huntrule

Windows DLL Load Trusted Path Bypass via Spoofed Directory Paths with Extra Space

Flags Windows DLL loads from spoofed "C:\Windows \\System32"-style paths with an extra space to indicate trusted-path bypass attempts.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
image_load
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2025-06-17
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 DLL image loads from Windows directory paths that include an extra space, matching strings like :\Windows \System32\ and :\Windows \SysWOW64\. Such spoofed paths can cause Windows trusted path checks to be bypassed, enabling DLL loading behavior that may run with higher integrity than intended. The detection relies on Windows image load telemetry that records the loaded image path.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1548.002 — drag to rearrange
Possible UAC Bypass via easinvoker Spawning Batch Script (via process_creation)
Suspicious UAC Bypass by Disabling Admin Consent Prompt via registry_set
Malicious Cloud Atlas UAC Bypass via fodhelper (via process_creation)
Suspicious computerdefaults.exe Spawning Child Process
Suspicious UAC Bypass via control.exe App Paths or Shell Open Command Hijack
Malicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Suspicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Malicious UAC Bypass via explorer.exe NOUACCHECK Argument
Suspicious UAC Bypass via ms-settings Shell Command Hijack (via registry_set)
Windows DLL Load Trusted Path Bypass via Spoofed Directory Paths with Extra Space
Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 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.