Suspicious rundll32 Execution of PNG File as DLL

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218.011Rundll32
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects rundll32.exe being pointed at a file with a .png extension and a start export, which loads the image as a DLL. Interlock masqueraded its DLL payloads with .png and other benign extensions to bypass file-type inspection and defender expectations. Executing a renamed DLL through rundll32 is a defense-evasion technique used to stage the next loader stage.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious rundll32 Execution of PNG File as DLL

Pivot detection · T1218.011 · 9 related

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