ResolverRAT Loader DLL Sideloading via hpreader (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 the legitimate signed hpreader.exe loading a DLL from a user-writable directory, the DLL sideloading behavior used by the ResolverRAT loader to reflectively execute its .NET payload in memory under a trusted process. Adversaries leverage sideloading against a signed binary to run malicious code with a benign parent, making early detection critical for surfacing the loader before registry persistence and encrypted C2 are established.

Reporting behind it

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ResolverRAT Loader DLL Sideloading via hpreader (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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