Windows Malicious iphlpapi.dll Dropped in OneDrive/Teams AppData Directory

Flags creation of iphlpapi.dll in the Microsoft AppData area used by OneDrive/Teams, consistent with DLL sideloading attempts.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: file_event
Author: frack113 (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2022-08-12
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 creation of an iphlpapi.dll file in an AppData Local Microsoft path commonly used by OneDrive and Teams. Attackers may drop a DLL with this name to facilitate DLL sideloading when the user later runs the associated application, enabling stealthy execution or persistence. It relies on Windows file creation telemetry that records the target filename and full path in file event logs.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Malicious iphlpapi.dll Dropped in OneDrive/Teams AppData Directory

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-malicious-dll-dropped-to-onedrive-teams-appdata-path-containing-iphlpapi-1908fcc1

title: Windows Malicious iphlpapi.dll Dropped in OneDrive/Teams AppData Directory
id: 2b31c722-4c0d-4428-9a3f-57274f76086c
status: test
description: This rule flags creation of an iphlpapi.dll file in an AppData Local Microsoft path commonly used by OneDrive and Teams. Attackers may drop a DLL with this name to facilitate DLL sideloading when the user later runs the associated application, enabling stealthy execution or persistence. It relies on Windows file creation telemetry that records the target filename and full path in file event logs.
references:
  - https://blog.cyble.com/2022/07/27/targeted-attacks-being-carried-out-via-dll-sideloading/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_iphlpapi_dll_sideloading.yml
author: frack113, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-08-12
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: file_event
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetFilename|contains|all:
      - iphlpapi.dll
      - \AppData\Local\Microsoft
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1908fcc1-1b92-4272-8214-0fbaf2fa5163
    type: derived

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