huntrule

Windows UAC Bypass via DismHost.exe DLL Hijacking

Flags DismHost.exe executions from AppData\Local\Temp running as High/System integrity, consistent with UAC bypass via DLL hijacking.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
process_creation
Author
Christian Burkard (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2021-08-30
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Priv Esc → 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 events where DismHost.exe is launched from a user’s AppData\Local\Temp path under high or system integrity contexts. Such behavior can indicate DLL hijacking used to bypass UAC and execute attacker-controlled code with elevated privileges. The detection relies on process creation telemetry capturing ParentImage, command path context, and integrity level values.

Reporting behind it

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Suspicious UAC Bypass via control.exe App Paths or Shell Open Command Hijack
Malicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Suspicious UAC Bypass via COMAutoApprovalList Registry Modification (via registry_set)
Malicious UAC Bypass via explorer.exe NOUACCHECK Argument
Suspicious UAC Bypass via ms-settings Shell Command Hijack (via registry_set)
Windows UAC Bypass via DismHost.exe DLL Hijacking
Pivot detection · T1548.002 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.