Suspicious Execution of Rundll32 InstallScreenSaver (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious Execution of Rundll32 InstallScreenSaver (via process_creation)
id: 2a408e2f-c114-55b1-b0a8-b787a6822d3e
status: stable
description: This rule detects an adversary may execute an application as a SCR File using rundll32.exe desk.cpl,InstallScreenSaver
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/011/
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Libraries/Desk/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/0f229c0e42bfe7ca736a14023836d65baa941ed2/atomics/T1218.011/T1218.011.md#atomic-test-13---rundll32-with-deskcpl
author: 'Huntrule Team'
date: 2026-06-04
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.011
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\rundll32.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'RUNDLL32.EXE'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains: 'InstallScreenSaver'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium