Windows ClickOnce Loads Unsigned or Expired Signed Modules from User Apps Path

Alerts when a ClickOnce app loads a module from Apps\2.0 that is unsigned or has an expired signature.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: @SerkinValery (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2023-06-08
Updated: 2026-07-31

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 flags cases where a ClickOnce application loads an image from the user AppData ClickOnce path while the module is unsigned or has an expired signature status. Attackers can abuse ClickOnce-style trusted execution flows to run or persist malicious code while bypassing or degrading signature trust. The detection relies on image load telemetry, including the loaded path and signature status fields indicating Signed=false or SignatureStatus=Expired.

Reporting behind it

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Windows ClickOnce Loads Unsigned or Expired Signed Modules from User Apps Path

Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 9 related

Changelog

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.

windows-clickonce-loads-unsigned-module-from-appdata-local-apps-2-0-060d5ad4

title: Windows ClickOnce Loads Unsigned or Expired Signed Modules from User Apps Path
id: 918c99cc-bb2c-4ca5-bcd3-5d6a63089d54
status: test
description: This rule flags cases where a ClickOnce application loads an image from the user AppData ClickOnce path while the module is unsigned or has an expired signature status. Attackers can abuse ClickOnce-style trusted execution flows to run or persist malicious code while bypassing or degrading signature trust. The detection relies on image load telemetry, including the loaded path and signature status fields indicating Signed=false or SignatureStatus=Expired.
references:
  - https://posts.specterops.io/less-smartscreen-more-caffeine-ab-using-clickonce-for-trusted-code-execution-1446ea8051c5
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_susp_clickonce_unsigned_module_loaded.yml
author: "@SerkinValery, Huntrule Team"
date: 2023-06-08
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_path:
    Image|contains: \AppData\Local\Apps\2.0\
  selection_sig_status:
    - Signed: "false"
    - SignatureStatus: Expired
  condition: all of selection_*
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 060d5ad4-3153-47bb-8382-43e5e29eda92
    type: derived

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