Suspicious VERSION.dll Proxy Sideloading from User AppData Directory (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
- T1027.009Embedded Payloads
- T1574.001DLL
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the Windows library VERSION.dll being loaded from a user AppData location rather than the system directories, the DLL proxying step of the browser cache smuggling technique that hijacks Microsoft Teams or OneDrive startup to run a beacon. Adversaries place a proxy VERSION.dll beside a trusted application so it loads ahead of the genuine system copy.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious VERSION.dll Proxy Sideloading from User AppData Directory (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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