huntrule

Windows DLL sideloading via third-party application directories (ImageLoad event)

Flags Windows ImageLoad events for specific DLL sideloading candidates tied to Lenovo and Toshiba software.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
image_load
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema (project and research) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-08-17
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags Windows processes loading specific DLL filenames commonly associated with third-party software from unexpected, non-vetted paths. DLL sideloading is a stealthy persistence and execution technique because a malicious or replaced DLL can be loaded in the context of a trusted application. It relies on image load telemetry that includes the loaded DLL path (ImageLoaded) to match on DLL name endings and to exclude known legitimate installation directory paths for Lenovo and Toshiba.

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 third-party application directories (ImageLoad event)
Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.