Suspicious Extexport DLL Side-Loading Execution
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- HuntRule
- Published
- 2026-08-04
- Updated
- 2026-08-28
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule detects execution of the Internet Explorer Extexport.exe utility which loads mozcrt19, mozsqlite3 or sqlite3 DLLs from its working directory. In the WithSecure Code Execution and Persistence Lab 1 the Astaroth chain drops malicious DLLs of these names next to Extexport.exe to achieve DLL side-loading. Attackers proxy code execution through this signed LOLBin to run their payload under a trusted process.
Reporting behind it
- withsecure.comhttps://www.withsecure.com/fi/resurssit/w-labs/attack-detection-fundamentals-code-execution-and-persistence-lab-1/
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/
- sekoia.comhttps://www.sekoia.com/blog/darkgate-internals
- attack.mitre.orghttps://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/002/
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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