Windows DLL sideloading via AVKkid.dll image loads

Identifies suspicious AVKkid.dll loads on Windows that may indicate DLL sideloading, excluding a specific likely legitimate path pattern.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: X__Junior (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2023-08-03
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

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 load events where the loaded module path ends with AVKkid.dll, which can indicate DLL sideloading. Attackers use this technique to force a legitimate process to load a malicious or unexpected DLL, enabling persistence, execution, or stealth. The detection relies on image load telemetry and excludes cases where AVKKid.exe is loaded from specific “G DATA” program directories.

Reporting behind it

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

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Windows DLL sideloading via AVKkid.dll image loads

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-via-avkkid-dll-image-loads-952ed57c

title: Windows DLL sideloading via AVKkid.dll image loads
id: 55ac0c53-1393-41ae-a4d2-3c31204b3a6a
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows image load events where the loaded module path ends with AVKkid.dll, which can indicate DLL sideloading. Attackers use this technique to force a legitimate process to load a malicious or unexpected DLL, enabling persistence, execution, or stealth. The detection relies on image load telemetry and excludes cases where AVKKid.exe is loaded from specific “G DATA” program directories.
references:
  - https://research.checkpoint.com/2023/beyond-the-horizon-traveling-the-world-on-camaro-dragons-usb-flash-drives/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_avkkid.yml
author: X__Junior (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-08-03
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \AVKkid.dll
  filter_main_legit_path:
    Image|contains:
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\G DATA\
      - C:\Program Files\G DATA\
    Image|endswith: \AVKKid.exe
    ImageLoaded|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\G DATA\
      - C:\Program Files\G DATA\
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 952ed57c-8f99-453d-aee0-53a49c22f95d
    type: derived

Convert

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