Windows DLL Sideloading via Loading ShellChromeAPI.dll

Alerts when Windows processes attempt to load ShellChromeAPI.dll, a DLL typically not present on systems.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-12-01
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 Windows processes that load the DLL ShellChromeAPI.dll, which is expected not to exist and is therefore suspicious when it is observed as loaded. Attackers may leverage DLL sideloading by placing a renamed or attacker-controlled DLL under a location the legitimate process searches, then triggering its loading through a victim binary. The detection relies on process image-load telemetry that records DLLs loaded for a given process, matching DLL paths ending with \ShellChromeAPI.dll.

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 DLL Sideloading via Loading ShellChromeAPI.dll

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-sidelo-ading-detect-image-loads-of-shellchromeapi-dll-ee4c5d06

title: Windows DLL Sideloading via Loading ShellChromeAPI.dll
id: e31f7663-0448-4f64-b88e-95c4e1e51d82
related:
  - id: e173ad47-4388-4012-ae62-bd13f71c18a8
    type: similar
  - id: ee4c5d06-3abc-48cc-8885-77f1c20f4451
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows processes that load the DLL ShellChromeAPI.dll, which is expected not to exist and is therefore suspicious when it is observed as loaded. Attackers may leverage DLL sideloading by placing a renamed or attacker-controlled DLL under a location the legitimate process searches, then triggering its loading through a victim binary. The detection relies on process image-load telemetry that records DLLs loaded for a given process, matching DLL paths ending with \ShellChromeAPI.dll.
references:
  - https://mobile.twitter.com/0gtweet/status/1564131230941122561
  - https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/DeviceEnroller.exe-24BEF0D6B0ECED36BB41831759FDE18D.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_shell_chrome_api.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-12-01
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \ShellChromeAPI.dll
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

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

SplunkSPL