Windows Registry-Based DLL Hijack via WAB.EXE Using WAB Registry DLLPath

Flags WAB.EXE DLLPath registry writes where the configured DLL path differs from the default.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1

Product: windows
Category: registry_set
Author: oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2020-10-13
Updated: 2026-07-30

ATT&CK techniques

Defense Evasion

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
- T1218System Binary Proxy Execution
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies attempts to alter WAB.EXE’s DLL load path by setting the WAB registry value for DLLPath to something other than the default location. Attackers can use this registry-based DLL redirection to load a different DLL than expected when WAB.EXE launches. The detection relies on registry set telemetry for the specific DLLPath value and compares the stored details against the default DLL path.

Reporting behind it

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Windows Registry-Based DLL Hijack via WAB.EXE Using WAB Registry DLLPath

Pivot detection · T1218 · 9 related

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

windows-registry-based-dll-hijack-via-wab-exe-using-wab-registry-dllpath-fc014922

title: Windows Registry-Based DLL Hijack via WAB.EXE Using WAB Registry DLLPath
id: 803eb418-7170-41e0-896c-2bfe8dd853e7
status: test
description: This rule identifies attempts to alter WAB.EXE’s DLL load path by setting the WAB registry value for DLLPath to something other than the default location. Attackers can use this registry-based DLL redirection to load a different DLL than expected when WAB.EXE launches. The detection relies on registry set telemetry for the specific DLLPath value and compares the stored details against the default DLL path.
references:
  - https://github.com/LOLBAS-Project/LOLBAS/blob/8283d8d91552213ded165fd36deb6cb9534cb443/yml/OSBinaries/Wab.yml
  - https://twitter.com/Hexacorn/status/991447379864932352
  - http://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2018/05/01/wab-exe-as-a-lolbin/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/registry/registry_set/registry_set_wab_dllpath_reg_change.yml
author: oscd.community, Natalia Shornikova, Huntrule Team
date: 2020-10-13
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1218
logsource:
  category: registry_set
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    TargetObject|endswith: \Software\Microsoft\WAB\DLLPath
  filter:
    Details: "%CommonProgramFiles%\\System\\wab32.dll"
  condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: fc014922-5def-4da9-a0fc-28c973f41bfb
    type: derived

Convert

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