Windows DLL Side-Loading via ProgramData Image Load Indicators (clip.exe and wsmprovhost.exe)
Flags ProgramData clip.exe or wsmprovhost.exe launching with suspicious DLL loads from ProgramData.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- image_load
- Author
- Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-10-24
- 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 Windows image load events where a process from ProgramData loads a specific DLL from ProgramData, consistent with DLL sideloading behavior. Such activity can enable attackers to execute malicious code by placing a crafted DLL in a trusted-looking location. The detection relies on telemetry from Windows image load records, matching process and loaded DLL paths by file suffix.
Reporting behind it
- microsoft.comhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/10/18/multiple-north-korean-threat-actors-exploiting-the-teamcity-cve-2023-42793-vulnerability/
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2023/TA/Diamond-Sleet/image_load_apt_diamond_sleet_side_load.yml
Changelog
v5- v5Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v4Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v3Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- 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: Windows DLL Side-Loading via ProgramData Image Load Indicators (clip.exe and wsmprovhost.exe)
id: 253e06ab-52a1-44db-b744-e5d973a78ca3
status: test
description: This rule flags Windows image load events where a process from ProgramData loads a specific DLL from ProgramData, consistent with DLL sideloading behavior. Such activity can enable attackers to execute malicious code by placing a crafted DLL in a trusted-looking location. The detection relies on telemetry from Windows image load records, matching process and loaded DLL paths by file suffix.
references:
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2023/10/18/multiple-north-korean-threat-actors-exploiting-the-teamcity-cve-2023-42793-vulnerability/
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2023/TA/Diamond-Sleet/image_load_apt_diamond_sleet_side_load.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-10-24
tags:
- attack.persistence
- attack.privilege-escalation
- attack.execution
- attack.stealth
- attack.t1574.001
- detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
product: windows
category: image_load
detection:
selection_1:
Image|endswith: :\ProgramData\clip.exe
ImageLoaded|endswith: :\ProgramData\Version.dll
selection_2:
Image|endswith: :\ProgramData\wsmprovhost.exe
ImageLoaded|endswith: :\ProgramData\DSROLE.dll
condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
- Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: d1b65d98-37d7-4ff6-b139-2d87c1af3042
type: derived