Query: detection rule: Detects creation of specific system DLL files that are usually not present on the system (or at least not in system dir
Matching passage: Sigma rule: Detects creation of specific system DLL files that are usually not present on the system (or at least not in system dir. Logsource: windows / file_event. Rule: title: Creation Of Non-Existent System DLL id: df6ecb8b-7822-4f4b-b412-08f524b4576c related: - id: 6b98b92b-4f00-4f62-b4fe-4d1920215771 type: similar status: test description: '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. ' 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 author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), fornotes date: 2022-12-01 modified: 2026-01-24 tags: - attack.persistence - attack.privilege-escalation - attack.execution - attack.stealth - attack.t1574.001 logsource: 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 falsepositives: - Unknown level: medium regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/fil
Near-miss passage: Sigma rule: Detects Schtask creations that point to a suspicious folder or an environment variable often used by malware. Logsource: windows / process_creation. Rule: title: Schedule Task Creation From Env Variable Or Potentially Suspicious Path Via Schtasks.EXE id: 81325ce1-be01-4250-944f-b4789644556f related: - id: 43f487f0-755f-4c2a-bce7-d6d2eec2fcf8 type: derived status: test description: Detects Schtask creations that point to a suspicious folder or an environment variable often used by malware references: - https://www.welivesecurity.com/2022/01/18/donot-go-do-not-respawn/ - https://www.joesandbox.com/analysis/514608/0/html#324415FF7D8324231381BAD48A052F85DF04 - https://blog.talosintelligence.com/gophish-powerrat-dcrat/ author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) date: 2022-02-21 modified: 2025-10-07 tags: - attack.privilege-escalation - attack.persistence - attack.execution - attack.t1053.005 logsource: product: windows category: process_creation detection: selection_1_create: Image|endswith: \schtasks.exe CommandLine|contains|windash: ' /create ' selection_1_all_folders: CommandLine|contains: - :\Perflogs - :\Users\All Users\ - :\Users\Default\ - :\Users\Public - :\Windows\Temp - \AppData\Local\ - \AppData\Roaming\ - '%AppData%' - '%Public%' selection_2_parent: ParentCommandLine|endswith: \svchost.exe -k netsvcs -p -s Schedule selection_2_some_folders: CommandLine|contains: - :\Perflogs - :\Windows\Temp - \Users\Public - '%Public%' filter_optional_other: - ParentCommandLine|contains: unattended.ini - CommandLine|contains: update_task.xml filter_optional_team_viewer: CommandLine|contains: /Create /TN TVInstallRestore /TR filter_optional_avira_install: CommandLine|contains|all: - '/Create /Xml ' - \Temp\.CR. - \Avira_Security_Installation.xml filter_optional_avira_other: CommandLine|contains|all: - /Create /F /TN - '/Xml ' - \Temp\ - Avira_ CommandLine|contains: - .tmp\UpdateFallbackTask.xml - .tmp\WatchdogServiceControlManagerTimeout.xml - .tmp\SystrayAutostart.xml - .tmp\MaintenanceTask.xml filter_optional_klite_codec: CommandLine|contains|all: - \Temp\ - '/Create /TN "klcp_update" /XML ' - \klcp_update_task.xml condition: ( all of selection_1_* or all of selection_2_* ) and not 1 of filter_optional_* falsepositives: - Benign scheduled tasks creations or executions that happen often during software installations - Software that uses the AppData folder and scheduled tasks to update the software in the AppData folders level: medium