sigmamediumHunting

Rundll32.EXE Calling DllRegisterServer Export Function Explicitly

Detects when the DLL export function 'DllRegisterServer' is called in the commandline by Rundll32 explicitly where the DLL is located in a non-standard path.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1218

defense-evasion

Detection Query

selection_image:
  - Image|endswith: \rundll32.exe
  - OriginalFileName: RUNDLL32.EXE
selection_cmdline:
  CommandLine|contains: DllRegisterServer
filter_main_legit_paths:
  CommandLine|contains:
    - :\Program Files (x86)
    - :\Program Files\
    - :\Windows\System32\
    - :\Windows\SysWOW64\
condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*

Author

Andreas Braathen (mnemonic.io)

Created

2023-10-17

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.t1218detection.threat-hunting

Raw Content

title: Rundll32.EXE Calling DllRegisterServer Export Function Explicitly
id: d81a9fc6-55db-4461-b962-0e78fea5b0ad
related:
    - id: 2569ed8c-1147-498a-9b8c-2ad3656b10ed # Renamed rundll32
      type: similar
status: test
description: |
    Detects when the DLL export function 'DllRegisterServer' is called in the commandline by Rundll32 explicitly where the DLL is located in a non-standard path.
references:
    - https://thedfirreport.com/2023/08/28/html-smuggling-leads-to-domain-wide-ransomware/
    - https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/94816439312563db982cd038cf77cbc5ef4c7003e3edee86e2b0f99e675ed4ed/behavior
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/olectl/nf-olectl-dllregisterserver
author: Andreas Braathen (mnemonic.io)
date: 2023-10-17
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1218
    - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_image:
        - Image|endswith: '\rundll32.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'RUNDLL32.EXE'
    selection_cmdline:
        CommandLine|contains: 'DllRegisterServer'
    filter_main_legit_paths:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - ':\Program Files (x86)'
            - ':\Program Files\'
            - ':\Windows\System32\'
            - ':\Windows\SysWOW64\'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Legitimate usage as part of application installation, but less likely from e.g. temporary paths.
    - Not every instance is considered malicious, but this rule will capture the malicious usages.
level: medium