Suspicious Side-Loading of wbemcomn.dll or ESENT.dll from Non-System Path (via image_load)

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 a load of wbemcomn.dll or ESENT.dll from a directory outside the standard Windows system folders. Lazarus deploys its LPEClient downloader as a rogue wbemcomn.dll or ESENT.dll that is side-loaded by a signed host process, so a system-named DLL loading from an unexpected path signals DLL search-order hijacking used to stage further payloads.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Side-Loading of wbemcomn.dll or ESENT.dll from Non-System Path (via image_load)

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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