Windows File Indicator for Pingback Backdoor updata.exe Writing oci.dll

Alerts on updata.exe creating or modifying C:\Windows\oci.dll as a Pingback backdoor file indicator.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v5

Product: windows
Category: file_event
Author: Bhabesh Raj (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2021-05-05
Updated: 2026-07-31

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 a Windows file event where an executable named updata.exe endswith is associated with creation or modification of C:\Windows\oci.dll. Such a behavior can indicate deployment of the Pingback backdoor component used for C2 via an ICMP tunnel. It relies on file telemetry that captures the image path and the target filename involved in the file operation.

Reporting behind it

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Windows File Indicator for Pingback Backdoor updata.exe Writing oci.dll

Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v5
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v4
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v3
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
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-file-drop-indicators-for-pingback-backdoor-updata-exe-to-oci-dll-2bd63d53

title: Windows File Indicator for Pingback Backdoor updata.exe Writing oci.dll
id: 1d89169c-72e0-48d4-8b8b-6c56410ce5e9
related:
  - id: 35a7dc42-bc6f-46e0-9f83-81f8e56c8d4b
    type: similar
  - id: b2400ffb-7680-47c0-b08a-098a7de7e7a9
    type: similar
  - id: 2bd63d53-84d4-4210-80ff-bf0658f1bf78
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags a Windows file event where an executable named updata.exe endswith is associated with creation or modification of C:\Windows\oci.dll. Such a behavior can indicate deployment of the Pingback backdoor component used for C2 via an ICMP tunnel. It relies on file telemetry that captures the image path and the target filename involved in the file operation.
references:
  - https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/backdoor-at-the-end-of-the-icmp-tunnel
  - https://app.any.run/tasks/4a54c651-b70b-4b72-84d7-f34d301d6406
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules-emerging-threats/2021/Malware/Pingback/file_event_win_malware_pingback_backdoor.yml
author: Bhabesh Raj, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-05-05
modified: 2023-02-17
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
  - detection.emerging-threats
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: file_event
detection:
  selection:
    Image|endswith: updata.exe
    TargetFilename: C:\Windows\oci.dll
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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