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Windows image_load Suspicious libvlc.dll DLL sideloading via non-VLC paths

Alerts when libvlc.dll is loaded from a non-default path, suggesting potential VLC DLL sideloading on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
image_load
Author
X__Junior (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2023-04-17
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags when Windows loads libvlc.dll from a path ending in \libvlc.dll, and the loaded DLL is not located in the expected default VLC installation directories. Attackers often use DLL sideloading to execute malicious code under the guise of a legitimate application dependency, making unusual DLL load paths a key signal. Detection relies on image load telemetry indicating the full DLL path (ImageLoaded) observed during process activity.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious CoinLoader DLL Sideload From Z-1-36-81 Directory (via image_load)
Suspicious shfolder.dll Sideloading via VMware net-service Binary
Windows image_load Suspicious libvlc.dll DLL sideloading via non-VLC paths
Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.