elasticmediumTTP

Execution via local SxS Shared Module

Identifies the creation, change, or deletion of a DLL module within a Windows SxS local folder. Adversaries may abuse shared modules to execute malicious payloads by instructing the Windows module loader to load DLLs from arbitrary local paths.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1129 T1574 T1574.001

executiondefense-evasion

Detection Query

file where host.os.type == "windows" and file.extension : "dll" and
  file.path : (
    "C:\\*\\*.exe.local\\*.dll",
    /* Crowdstrike specific condition as it uses NT Object paths */
    "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\*\\*.exe.local\\*.dll"
  )

Author

Elastic

Created

2020/10/28

Data Sources

Elastic EndgameElastic DefendSysmonMicrosoft Defender XDRSentinelOneCrowdstrikewinlogbeat-*logs-endpoint.events.file-*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*endgame-*logs-m365_defender.event-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*

References

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dlls/dynamic-link-library-redirection

Tags

Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: ExecutionData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: SysmonData Source: Microsoft Defender XDRData Source: SentinelOneData Source: CrowdstrikeResources: Investigation Guide

Raw Content

[metadata]
creation_date = "2020/10/28"
integration = ["endpoint", "windows", "m365_defender", "sentinel_one_cloud_funnel", "crowdstrike"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2026/05/04"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
description = """
Identifies the creation, change, or deletion of a DLL module within a Windows SxS local folder. Adversaries may abuse
shared modules to execute malicious payloads by instructing the Windows module loader to load DLLs from arbitrary local
paths.
"""
from = "now-9m"
index = [
    "winlogbeat-*",
    "logs-endpoint.events.file-*",
    "logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*",
    "endgame-*",
    "logs-m365_defender.event-*",
    "logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*",
    "logs-crowdstrike.fdr*",
]
language = "eql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Execution via local SxS Shared Module"
note = """## Triage and analysis

The SxS DotLocal folder is a legitimate feature that can be abused to hijack standard modules loading order by forcing an executable on the same application.exe.local folder to load a malicious DLL module from the same directory.
"""

setup = """## Setup

This rule is designed for data generated by [Elastic Defend](https://www.elastic.co/security/endpoint-security), which provides native endpoint detection and response, along with event enrichments designed to work with our detection rules.

Setup instructions: https://ela.st/install-elastic-defend

### Additional data sources

This rule also supports the following third-party data sources. For setup instructions, refer to the links below:

- [CrowdStrike](https://ela.st/crowdstrike-integration)
- [Microsoft Defender XDR](https://ela.st/m365-defender)
- [SentinelOne Cloud Funnel](https://ela.st/sentinel-one-cloud-funnel)
- [Sysmon Event ID 11 - File Create](https://ela.st/sysmon-event-11-setup)
"""

references = ["https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dlls/dynamic-link-library-redirection"]
risk_score = 47
rule_id = "a3ea12f3-0d4e-4667-8b44-4230c63f3c75"
severity = "medium"
tags = [
    "Domain: Endpoint",
    "OS: Windows",
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Execution",
    "Data Source: Elastic Endgame",
    "Data Source: Elastic Defend",
    "Data Source: Sysmon",
    "Data Source: Microsoft Defender XDR",
    "Data Source: SentinelOne",
    "Data Source: Crowdstrike",
    "Resources: Investigation Guide",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "eql"

query = '''
file where host.os.type == "windows" and file.extension : "dll" and
  file.path : (
    "C:\\*\\*.exe.local\\*.dll",
    /* Crowdstrike specific condition as it uses NT Object paths */
    "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\*\\*.exe.local\\*.dll"
  )
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1129"
name = "Shared Modules"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1129/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0002"
name = "Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/"

[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"

[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1574"
name = "Hijack Execution Flow"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/"

[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1574.001"
name = "DLL"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/001/"

[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"