Windows: Odbcconf.EXE INSTALLDRIVER Use With Missing .dll Target

Flags odbcconf.exe running INSTALLDRIVER when the driver argument lacks a .dll extension.

FreeUnreviewedSigmahighv1

windows-odbcconf-exe-installdriver-use-with-missing-dll-target-cb0fe7c5

title: "Windows: Odbcconf.EXE INSTALLDRIVER Use With Missing .dll Target"
id: 065062d2-381d-4989-a9c9-2fe29ac091d6
related:
  - id: 3f5491e2-8db8-496b-9e95-1029fce852d4
    type: derived
  - id: cb0fe7c5-f3a3-484d-aa25-d350a7912729
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags process creation where odbcconf.exe is executed with the INSTALLDRIVER action and the provided driver path/argument does not include a .dll extension. Attackers can use this behavior to install or register drivers while evading simple allowlists or validation based on expected DLL filenames. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name and specific command-line content.
references:
  - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
  - https://web.archive.org/web/20191023232753/https://twitter.com/Hexacorn/status/1187143326673330176
  - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/odbcconf-lolbin-trifecta/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_odbcconf_driver_install_susp.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-05-23
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218.008
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  selection_img:
    - Image|endswith: \odbcconf.exe
    - OriginalFileName: odbcconf.exe
  selection_cli:
    CommandLine|contains: "INSTALLDRIVER "
  filter_main_dll_ext:
    CommandLine|contains: .dll
  condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Unlikely
level: high
license: DRL-1.1

What it detects

This rule flags process creation where odbcconf.exe is executed with the INSTALLDRIVER action and the provided driver path/argument does not include a .dll extension. Attackers can use this behavior to install or register drivers while evading simple allowlists or validation based on expected DLL filenames. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching the executable name and specific command-line content.

Known false positives

Unlikely

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.