Suspicious shfolder.dll Sideloading via VMware net-service Binary

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

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

What it detects

This rule detects the VMware net-service.exe binary loading shfolder.dll from outside the System directory, the DLL search-order hijack abused by Gh0stBins RAT to run its loader. Legitimate shfolder.dll is loaded from System32, so a load from the application folder indicates sideloading.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious shfolder.dll Sideloading via VMware net-service Binary

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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