Suspicious SystemSettings DLL Sideload 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 SystemSettings.exe loading a SystemSettings.dll from a path outside the System32 directory, the DLL sideloading technique used to launch SharkLoader in the StrikeShark campaign. The genuine binary only loads its companion DLL from System32. A matching name loaded from elsewhere indicates a sideloading proxy execution.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious SystemSettings DLL Sideload 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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