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

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 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

Related detections9 linkedT1574.001 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious DLL Sideloading via msdtc oci.dll Install (via process_creation)

Suspicious wmicodegen.dll Sideload by inetinfo.exe (UAT-8099 Cobalt Strike)

Suspicious LucidRook DismCore.dll Side-Load into Browser Process

Suspicious Encrypted Implant File Creation for DLL Search Order Hijacking (RainyDay Turian PlugX)

Suspicious RoboForm Signed Binary Executed From Non-Standard Path (via process_creation)

Malicious dal_keepalives.dll Sideloaded By Signed Binary (via image_load)

Suspicious Cortex XDR Binary Sideloading winutils.dll (via image_load)

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
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-dll-hijacking-libvlc-dll-sideloading-via-non-default-image-load-bf9808c4

title: Windows image_load Suspicious libvlc.dll DLL sideloading via non-VLC paths
id: 9db55d5d-4293-43a6-bead-c36cff14b974
status: test
description: 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.
references:
  - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/c/earth-preta-updated-stealthy-strategies.html
  - https://hijacklibs.net/entries/3rd_party/vlc/libvlc.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_libvlc.yml
author: X__Junior, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-04-17
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \libvlc.dll
  filter_main_vlc:
    ImageLoaded|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\
      - C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - False positives are expected if VLC is installed in non-default locations
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: bf9808c4-d24f-44a2-8398-b65227d406b6
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL