huntrule

Windows: Rundll32 LaunchApplication via pcwutl.dll

Flags rundll32.exe using pcwutl.dll to invoke LaunchApplication.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Julia Fomina, oscd.community (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2020-10-05
Updated
2026-07-31
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 identifies process creation where rundll32.exe is invoked to call the LaunchApplication function from pcwutl.dll. Attackers may use this DLL-based execution path to stealthily launch executables through trusted system binaries. It relies on Windows process creation telemetry, matching rundll32.exe invocation details and command-line arguments referencing pcwutl and LaunchApplication.

Reporting behind it

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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
Windows: Rundll32 LaunchApplication via pcwutl.dll
Pivot detection · T1218.011 · 9 related

Changelog

v2
  1. v2
    Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
  2. 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.