sigmahighHunting

Suspicious Volume Shadow Copy VSS_PS.dll Load

Detects the image load of vss_ps.dll by uncommon executables. This DLL is used by the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to manage shadow copies of files and volumes. It is often abused by attackers to delete or manipulate shadow copies, which can hinder forensic investigations and data recovery efforts. The fact that it is loaded by processes that are not typically associated with VSS operations can indicate suspicious activity.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1490

defense-evasionimpact

Detection Query

selection:
  ImageLoaded|endswith: \vss_ps.dll
filter_main_legit:
  Image|startswith: C:\Windows\
  Image|endswith:
    - \clussvc.exe
    - \dismhost.exe
    - \dllhost.exe
    - \inetsrv\appcmd.exe
    - \inetsrv\iissetup.exe
    - \msiexec.exe
    - \rundll32.exe
    - \searchindexer.exe
    - \srtasks.exe
    - \svchost.exe
    - \System32\SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe
    - \taskhostw.exe
    - \thor.exe
    - \thor64.exe
    - \tiworker.exe
    - \vssvc.exe
    - \vssadmin.exe
    - \WmiPrvSE.exe
    - \wsmprovhost.exe
filter_main_update:
  CommandLine|startswith: C:\$WinREAgent\Scratch\
  CommandLine|contains: \dismhost.exe {
filter_main_image_null:
  Image: null
filter_optional_programfiles:
  Image|startswith:
    - C:\Program Files\
    - C:\Program Files (x86)\
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*

Author

Markus Neis, @markus_neis

Created

2021-07-07

Data Sources

windowsImage Load Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.impactattack.t1490

Raw Content

title: Suspicious Volume Shadow Copy VSS_PS.dll Load
id: 333cdbe8-27bb-4246-bf82-b41a0dca4b70
related:
    - id: 48bfd177-7cf2-412b-ad77-baf923489e82 # vsstrace.dll
      type: similar
    - id: 37774c23-25a1-4adb-bb6d-8bb9fd59c0f8 # vssapi.dll
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects the image load of vss_ps.dll by uncommon executables. This DLL is used by the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to manage shadow copies of files and volumes.
    It is often abused by attackers to delete or manipulate shadow copies, which can hinder forensic investigations and data recovery efforts.
    The fact that it is loaded by processes that are not typically associated with VSS operations can indicate suspicious activity.
references:
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/ba88ca45589fae0139a40ca27738a8fc2dfbe1be5a64a9558f4e0f52b35c5add
    - https://twitter.com/am0nsec/status/1412232114980982787
author: Markus Neis, @markus_neis
date: 2021-07-07
modified: 2025-07-11
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.impact
    - attack.t1490
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\vss_ps.dll'
    filter_main_legit:
        Image|startswith: 'C:\Windows\'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\clussvc.exe'
            - '\dismhost.exe'
            - '\dllhost.exe'
            - '\inetsrv\appcmd.exe'
            - '\inetsrv\iissetup.exe'
            - '\msiexec.exe'
            - '\rundll32.exe'
            - '\searchindexer.exe'
            - '\srtasks.exe'
            - '\svchost.exe'
            - '\System32\SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe'
            - '\taskhostw.exe'
            - '\thor.exe'
            - '\thor64.exe'
            - '\tiworker.exe'
            - '\vssvc.exe'
            - '\vssadmin.exe'
            - '\WmiPrvSE.exe'
            - '\wsmprovhost.exe'
    filter_main_update:
        CommandLine|startswith: 'C:\$WinREAgent\Scratch\'
        CommandLine|contains: '\dismhost.exe {'
    filter_main_image_null:
        Image: null
    filter_optional_programfiles:
        # When using this rule in your environment replace the "Program Files" folder by the exact applications you know use this. Examples would be software such as backup solutions
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files\'
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high