Windows DLL Sideloading: goopdate.dll Loaded from Nonstandard Paths

Alerts when goopdate.dll is loaded from non-standard locations, suggesting possible DLL sideloading behavior on Windows.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: X__Junior (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2023-05-15
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 image loads of goopdate.dll when the loaded DLL path ends with \goopdate.dll, excluding common install directories and specific temporary installer patterns. Attackers may use DLL sideloading by causing a legitimate executable to load a malicious or replaced DLL from an unexpected location. It relies on Windows image load telemetry (ImageLoaded) to identify the loaded module path and apply path-based filters to reduce noise.

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: goopdate.dll Loaded from Nonstandard Paths

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-goopdate-dll-imageload-b6188d2f

title: "Windows DLL Sideloading: goopdate.dll Loaded from Nonstandard Paths"
id: f09e927e-6dd6-459e-9b90-3cd5945e8ea8
status: test
description: This rule flags image loads of goopdate.dll when the loaded DLL path ends with \goopdate.dll, excluding common install directories and specific temporary installer patterns. Attackers may use DLL sideloading by causing a legitimate executable to load a malicious or replaced DLL from an unexpected location. It relies on Windows image load telemetry (ImageLoaded) to identify the loaded module path and apply path-based filters to reduce noise.
references:
  - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/static-assets/documents/malware-analysis-reports/goofy-guineapig/NCSC-MAR-Goofy-Guineapig.pdf
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_goopdate.yml
author: X__Junior (Nextron Systems), Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-05-15
modified: 2025-10-07
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \goopdate.dll
  filter_main_generic:
    ImageLoaded|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\
      - C:\Program Files\
  filter_optional_dropbox_installer_temp:
    Image|contains|all:
      - \AppData\Local\Temp\GUM
      - .tmp\Dropbox
    ImageLoaded|contains|all:
      - \AppData\Local\Temp\GUM
      - .tmp\goopdate.dll
  filter_optional_googleupdate_temp:
    Image|contains:
      - \AppData\Local\Temp\GUM
      - :\Windows\SystemTemp\GUM
    Image|endswith: .tmp\GoogleUpdate.exe
    ImageLoaded|contains:
      - \AppData\Local\Temp\GUM
      - :\Windows\SystemTemp\GUM
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
  - False positives are expected from Google Chrome installations running from user locations (AppData) and other custom locations. Apply additional filters accordingly.
  - Other third party chromium browsers located in AppData
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b6188d2f-b3c4-4d2c-a17d-9706e0851af0
    type: derived

Convert

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

SplunkSPL