Suspicious version.dll Sideloading via ADExplorer

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 Sysinternals ADExplorer binary loading a version.dll from outside the System32 directory, the DLL search order hijack the actor used to sideload malicious code. A trusted signed tool loading a non-system version.dll from its working directory is a classic sideloading pattern rather than normal execution.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious version.dll Sideloading via ADExplorer

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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