Sigma rule: Creation Of Non-Existent System DLL

Rule

Title

Creation Of Non-Existent System DLL

Status

test

Level

medium

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), fornotes

Date

2022-12-01

Modified

2026-01-24

File

rules/windows/file/file_event/file_event_win_create_non_existent_dlls.yml

Commit

ccbb0369507f796db0b0ae6854c8a2be471b9d84

Detects creation 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.
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.
Thus, the creation of such DLLs may indicate preparation for phantom DLL hijacking attacks.

Log source

product

windows

category

file_event

Detection

selection:
    TargetFilename|endswith:
        - ':\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'
        - '\SprintCSP.dll'
condition: selection

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

• 6b98b92b-4f00-4f62-b4fe-4d1920215771 (similar)

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/blackarrowsec/redteam-research/tree/26e6fc0c0d30d364758fa11c2922064a9a7fd309/LPE%20via%20StorSvc
• 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/file/file_event/file_event_win_create_non_existent_dlls.yml