{"id":"552b6b65-df37-4d3e-a258-f2fc4771ae54","title":"Potential Antivirus Software DLL Sideloading","description":"Detects potential DLL sideloading of DLLs that are part of antivirus software suchas McAfee, Symantec...etc","author":"Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema (project and research)","status":"test","level":"medium","date":"2022-08-17","modified":"2025-10-07","tags":["attack.persistence","attack.privilege-escalation","attack.execution","attack.stealth","attack.t1574.001"],"technique_ids":["T1574.001"],"logsource":{"category":"image_load","product":"windows"},"falsepositives":["Applications that load the same dlls mentioned in the detection section. Investigate them and filter them out if a lot FPs are caused.","Dell SARemediation plugin folder (C:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SARemediation\\plugin\\log.dll) is known to contain the 'log.dll' file.","The Canon MyPrinter folder 'C:\\Program Files\\Canon\\MyPrinter\\' is known to contain the 'log.dll' file"],"references":["https://hijacklibs.net/"],"source_path":"rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_antivirus.yml","source_sha256":"41f0cc3a1275f83118b5172620c7ab5fd14c80a172b7dbc04788339880dfc41b","source_url":"https://github.com/anpa1200/sigma/blob/b249e9683190cffdcaf188ccbfb90bf4759844e1/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_antivirus.yml","license":"Detection Rule License 1.1","license_url":"https://github.com/SigmaHQ/Detection-Rule-License/blob/main/LICENSE.Detection.Rules.md","yaml":"title: Potential Antivirus Software DLL Sideloading\nid: 552b6b65-df37-4d3e-a258-f2fc4771ae54\nstatus: test\ndescription: Detects potential DLL sideloading of DLLs that are part of antivirus software suchas McAfee, Symantec...etc\nreferences:\n    - https://hijacklibs.net/ # For list of DLLs that could be sideloaded (search for dlls mentioned here in there)\nauthor: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema (project and research)\ndate: 2022-08-17\nmodified: 2025-10-07\ntags:\n    - attack.persistence\n    - attack.privilege-escalation\n    - attack.execution\n    - attack.stealth\n    - attack.t1574.001\nlogsource:\n    category: image_load\n    product: windows\ndetection:\n    # Bitdefender\n    selection_bitdefender:\n        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\\log.dll'\n    filter_log_dll_bitdefender:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith:\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\Bitdefender Antivirus Free\\'\n            - 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Bitdefender Antivirus Free\\'\n    filter_log_dll_dell_sar:\n        Image: 'C:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SARemediation\\audit\\TelemetryUtility.exe'\n        ImageLoaded:\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SARemediation\\plugin\\log.dll'\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SARemediation\\audit\\log.dll'\n    filter_log_dll_canon:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith: 'C:\\Program Files\\Canon\\MyPrinter\\'\n    filter_log_dll_avast:\n        ImageLoaded:\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\AVAST Software\\Avast\\log.dll'\n            - 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\AVAST Software\\Avast\\log.dll'\n    filter_log_dll_avg:\n        ImageLoaded:\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\AVG\\Antivirus\\log.dll'\n            - 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\AVG\\Antivirus\\log.dll'\n    # F-Secure\n    selection_fsecure:\n        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\\qrt.dll'\n    filter_fsecure:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith:\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\F-Secure\\Anti-Virus\\'\n            - 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\F-Secure\\Anti-Virus\\'\n    # McAfee\n    selection_mcafee:\n        ImageLoaded|endswith:\n            - '\\ashldres.dll'\n            - '\\lockdown.dll'\n            - '\\vsodscpl.dll'\n    filter_mcafee:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith:\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\McAfee\\'\n            - 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\McAfee\\'\n    # CyberArk\n    selection_cyberark:\n        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\\vftrace.dll'\n    filter_cyberark:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith:\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\CyberArk\\Endpoint Privilege Manager\\Agent\\x32\\'\n            - 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\CyberArk\\Endpoint Privilege Manager\\Agent\\x32\\'\n    # Avast\n    selection_avast:\n        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\\wsc.dll'\n    filter_wsc_dll_avast:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith:\n            - 'C:\\program Files\\AVAST Software\\Avast\\'\n            - 'C:\\program Files (x86)\\AVAST Software\\Avast\\'\n    filter_wsc_dll_avg:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith:\n            - 'C:\\Program Files\\AVG\\Antivirus\\'\n            - 'C:\\Program Files (x86)\\AVG\\Antivirus\\'\n    # ESET\n    selection_eset_deslock:\n        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\\DLPPREM32.dll'\n    filter_eset_deslock:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith:\n            - 'C:\\program Files\\ESET'\n            - 'C:\\program Files (x86)\\ESET'\n    # Trend Micro Titanium\n    selection_titanium:\n        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\\tmdbglog.dll'\n    filter_titanium:\n        ImageLoaded|startswith:\n            - 'C:\\program Files\\Trend Micro\\Titanium\\'\n            - 'C:\\program Files (x86)\\Trend Micro\\Titanium\\'\n    condition: (selection_bitdefender and not 1 of filter_log_dll_*)\n               or (selection_fsecure and not filter_fsecure)\n               or (selection_mcafee and not filter_mcafee)\n               or (selection_cyberark and not filter_cyberark)\n               or (selection_avast and not 1 of filter_wsc_dll_*)\n               or (selection_titanium and not filter_titanium)\n               or (selection_eset_deslock and not filter_eset_deslock)\nfalsepositives:\n    - Applications that load the same dlls mentioned in the detection section. Investigate them and filter them out if a lot FPs are caused.\n    - Dell SARemediation plugin folder (C:\\Program Files\\Dell\\SARemediation\\plugin\\log.dll) is known to contain the 'log.dll' file.\n    - The Canon MyPrinter folder 'C:\\Program Files\\Canon\\MyPrinter\\' is known to contain the 'log.dll' file\nlevel: medium\n","validation":"yaml_parsed_not_backend_compiled_or_live_validated","techniques":[{"key":"enterprise/T1574.001","id":"T1574.001","name":"DLL","page":"techniques/enterprise/T1574.001/"}],"data_path":"data/detection-rules/552b6b65-df37-4d3e-a258-f2fc4771ae54.json","kind":"sigma"}