Potential Libvlc.DLL Sideloading — Sigma Rule

Rule metadata and linked tags

Author: X__Junior. Source status: test; severity: medium. Source dates: 2023-04-17 / not supplied.

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

Pinned original Sigma rule · Detection Rule License 1.1

Source SHA-256: 3561ba1d89b8d51e390147070657c48195d85e5ccafa5f422920ea89d823a69b

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 Libvlc.DLL Sideloading
id: bf9808c4-d24f-44a2-8398-b65227d406b6
status: test
description: Detects potential DLL sideloading of "libvlc.dll", a DLL that is legitimately used by "VLC.exe"
references:
    - https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/c/earth-preta-updated-stealthy-strategies.html
    - https://hijacklibs.net/entries/3rd_party/vlc/libvlc.html
author: X__Junior
date: 2023-04-17
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\libvlc.dll'
    filter_main_vlc:
        ImageLoaded|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\VideoLAN\VLC\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - False positives are expected if VLC is installed in non-default locations
level: medium

Original YAML and metadata in JSON

False positives

• False positives are expected if VLC is installed in non-default locations

Source references

• https://www.trendmicro.com/en_us/research/23/c/earth-preta-updated-stealthy-strategies.html
• https://hijacklibs.net/entries/3rd_party/vlc/libvlc.html