Windows: Unsigned DLL/EXE Image Loaded Into lsass.exe

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1003.001LSASS Memory
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

Identifies cases where an image (DLL or EXE) is loaded into the lsass.exe process and the image is flagged as unsigned. Loading unsigned binaries into LSASS is a critical credential-access target and can indicate credential dumping or other process injection behavior. The rule relies on Windows image load telemetry that includes the target image path ending in \lsass.exe and a signed/unsigned indicator.

Reporting behind it

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Windows: Unsigned DLL/EXE Image Loaded Into lsass.exe

Pivot detection · T1003.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

unsigned-image-loaded-into-lsass-exe-windows-857c8db3

title: "Windows: Unsigned DLL/EXE Image Loaded Into lsass.exe"
id: 5872802f-1fcb-4d0b-8a4e-877673c6a381
status: test
description: Identifies cases where an image (DLL or EXE) is loaded into the lsass.exe process and the image is flagged as unsigned. Loading unsigned binaries into LSASS is a critical credential-access target and can indicate credential dumping or other process injection behavior. The rule relies on Windows image load telemetry that includes the target image path ending in \lsass.exe and a signed/unsigned indicator.
references:
  - https://www.slideshare.net/heirhabarov/hunting-for-credentials-dumping-in-windows-environment
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_lsass_unsigned_image_load.yml
author: Teymur Kheirkhabarov, oscd.community, Huntrule Team
date: 2019-10-22
modified: 2021-11-27
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: \lsass.exe
    Signed: "false"
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Valid user connecting using RDP
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 857c8db3-c89b-42fb-882b-f681c7cf4da2
    type: derived

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