Windows: Odbcconf.EXE INSTALLDRIVER Use With Missing .dll Target
Flags odbcconf.exe running INSTALLDRIVER when the driver argument lacks a .dll extension.
- Product
- windows
- Category
- process_creation
- Author
- Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-05-23
- Updated
- 2026-07-30
ATT&CK techniques
Defense EvasionRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
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.
Reporting behind it
- lolbas-project.github.iohttps://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Odbcconf/
- web.archive.orghttps://web.archive.org/web/20191023232753/https://twitter.com/Hexacorn/status/1187143326673330176
- hexacorn.comhttps://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2020/08/23/odbcconf-lolbin-trifecta/
- github.comhttps://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/process_creation/proc_creation_win_odbcconf_driver_install_susp.yml
Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.
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