huntrule

Rundll32 Executes Setupapi.dll InstallHinfSection via Runonce.exe

Alerts when rundll32 passes setupapi.dll::InstallHinfSection arguments that result in launching runonce.exe.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Konstantin Grishchenko, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-07
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process creation where rundll32.exe launches runonce.exe and the rundll32 command line contains both setupapi.dll and the InstallHinfSection function. InstallHinfSection is used to process INF files, which can include actions such as writing registry values and modifying files, enabling persistence or execution chaining. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry capturing the parent process image and command line text.

Reporting behind it

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Renamed Regsvr32 or Rundll32 Loading a DLL With a Non-Standard Extension (via process_creation)
Malicious Rundll32 DllRegisterServer Execution From a User-Writable Path (via process_creation)
IMEEX Framework DLL Execution via Rundll32 Loading imaadp (via process_creation)
Suspicious Persistence via pcalua Launching rundll32 Control_RunDLL
Rundll32 Executes Setupapi.dll InstallHinfSection via Runonce.exe
Pivot detection · T1218.011 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.