Suspicious CLR DLL Loaded Through Office Applications (via image_load)

title: Suspicious CLR DLL Loaded Through Office Applications (via image_load)
id: b6983137-d2e5-5cbc-ac7c-8b24f0efedc2
status: stable
description: This rule detects CLR DLL being loaded by an Office Product
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1204/002/
    - https://medium.com/threatpunter/detecting-adversary-tradecraft-with-image-load-event-logging-and-eql-8de93338c16
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-04-03
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1204.002
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\excel.exe'
            - '\mspub.exe'
            - '\outlook.exe'
            - '\onenote.exe'
            - '\onenoteim.exe'
            - '\powerpnt.exe'
            - '\winword.exe'
        ImageLoaded|contains: '\clr.dll'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium