Suspicious Encrypted Implant File Creation for DLL Search Order Hijacking (RainyDay Turian PlugX)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1574.001DLL
Persistence
- T1574.001DLL
Priv Esc
- T1574.001DLL
Defense Evasion
- T1027Obfuscated Files or Information
- T1574.001DLL
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects creation of encrypted implant files with distinctive names such as rdmin.src, Mcsitesdvisor.afx or winslivation.dat used by the RainyDay, Turian and PlugX variants. These files hold the encrypted payload that a legitimately signed application decrypts and loads via DLL search-order hijacking. Their appearance on disk indicates sideloading-based deployment.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Hidden PowerShell Executing Substring of Dropped File

Suspicious Encrypted Implant File Creation for DLL Search Order Hijacking (RainyDay Turian PlugX)

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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