huntrule

Windows Image Load: Suspicious DLL Sideloading of dbghelp.dll

Alerts on dbghelp.dll being loaded from non-standard locations, indicating possible DLL sideloading.

FreeReviewedSigma · Medium · v2
Product
windows
Category
image_load
Author
Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema (project and research) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2022-10-25
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 Windows processes that load dbghelp.dll from paths outside common system and software directories, which can indicate DLL sideloading. Attackers may abuse the DLL search/load order to execute malicious code under the context of a legitimate application. It relies on image load telemetry that records the full ImageLoaded path, matching events that end with \dbghelp.dll while excluding known benign loading locations.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1574.001 — drag to rearrange
DLL Side-Loading via Signed Binary Loading Known Malicious Helper DLL
Suspicious DLL Sideloading via msdtc oci.dll Install (via process_creation)
Suspicious wmicodegen.dll Sideload by inetinfo.exe (UAT-8099 Cobalt Strike)
Suspicious LucidRook DismCore.dll Side-Load into Browser Process
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 Image Load: Suspicious DLL Sideloading of dbghelp.dll
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.