Windows DLL Sideloading via MpSvc.dll Image Load Anomaly

Flags Windows module loads of MpSvc.dll outside typical Defender/WinSxS locations that may indicate DLL sideloading.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2024-07-11
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 flags processes that load MpSvc.dll from paths that are not commonly associated with the standard Windows Defender locations included in the rule’s allowlist. DLL sideloading can allow an attacker to execute malicious code under the context of a legitimate binary by influencing which DLL the process loads. The detection relies on Windows image-load telemetry, specifically the loaded image path ending with \MpSvc.dll and the absence of an expected base directory prefix.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1574.001 — drag to rearrange

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Windows DLL Sideloading via MpSvc.dll Image Load Anomaly

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-potential-dll-sideloading-via-mpsvc-dll-loads-5ba243e5

title: Windows DLL Sideloading via MpSvc.dll Image Load Anomaly
id: ee2fd15f-f91b-47b3-97e0-660a3ad22205
status: test
description: This rule flags processes that load MpSvc.dll from paths that are not commonly associated with the standard Windows Defender locations included in the rule’s allowlist. DLL sideloading can allow an attacker to execute malicious code under the context of a legitimate binary by influencing which DLL the process loads. The detection relies on Windows image-load telemetry, specifically the loaded image path ending with \MpSvc.dll and the absence of an expected base directory prefix.
references:
  - https://hijacklibs.net/entries/microsoft/built-in/mpsvc.html
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_mpsvc.yml
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema, Huntrule Team
date: 2024-07-11
tags:
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: image_load
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \MpSvc.dll
  filter_main_generic:
    ImageLoaded|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\
      - C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\
      - C:\Windows\WinSxS\
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate applications loading their own versions of the DLL mentioned in this rule.
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 5ba243e5-8165-4cf7-8c69-e1d3669654c1
    type: derived

Convert

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