Windows WCE wceaux.dll File Access via Security Event 4656/4663

Identifies Windows Security event activity involving access to the wceaux.dll library file.

FreeReviewedSigma · Critical · v2

Product: windows
Service: security
Author: Thomas Patzke (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2017-06-14
Updated: 2026-07-31

ATT&CK techniques

Cred Access

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
- T1003OS Credential Dumping
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags access to the Windows component file wceaux.dll by matching Windows Security auditing events 4656 and 4663 for objects whose name ends with \wceaux.dll. File access to specific DLLs can be indicative of tools or payloads being loaded or interacted with during remote execution workflows. Detection relies on Security log telemetry that includes the file object name and access-related event IDs.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious Veeam Backup Credential Harvesting via PowerShell (via ps_script)

Suspicious Network Provider Registration for Credential Interception via NPPSpy

Malicious Mimikatz Malicious Security Package (SSP) Exfiltrates Cleartext Passwords in File (via file_event)

Malicious WDigest UseLogonCredential Enablement For Credential Theft

Windows WCE wceaux.dll File Access via Security Event 4656/4663

Pivot detection · T1003 · 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-security-events-wce-wceaux-dll-file-access-1de68c67

title: Windows WCE wceaux.dll File Access via Security Event 4656/4663
id: ab2fcba1-29c5-4865-94c9-a8c8fe4f7038
status: test
description: This rule flags access to the Windows component file wceaux.dll by matching Windows Security auditing events 4656 and 4663 for objects whose name ends with \wceaux.dll. File access to specific DLLs can be indicative of tools or payloads being loaded or interacted with during remote execution workflows. Detection relies on Security log telemetry that includes the file object name and access-related event IDs.
references:
  - https://www.jpcert.or.jp/english/pub/sr/ir_research.html
  - https://jpcertcc.github.io/ToolAnalysisResultSheet
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/security/win_security_mal_wceaux_dll.yml
author: Thomas Patzke, Huntrule Team
date: 2017-06-14
modified: 2025-01-30
tags:
  - attack.credential-access
  - attack.t1003
  - attack.s0005
logsource:
  product: windows
  service: security
detection:
  selection:
    EventID:
      - 4656
      - 4663
    ObjectName|endswith: \wceaux.dll
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: critical
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: 1de68c67-af5c-4097-9c85-fe5578e09e67
    type: derived

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