Suspicious New DLL Registered Through Odbcconf.EXE (via process_creation)

title: Suspicious New DLL Registered Through Odbcconf.EXE (via process_creation)
id: 987ee497-70cb-5613-b7c2-8b3e9b99338e
status: stable
description: This rule detects execution of "odbcconf" with "REGSVR" to register a new DLL (equivalent to running regsvr32). Adversaries misuse this to install and run hostile DLLs.
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/008/
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/odbc/odbcconf-exe?view=sql-server-ver16
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/raspberry-robin/
    - https://web.archive.org/web/20191023232753/https://twitter.com/Hexacorn/status/1187143326673330176
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/odbcconf-lolbin-trifecta/
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/17/h/backdoor-carrying-emails-set-sights-on-russian-speaking-businesses.html
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-04-29
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\odbcconf.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'odbcconf.exe'
    selection_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'REGSVR '
            - '.dll'
    condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium