Potentially Suspicious Rundll32 Behavior (via process_creation)

title: Potentially Suspicious Rundll32 Behavior (via process_creation)
id: aaba324d-0cd5-577a-b271-7f6a585f61e5
status: stable
description: This rule detects anomalous execution of rundll32, with specific calls to some DLLs with known LOLBIN functionalities
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/011/
    - http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2017/05/01/running-programs-via-proxy-jumping-on-a-edr-bypass-trampoline/
    - https://twitter.com/Hexacorn/status/885258886428725250
    - https://gist.github.com/ryhanson/227229866af52e2d963cf941af135a52
    - https://twitter.com/nas_bench/status/1433344116071583746
    - https://twitter.com/eral4m/status/1479106975967240209
    - https://twitter.com/eral4m/status/1479080793003671557
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-03-24
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.011
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'javascript:'
              - '.RegisterXLL'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'url.dll'
              - 'OpenURL'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'url.dll'
              - 'OpenURLA'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'url.dll'
              - 'FileProtocolHandler'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'zipfldr.dll'
              - 'RouteTheCall'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'shell32.dll'
              - 'Control_RunDLL'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'shell32.dll'
              - 'ShellExec_RunDLL'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'mshtml.dll'
              - 'PrintHTML'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'advpack.dll'
              - 'LaunchINFSection'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'advpack.dll'
              - 'RegisterOCX'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'ieadvpack.dll'
              - 'LaunchINFSection'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'ieadvpack.dll'
              - 'RegisterOCX'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'ieframe.dll'
              - 'OpenURL'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'shdocvw.dll'
              - 'OpenURL'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'syssetup.dll'
              - 'SetupInfObjectInstallAction'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'setupapi.dll'
              - 'InstallHinfSection'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'pcwutl.dll'
              - 'LaunchApplication'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'dfshim.dll'
              - 'ShOpenVerbApplication'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'dfshim.dll'
              - 'ShOpenVerbShortcut'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'scrobj.dll'
              - 'GenerateTypeLib'
              - 'http'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'shimgvw.dll'
              - 'ImageView_Fullscreen'
              - 'http'
        - CommandLine|contains|all:
              - 'comsvcs.dll'
              - 'MiniDump'
    filter_main_screensaver:
        CommandLine|contains: 'shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,screensaver,@screensaver'
    filter_main_parent_cpl:
        ParentImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\control.exe'
        ParentCommandLine|contains: '.cpl'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'Shell32.dll'
            - 'Control_RunDLL'
            - '.cpl'
    filter_main_startmenu:
        ParentImage: 'C:\Windows\System32\control.exe'
        CommandLine|startswith: '"C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe" Shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL "C:\Windows\System32\'
        CommandLine|endswith: '.cpl",'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium