Potential DLL Sideloading Of Non-Existent DLLs From System Folders

calendar Jan 24, 2026 · attack.defense-evasion attack.persistence attack.privilege-escalation attack.t1574.001  ·
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Detects loading of specific system DLL files that are usually not present on the system (or at least not in system directories) but may be loaded by legitimate processes, potentially indicating phantom DLL hijacking attempts. Phantom DLL hijacking involves placing malicious DLLs with names of non-existent system binaries in locations where legitimate applications may search for them, leading to execution of the malicious DLLs.

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 1title: Potential DLL Sideloading Of Non-Existent DLLs From System Folders
 2id: 6b98b92b-4f00-4f62-b4fe-4d1920215771
 3related:
 4    - id: df6ecb8b-7822-4f4b-b412-08f524b4576c # FileEvent rule
 5      type: similar
 6    - id: 602a1f13-c640-4d73-b053-be9a2fa58b77
 7      type: obsolete
 8status: test
 9description: |
10    Detects loading of specific system DLL files that are usually not present on the system (or at least not in system directories) but may be loaded by legitimate processes, potentially indicating phantom DLL hijacking attempts.
11    Phantom DLL hijacking involves placing malicious DLLs with names of non-existent system binaries in locations where legitimate applications may search for them, leading to execution of the malicious DLLs.    
12references:
13    - http://remoteawesomethoughts.blogspot.com/2019/05/windows-10-task-schedulerservice.html
14    - https://clement.notin.org/blog/2020/09/12/CVE-2020-7315-McAfee-Agent-DLL-injection/
15    - https://decoded.avast.io/martinchlumecky/png-steganography/
16    - https://github.com/Wh04m1001/SysmonEoP
17    - https://itm4n.github.io/cdpsvc-dll-hijacking/
18    - https://posts.specterops.io/lateral-movement-scm-and-dll-hijacking-primer-d2f61e8ab992
19    - https://securelist.com/passiveneuron-campaign-with-apt-implants-and-cobalt-strike/117745/
20    - https://www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/blog/4-ways-adversaries-hijack-dlls/
21    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2013/12/08/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-5/
22    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2025/06/14/wermgr-exe-boot-offdmpsvc-dll-lolbin/
23    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2025/06/14/wpr-exe-boottrace-phantom-dll-axeonoffhelper-dll-lolbin/
24    - https://x.com/0gtweet/status/1564131230941122561
25author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), SBousseaden
26date: 2022-12-09
27modified: 2026-01-24
28tags:
29    - attack.defense-evasion
30    - attack.persistence
31    - attack.privilege-escalation
32    - attack.t1574.001
33logsource:
34    category: image_load
35    product: windows
36detection:
37    selection:
38        ImageLoaded|endswith:
39            # Add other DLLs
40            - ':\Windows\System32\axeonoffhelper.dll'
41            - ':\Windows\System32\cdpsgshims.dll'
42            - ':\Windows\System32\oci.dll'
43            - ':\Windows\System32\offdmpsvc.dll'
44            - ':\Windows\System32\shellchromeapi.dll'
45            - ':\Windows\System32\TSMSISrv.dll'
46            - ':\Windows\System32\TSVIPSrv.dll'
47            - ':\Windows\System32\wbem\wbemcomn.dll'
48            - ':\Windows\System32\WLBSCTRL.dll'
49            - ':\Windows\System32\wow64log.dll'
50            - ':\Windows\System32\WptsExtensions.dll'
51    filter_main_ms_signed:
52        Signed: 'true'
53        SignatureStatus: 'Valid'
54        # There could be other signatures (please add when found)
55        Signature: 'Microsoft Windows'
56    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
57falsepositives:
58    - Unknown
59level: high

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