Windows Remote Access Software BRC4 Loaded Dll

name: Windows Remote Access Software BRC4 Loaded Dll
id: 73cf5dcb-cf36-4167-8bbe-384fe5384d05
version: 8
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Teoderick Contreras, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic identifies the loading of four specific Windows DLLs (credui.dll, dbghelp.dll, samcli.dll, winhttp.dll) by a non-standard process. This detection leverages Sysmon EventCode 7 to monitor DLL load events and flags when all four DLLs are loaded within a short time frame. This activity is significant as it may indicate the presence of Brute Ratel C4, a sophisticated remote access tool used for credential dumping and other malicious activities. If confirmed malicious, this behavior could lead to unauthorized access, credential theft, and further compromise of the affected system.
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 7
search: |-
    `sysmon` EventCode=7
      | bin _time span=30s
      | eval BRC4_AnomalyLoadedDll=case(OriginalFileName=="credui.dll", 1, OriginalFileName=="DBGHELP.DLL", 1, OriginalFileName=="SAMCLI.DLL", 1, OriginalFileName=="winhttp.dll", 1, 1=1, 0)
      | eval BRC4_LoadedDllPath=case(match(ImageLoaded, "credui.dll"), 1, match(ImageLoaded, "dbghelp.dll"), 1, match(ImageLoaded, "samcli.dll"), 1, match(ImageLoaded, "winhttp.dll"), 1, 1=1, 0)
      | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(ImageLoaded) as ImageLoaded values(OriginalFileName) as OriginalFileName dc(ImageLoaded) as ImageLoadedCount values(loaded_file) as loaded_file values(loaded_file_path) as loaded_file_path values(original_file_name) as original_file_name values(process_exec) as process_exec values(process_guid) as process_guid values(process_hash) as process_hash values(process_id) as process_id values(process_name) as process_name values(process_path) as process_path values(service_dll_signature_exists) as service_dll_signature_exists values(service_dll_signature_verified) as service_dll_signature_verified values(signature) as signature values(signature_id) as signature_id values(user_id) as user_id values(vendor_product) as vendor_product
        BY Image BRC4_LoadedDllPath BRC4_AnomalyLoadedDll
           dest Signed
      | where ImageLoadedCount == 4 AND (BRC4_LoadedDllPath == 1 OR BRC4_AnomalyLoadedDll == 1)
      | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
      | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
      | `windows_remote_access_software_brc4_loaded_dll_filter`
how_to_implement: The latest Sysmon TA 3.0 https://splunkbase.splunk.com/app/5709 will add the ImageLoaded name to the process_name field, allowing this query to work. Use as an example and implement for other products.
known_false_positives: This module can be loaded by a third party application. Filter is needed.
references:
    - https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/brute-ratel-c4-tool/
    - https://www.mdsec.co.uk/2022/08/part-3-how-i-met-your-beacon-brute-ratel/
    - https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/logoncli.dll-138871DBE68D0696D3D7FA91BC2873B1.html
    - https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/credui.dll-A5BD797BBC2DD55231B9DE99837E5461.html
    - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/secauthn/credential-manager
    - https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/samcli.dll-522D6D616EF142CDE965BD3A450A9E4C.html
    - https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/dbghelp.dll-15A55EAB307EF8C190FE6135C0A86F7C.html
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$dest$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  dest = "$dest$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$dest$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$dest$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: a process $Image$ loaded several modules $ImageLoaded$ that might related to credential access on $dest$.
    risk_objects:
        - field: dest
          type: system
          score: 20
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Brute Ratel C4
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1219
        - T1003
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: endpoint
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/malware/brute_ratel/iso_version_dll_campaign/sysmon.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog