Windows DLL Sideloading via CCleanerDU.dll ImageLoad from CCleaner Folder

Alerts when CCleanerDU.dll is loaded, but the loading image is not CCleaner executables in standard install paths.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: X__Junior (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2023-07-13
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 image loads where a DLL named CCleanerDU.dll is loaded. It matters because DLL sideloading can be used to execute attacker-controlled code under the context of a legitimate application. The detection relies on Windows image load telemetry, matching ImageLoaded that ends with \CCleanerDU.dll and excluding cases where the parent image path indicates loading from the expected CCleaner executables within the standard installation directories.

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 CCleanerDU.dll ImageLoad from CCleaner Folder

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-ccleanerdu-dll-loaded-outside-ccleaner-binaries-1fbc0671

title: Windows DLL Sideloading via CCleanerDU.dll ImageLoad from CCleaner Folder
id: f167bf79-c580-4082-b77d-b85cd02c0be6
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows image loads where a DLL named CCleanerDU.dll is loaded. It matters because DLL sideloading can be used to execute attacker-controlled code under the context of a legitimate application. The detection relies on Windows image load telemetry, matching ImageLoaded that ends with \CCleanerDU.dll and excluding cases where the parent image path indicates loading from the expected CCleaner executables within the standard installation directories.
references:
  - https://lab52.io/blog/2344-2/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_ccleaner_du.yml
author: X__Junior (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-07-13
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \CCleanerDU.dll
  filter_main_path:
    Image|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files\CCleaner\
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\CCleaner\
    Image|endswith:
      - \CCleaner.exe
      - \CCleaner64.exe
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - False positives could occur from other custom installation paths. Apply additional filters accordingly.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1fbc0671-5596-4e17-8682-f020a0b995dc
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL