Potential DLL Sideloading Of Non-Existent DLLs From System Folders

Title: Potential DLL Sideloading Of Non-Existent DLLs From System Folders
Status: test
Description:Detects loading 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, potentially indicating phantom DLL hijacking attempts. 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.
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/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), SBousseaden
Date: 2022-12-09
modified:2026-01-24
Tags:

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

Logsource:

• category: image_load
• product: windows

Detection:
  selection:
    ImageLoaded|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'

  filter_main_ms_signed:
    Signed: 'true'
    SignatureStatus: 'Valid'
    Signature: 'Microsoft Windows'
  condition:selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
Falsepositives:
  -Unknown
Level: high