Potential DLL Sideloading Via VMware Xfer

calendar Apr 28, 2026 · attack.privilege-escalation attack.persistence attack.execution attack.stealth attack.t1574.001  ·
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Detects loading of a DLL by the VMware Xfer utility from the non-default directory which may be an attempt to sideload arbitrary DLL

Sigma rule (View on GitHub)

 1title: Potential DLL Sideloading Via VMware Xfer
 2id: 9313dc13-d04c-46d8-af4a-a930cc55d93b
 3status: test
 4description: Detects loading of a DLL by the VMware Xfer utility from the non-default directory which may be an attempt to sideload arbitrary DLL
 5references:
 6    - https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/lockbit-ransomware-side-loads-cobalt-strike-beacon-with-legitimate-vmware-utility/
 7author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
 8date: 2022-08-02
 9modified: 2023-02-17
10tags:
11    - attack.privilege-escalation
12    - attack.persistence
13    - attack.execution
14    - attack.stealth
15    - attack.t1574.001
16logsource:
17    product: windows
18    category: image_load
19detection:
20    selection:
21        Image|endswith: '\VMwareXferlogs.exe'
22        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\glib-2.0.dll'
23    filter: # VMware might be installed in another path so update the rule accordingly
24        ImageLoaded|startswith: 'C:\Program Files\VMware\'
25    condition: selection and not filter
26falsepositives:
27    - Unlikely
28level: high

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