sigmahighHunting

Potential Mpclient.DLL Sideloading

Detects potential sideloading of "mpclient.dll" by Windows Defender processes ("MpCmdRun" and "NisSrv") from their non-default directory.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1574.001

privilege-escalationpersistencedefense-evasion

Detection Query

selection:
  ImageLoaded|endswith: \mpclient.dll
  Image|endswith:
    - \MpCmdRun.exe
    - \NisSrv.exe
filter_main_known_locations:
  Image|startswith:
    - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\
    - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\
    - C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\
    - C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\
    - C:\Windows\WinSxS\
condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*

Author

Bhabesh Raj

Created

2022-08-02

Data Sources

windowsImage Load Events

Platforms

windows

References

https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/living-off-windows-defender-lockbit-ransomware-sideloads-cobalt-strike-through-microsoft-security-tool

Tags

attack.privilege-escalationattack.persistenceattack.defense-evasionattack.t1574.001

Raw Content

title: Potential Mpclient.DLL Sideloading
id: 418dc89a-9808-4b87-b1d7-e5ae0cb6effc
related:
    - id: 7002aa10-b8d4-47ae-b5ba-51ab07e228b9
      type: similar
status: test
description: Detects potential sideloading of "mpclient.dll" by Windows Defender processes ("MpCmdRun" and "NisSrv") from their non-default directory.
references:
    - https://www.sentinelone.com/blog/living-off-windows-defender-lockbit-ransomware-sideloads-cobalt-strike-through-microsoft-security-tool
author: Bhabesh Raj
date: 2022-08-02
modified: 2023-08-04
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: image_load
detection:
    selection:
        ImageLoaded|endswith: '\mpclient.dll'
        Image|endswith:
            - '\MpCmdRun.exe'
            - '\NisSrv.exe'
    filter_main_known_locations:
        Image|startswith:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Defender\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\Windows Defender\'
            - 'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\'
            - 'C:\Windows\WinSxS\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high