RunDLL32 Spawning Explorer


Description

Detects RunDLL32.exe spawning explorer.exe as child, which is very uncommon, often observes Gamarue spawning the explorer.exe process in an unusual way

Query · sigma

selection:
  ParentImage|endswith: \rundll32.exe
  Image|endswith: \explorer.exe
filter:
  ParentCommandLine|contains: \shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL
condition: selection and not filter

Known false positives

  • Unknown
Raw source RunDLL32 Spawning Explorer · Sigma
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Published by SigmaHQ/sigma ↗, licensed under Detection Rule License 1.1 ↗. Reproduced here unmodified.
title: RunDLL32 Spawning Explorer
id: caa06de8-fdef-4c91-826a-7f9e163eef4b
status: test
description: Detects RunDLL32.exe spawning explorer.exe as child, which is very uncommon, often observes Gamarue spawning the explorer.exe process in an unusual way
references:
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/intelligence-insights-november-2021/
author: elhoim, CD_ROM_
date: 2022-04-27
modified: 2022-05-25
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.011
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\rundll32.exe'
        Image|endswith: '\explorer.exe'
    filter:
        ParentCommandLine|contains: '\shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL'
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

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