Potential DLL Sideloading Of DBGHELP.DLL

Title: Potential DLL Sideloading Of DBGHELP.DLL
Status: test
Description:Detects potential DLL sideloading of "dbghelp.dll"
References:
  -https://hijacklibs.net/
Author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems), Wietze Beukema (project and research)
Date: 2022-10-25
modified:2025-10-07
Tags:

• -'attack.persistence'
• -'attack.privilege-escalation'
• -'attack.execution'
• -'attack.stealth'
• -'attack.t1574.001'

Logsource:

• category: image_load
• product: windows

Detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|endswith: '\dbghelp.dll'
  filter_main_generic:
    ImageLoaded|startswith:
      -'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
      -'C:\Program Files\'
      -'C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\'
      -'C:\Windows\System32\'
      -'C:\Windows\SystemTemp\'
      -'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
      -'C:\Windows\WinSxS\'

  filter_optional_anaconda:
    ImageLoaded|endswith:
      -'\Anaconda3\Lib\site-packages\vtrace\platforms\windll\amd64\dbghelp.dll'
      -'\Anaconda3\Lib\site-packages\vtrace\platforms\windll\i386\dbghelp.dll'

  filter_optional_epicgames:
    ImageLoaded|endswith:
      -'\Epic Games\Launcher\Engine\Binaries\ThirdParty\DbgHelp\dbghelp.dll'
      -'\Epic Games\MagicLegends\x86\dbghelp.dll'

  filter_optional_opera:
    ImageLoaded|contains: 'opera\Opera Installer Temp\opera_package'
    ImageLoaded|endswith: '\assistant\dbghelp.dll'
  condition:selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
Falsepositives:
  -Legitimate applications loading their own versions of the DLL mentioned in this rule
Level: medium