Windows DLL sideloading via unsigned mfdetours.dll loaded by image_load

Alerts on loading unsigned \mfdetours.dll, consistent with DLL sideloading abuse via mftrace.exe.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2023-08-11
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 identifies attempts to load a DLL named mfdetours.dll when the DLL is not located in a trusted Windows Kits path and is not marked as having a valid signature. Attackers can abuse mftrace.exe to attach to an arbitrary process and force loading of mfdetours.dll from the current execution directory, enabling stealthy execution or persistence. The detection relies on Windows image load telemetry and DLL signature status, along with the observed DLL load path.

Reporting behind it

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Windows DLL sideloading via unsigned mfdetours.dll loaded by image_load

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-mftrace-exe-dll-sideloading-of-unsigned-mfdetours-dll-948a0953

title: Windows DLL sideloading via unsigned mfdetours.dll loaded by image_load
id: 46cd69d5-ded5-4467-8e2a-d35f51468733
related:
  - id: d2605a99-2218-4894-8fd3-2afb7946514d
    type: similar
  - id: 948a0953-f287-4806-bbcb-3b2e396df89f
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies attempts to load a DLL named mfdetours.dll when the DLL is not located in a trusted Windows Kits path and is not marked as having a valid signature. Attackers can abuse mftrace.exe to attach to an arbitrary process and force loading of mfdetours.dll from the current execution directory, enabling stealthy execution or persistence. The detection relies on Windows image load telemetry and DLL signature status, along with the observed DLL load path.
references:
  - Internal Research
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_mfdetours_unsigned.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-08-11
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \mfdetours.dll
  filter_main_legit_path:
    ImageLoaded|contains: :\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\10\bin\
    SignatureStatus: Valid
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

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