huntrule

Windows Process Creation: Suspicious rundll32 Command-Line Invocations of Common DLL Entry Points

Detects rundll32 runs whose command lines reference specific DLL exports often abused for LOLBIN execution.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
juju4, Jonhnathan Ribeiro, oscd.community, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2019-01-16
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags process creation events where rundll32 is executed with command-line parameters that reference specific DLLs and known entry points consistent with LOLBIN-style execution. Attackers can use these DLL exports to proxy execution, reducing reliance on custom binaries and blending in with legitimate Windows component usage. The detection relies on Windows process creation telemetry, specifically the full command line containing rundll32 and targeted DLL/function pairs, with several exclusions for common control-panel screensaver and CPL-driven patterns.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1218.011 — drag to rearrange
Malicious Zardoor Backdoor Execution via rundll32 (via process_creation)
Malicious Rundll32 Loading an Export From a User Path (via process_creation)
Renamed Regsvr32 or Rundll32 Loading a DLL With a Non-Standard Extension (via process_creation)
Malicious Rundll32 DllRegisterServer Execution From a User-Writable Path (via process_creation)
IMEEX Framework DLL Execution via Rundll32 Loading imaadp (via process_creation)
Suspicious Persistence via pcalua Launching rundll32 Control_RunDLL
Suspicious Rundll32 Executing DLL Start Export With Control Flags
Suspicious Rundll32 Execution of Timestamp-Named DLL
Suspicious Rundll32 Loading DLL from LocalAppData with Short Export (via process_creation)
Windows Process Creation: Suspicious rundll32 Command-Line Invocations of Common DLL Entry Points
Pivot detection · T1218.011 · 9 related

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