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Windows DLL side-loading: KeyScramblerIE.DLL loaded by KeyScrambler.exe

Alerts on KeyScrambler.exe loading KeyScramblerIE.dll, a common DLL side-loading pattern that may indicate malicious library execution.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v2
Product
windows
Category
image_load
Author
Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2024-04-15
Updated
2026-07-31
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → 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 potential DLL sideloading where KeyScramblerIE.DLL is loaded by KeyScrambler.exe (or KeyScramblerLogon.exe). Such behavior can indicate an attacker placing a malicious DLL alongside a legitimate executable to hijack execution flow and evade defenses. It relies on Windows image-load telemetry, matching executable and loaded-module paths while excluding known legitimate installation directories and valid signatures from QFX Software Corporation.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1574.001 — drag to rearrange
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Suspicious Encrypted Implant File Creation for DLL Search Order Hijacking (RainyDay Turian PlugX)
Suspicious RoboForm Signed Binary Executed From Non-Standard Path (via process_creation)
Malicious dal_keepalives.dll Sideloaded By Signed Binary (via image_load)
Suspicious Cortex XDR Binary Sideloading winutils.dll (via image_load)
Suspicious CoinLoader DLL Sideload From Z-1-36-81 Directory (via image_load)
Windows DLL side-loading: KeyScramblerIE.DLL loaded by KeyScrambler.exe
Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 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.