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Microsoft Excel Add-In Loaded From Uncommon Location

Detects Microsoft Excel loading an Add-In (.xll) file from an uncommon location

MITRE ATT&CK

execution

Detection Query

selection:
  Image|endswith: \excel.exe
  ImageLoaded|contains:
    - \Desktop\
    - \Downloads\
    - \Perflogs\
    - \Temp\
    - \Users\Public\
    - \Windows\Tasks\
  ImageLoaded|endswith: .xll
condition: selection

Author

Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2023-05-12

Data Sources

windowsImage Load Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.executionattack.t1204.002

Raw Content

title: Microsoft Excel Add-In Loaded From Uncommon Location
id: af4c4609-5755-42fe-8075-4effb49f5d44
related:
    - id: c5f4b5cb-4c25-4249-ba91-aa03626e3185
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects Microsoft Excel loading an Add-In (.xll) file from an uncommon location
references:
    - https://www.mandiant.com/resources/blog/lnk-between-browsers
    - https://wazuh.com/blog/detecting-xll-files-used-for-dropping-fin7-jssloader-with-wazuh/
author: Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2023-05-12
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.t1204.002
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\excel.exe'
        ImageLoaded|contains:
            # Note: Add or remove locations from this list based on your internal policy
            - '\Desktop\'
            - '\Downloads\'
            - '\Perflogs\'
            - '\Temp\'
            - '\Users\Public\'
            - '\Windows\Tasks\'
        ImageLoaded|endswith: '.xll'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Some tuning might be required to allow or remove certain locations used by the rule if you consider them as safe locations
level: medium