sigmamediumHunting

Potential DLL Sideloading Activity Via ExtExport.EXE

Detects the execution of "Extexport.exe".A utility that is part of the Internet Explorer browser and is used to export and import various settings and data, particularly when switching between Internet Explorer and other web browsers like Firefox. It allows users to transfer bookmarks, browsing history, and other preferences from Internet Explorer to Firefox or vice versa. It can be abused as a tool to side load any DLL. If a folder is provided in the command line it'll load any DLL with one of the following names "mozcrt19.dll", "mozsqlite3.dll", or "sqlite.dll". Arbitrary DLLs can also be loaded if a specific number of flags was provided.

MITRE ATT&CK

T1218

defense-evasion

Detection Query

selection:
  - Image|endswith: \Extexport.exe
  - OriginalFileName: extexport.exe
condition: selection

Author

frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)

Created

2021-11-26

Data Sources

windowsProcess Creation Events

Platforms

windows

References

Tags

attack.defense-evasionattack.t1218detection.threat-hunting

Raw Content

title: Potential DLL Sideloading Activity Via ExtExport.EXE
id: fb0b815b-f5f6-4f50-970f-ffe21f253f7a
status: test
description: |
    Detects the execution of "Extexport.exe".A utility that is part of the Internet Explorer browser and is used to export and import various settings and data, particularly when switching between Internet Explorer and other web browsers like Firefox. It allows users to transfer bookmarks, browsing history, and other preferences from Internet Explorer to Firefox or vice versa.
    It can be abused as a tool to side load any DLL. If a folder is provided in the command line it'll load any DLL with one of the following names "mozcrt19.dll", "mozsqlite3.dll", or "sqlite.dll".
    Arbitrary DLLs can also be loaded if a specific number of flags was provided.
references:
    - https://lolbas-project.github.io/lolbas/Binaries/Extexport/
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2018/04/24/extexport-yet-another-lolbin/
    - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2020/03/23/latest-astaroth-living-off-the-land-attacks-are-even-more-invisible-but-not-less-observable/
    - https://res.armor.com/resources/threat-intelligence/astaroth-banking-trojan/
    - https://securelist.com/the-tetrade-brazilian-banking-malware/97779/
    - https://www.welivesecurity.com/2020/03/05/guildma-devil-drives-electric/
author: frack113, Nasreddine Bencherchali (Nextron Systems)
date: 2021-11-26
modified: 2024-08-26
tags:
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.t1218
    - detection.threat-hunting
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        - Image|endswith: '\Extexport.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'extexport.exe'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: medium