Sigma rule: Potential DLL Sideloading Of Non-Existent DLLs From System Folders

Rule

Title

Potential DLL Sideloading Of Non-Existent DLLs From System Folders

Status

test

Level

high

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), SBousseaden

Date

2022-12-09

Modified

2026-01-24

File

rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_non_existent_dlls.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

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.

Log source

product

windows

category

image_load

Detection

selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith:
        # Add other DLLs
        - ':\Windows\System32\axeonoffhelper.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\cdpsgshims.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\oci.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\offdmpsvc.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\shellchromeapi.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\TSMSISrv.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\TSVIPSrv.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\wbem\wbemcomn.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\WLBSCTRL.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\wow64log.dll'
        - ':\Windows\System32\WptsExtensions.dll'
filter_main_ms_signed:
    Signed: 'true'
    SignatureStatus: 'Valid'
    # There could be other signatures (please add when found)
    Signature: 'Microsoft Windows'
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

False positives (as the rule lists them)

• Unknown

Tags

• attack.persistence
• attack.privilege-escalation
• attack.execution
• attack.stealth
• attack.t1574.001

MITRE ATT&CK ids this rule names

• T1574.001

Related rules

• df6ecb8b-7822-4f4b-b412-08f524b4576c (similar)
• 602a1f13-c640-4d73-b053-be9a2fa58b77 (obsolete)

References

• http://remoteawesomethoughts.blogspot.com/2019/05/windows-10-task-schedulerservice.html
• https://clement.notin.org/blog/2020/09/12/CVE-2020-7315-McAfee-Agent-DLL-injection/
• https://decoded.avast.io/martinchlumecky/png-steganography/
• https://github.com/Wh04m1001/SysmonEoP
• https://itm4n.github.io/cdpsvc-dll-hijacking/
• https://posts.specterops.io/lateral-movement-scm-and-dll-hijacking-primer-d2f61e8ab992
• https://securelist.com/passiveneuron-campaign-with-apt-implants-and-cobalt-strike/117745/
• https://www.crowdstrike.com/en-us/blog/4-ways-adversaries-hijack-dlls/
• https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2013/12/08/beyond-good-ol-run-key-part-5/
• https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2025/06/14/wermgr-exe-boot-offdmpsvc-dll-lolbin/
• https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2025/06/14/wpr-exe-boottrace-phantom-dll-axeonoffhelper-dll-lolbin/
• https://x.com/0gtweet/status/1564131230941122561

Read on 2026-11-03T00:58:21.399Z under licence sigma-drl-1.1@d5f4c36a from https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_non_existent_dlls.yml