Potential DLL Sideloading: Image Load of DbgModel.dll on Windows
Alerts when a process loads DbgModel.dll from a non-standard path, suggesting possible DLL sideloading.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- image_load
- Author
- Gary Lobermier (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2024-07-11
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
Execution → Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule flags process image-load events where a loaded module path ends with dbgmodel.dll but does not originate from common Windows system directories or known optional installation locations. DLL sideloading matters because attackers can place a malicious DLL in a location that a trusted application loads, leading to code execution. The detection relies on Windows image_load telemetry that records the ImageLoaded path for loaded modules.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Potential DLL Sideloading: Image Load of DbgModel.dll on Windows"
id: 35f3641c-cf76-4cc5-9750-7ca8aec98051
status: test
description: This rule flags process image-load events where a loaded module path ends with dbgmodel.dll but does not originate from common Windows system directories or known optional installation locations. DLL sideloading matters because attackers can place a malicious DLL in a location that a trusted application loads, leading to code execution. The detection relies on Windows image_load telemetry that records the ImageLoaded path for loaded modules.
references:
- https://hijacklibs.net/entries/microsoft/built-in/dbgmodel.html
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_dbgmodel.yml
author: Gary Lobermier, Huntrule Team
date: 2024-07-11
modified: 2024-07-22
tags:
- attack.privilege-escalation
- attack.persistence
- attack.execution
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1574.001
logsource:
product: windows
category: image_load
detection:
selection:
ImageLoaded|endswith: \dbgmodel.dll
filter_main_generic:
ImageLoaded|startswith:
- C:\Windows\System32\
- C:\Windows\SysWOW64\
- C:\Windows\WinSxS\
filter_optional_windbg:
ImageLoaded|startswith: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WinDbg_
filter_optional_windows_kits:
ImageLoaded|startswith:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\
- C:\Program Files\Windows Kits\
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
- Legitimate applications loading their own versions of the DLL mentioned in this rule
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: fef394cd-f44d-4040-9b18-95d92fe278c0
type: derived