Windows DLL Sideloading via comctl32.dll in .local directories

Alerts on comctl32.dll loaded from System32 .local folders, consistent with Windows DLL sideloading.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Subhash Popuri (@pbssubhash) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-12-16
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 DLL loads where comctl32.dll is accessed from a .local subdirectory under specific Windows executables (e.g., logonUI.exe.local, werFault.exe.local, consent.exe.local). Loading a DLL from an executable-relative location can enable side-loading and may facilitate privilege escalation by redirecting which library instance is used. It relies on image load telemetry, specifically the loaded module path matching the targeted .local locations and ending with comctl32.dll.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1574.001 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious msimg32.dll Loaded from Non-System Directory

DLL Side-Loading via Signed Binary Loading Known Malicious Helper DLL

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)

Windows DLL Sideloading via comctl32.dll in .local directories

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-sideloading-attempts-via-comctl32-dll-in-local-directories-6360757a

title: Windows DLL Sideloading via comctl32.dll in .local directories
id: f06463b8-c359-4123-a1fc-325994989c5a
status: test
description: This rule flags DLL loads where comctl32.dll is accessed from a .local subdirectory under specific Windows executables (e.g., logonUI.exe.local, werFault.exe.local, consent.exe.local). Loading a DLL from an executable-relative location can enable side-loading and may facilitate privilege escalation by redirecting which library instance is used. It relies on image load telemetry, specifically the loaded module path matching the targeted .local locations and ending with comctl32.dll.
references:
  - https://github.com/binderlabs/DirCreate2System
  - https://github.com/sailay1996/awesome_windows_logical_bugs/blob/60cbb23a801f4c3195deac1cc46df27c225c3d07/dir_create2system.txt
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_comctl32.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Subhash Popuri (@pbssubhash), Huntrule Team
date: 2022-12-16
modified: 2022-12-19
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|startswith:
      - C:\Windows\System32\logonUI.exe.local\
      - C:\Windows\System32\werFault.exe.local\
      - C:\Windows\System32\consent.exe.local\
      - C:\Windows\System32\narrator.exe.local\
      - C:\windows\system32\wermgr.exe.local\
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \comctl32.dll
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 6360757a-d460-456c-8b13-74cf0e60cceb
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL