Potential DLL Sideloading Via VMware Xfer — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems). Source status: test; severity: high. Source dates: 2022-08-02 / 2023-02-17.

{
  "product": "windows",
  "category": "image_load"
}

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 964bf20eea5b04e1514b34a5ac6c4ef1dbc2c33dcb367e9a64474ffca01ff1ab

Detection logic

Original source YAML. Source-tag agreement is not proof of complete semantic coverage. This rule has not been compiled for a SIEM backend or validated against live telemetry here.

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

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• Unlikely

Source references

• https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/lockbit-ransomware-side-loads-cobalt-strike-beacon-with-legitimate-vmware-utility/