suspects-chinese-apt-group-mustang-panda-is-collecting-data-from-burmese-government-agencies-and-opposition-groups/
- https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2016/03/10/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-36/
- https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/aclui.dll-F883E9CA757B622B032FDCA5BF33D0DF.html
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2024/Malware/Raspberry-Robin/image_load_malware_raspberry_robin_side_load_aclui_oleview.yml
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel, Huntrule Team
date: 2024-07-31
tags:
- attack.persistence
- attack.privilege-escalation
- attack.execution
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1574.001
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
category: image_load
product: windows
detection:
selection:
Image|endswith: \OleView.exe
ImageLoaded|endswith: \aclui.dll
filter_main_legit_oleview_paths:
Image|startswith:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\
- C:\Program Files\Microsoft SDKs\
filter_optional_known_oleview_paths:
Image|contains: \Windows Resource Kit\
filter_main_is_signed:
Signed: "true"
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
- Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 0f3a9db2-c17a-480e-a723-d1f1c547ab6a
type: derived