Windows ImageLoad of SolidPDFCreator.dll from Unexpected Paths

Alerts when SolidPDFCreator.dll is loaded from a non-standard process or path, consistent with potential DLL sideloading.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2

Product: windows
Category: image_load
Author: X__Junior (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published: 2023-05-07
Updated: 2026-07-31

Analysis Detection

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 instances where SolidPDFCreator.dll is loaded, excluding cases where the DLL load originates from the expected SolidPDFCreator installation directories. DLL sideloading enables attackers to execute malicious code under the context of a legitimate process by abusing DLL search and load behavior. It relies on Windows image load telemetry that records the loaded module path (ImageLoaded) and the loading executable image path (Image).

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1574.001 — drag to rearrange

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Windows ImageLoad of SolidPDFCreator.dll from Unexpected Paths

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-solidpdfcreator-dll-sideloading-via-imageload-events-a2edbce1

title: Windows ImageLoad of SolidPDFCreator.dll from Unexpected Paths
id: 68420b74-8c83-4fe0-88cb-7a74a6d85ab4
status: test
description: This rule flags instances where SolidPDFCreator.dll is loaded, excluding cases where the DLL load originates from the expected SolidPDFCreator installation directories. DLL sideloading enables attackers to execute malicious code under the context of a legitimate process by abusing DLL search and load behavior. It relies on Windows image load telemetry that records the loaded module path (ImageLoaded) and the loading executable image path (Image).
references:
  - https://lab52.io/blog/new-mustang-pandas-campaing-against-australia/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_solidpdfcreator.yml
author: X__Junior (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2023-05-07
tags:
  - attack.persistence
  - attack.privilege-escalation
  - attack.execution
  - attack.stealth
  - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
  category: image_load
  product: windows
detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: \SolidPDFCreator.dll
  filter_main_path:
    Image|endswith: \SolidPDFCreator.exe
    ImageLoaded|startswith:
      - C:\Program Files (x86)\SolidDocuments\SolidPDFCreator\
      - C:\Program Files\SolidDocuments\SolidPDFCreator\
  condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: a2edbce1-95c8-4291-8676-0d45146862b3
    type: derived

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

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