sigmaDRL-1.1from SigmaHQ/sigma

Trusted Path Bypass via Windows Directory Spoofing

Detects DLLs loading from a spoofed Windows directory path with an extra space (e.g "C:\Windows \System32") which can bypass Windows trusted path verification. This technique tricks Windows into treating the path as trusted, allowing malicious DLLs to load with high integrity privileges bypassing UAC.

Quality

100

FP risk

—

Forks

Views

ATT&CK techniques

T1574.007 T1548.002

Rule sourcerules/windows/image_load/image_load_win_trusted_path_bypass.yml

title: Trusted Path Bypass via Windows Directory Spoofing
id: 0cbe38c0-270c-41d9-ab79-6e5a9a669290
related:
    - id: 4ac47ed3-44c2-4b1f-9d51-bf46e8914126
      type: similar
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects DLLs loading from a spoofed Windows directory path with an extra space (e.g "C:\Windows \System32") which can bypass Windows trusted path verification.
    This technique tricks Windows into treating the path as trusted, allowing malicious DLLs to load with high integrity privileges bypassing UAC.
references:
    - https://x.com/Wietze/status/1933495426952421843
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel (Nextron Systems)
date: 2025-06-17
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.defense-evasion
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.t1574.007
    - attack.t1548.002
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        ImageLoaded|contains:
            - ':\Windows \System32\'  # Note the space between "Windows" and "System32"
            - ':\Windows \SysWOW64\'  # Note the space between "Windows" and "SysWOW64"
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: high