Elastic Security Detection Rules

Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32

Last updated 9 months ago on 2025-03-20
Created 5 years ago on 2020-10-19

About

Identifies command shell activity started via RunDLL32, which is commonly abused by attackers to host malicious code.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: ExecutionTactic: Credential AccessTactic: Defense EvasionData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: SysmonData Source: Microsoft Defender for EndpointData Source: SentinelOneLanguage: eql
Severity
low
Risk Score
21
MITRE ATT&CK™

Execution (TA0002)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Command and Scripting Interpreter (T1059)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Credential Access (TA0006)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Unsecured Credentials (T1552)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Defense Evasion (TA0005)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

↳ System Binary Proxy Execution (T1218)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

False Positive Examples
Microsoft Windows installers leveraging RunDLL32 for installation.
License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
winlogbeat-*logs-endpoint.events.process-*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*endgame-*logs-m365_defender.event-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*
Related Integrations

endpoint(external, opens in a new tab or window)

windows(external, opens in a new tab or window)

m365_defender(external, opens in a new tab or window)

sentinel_one_cloud_funnel(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Query
text code block:
process where host.os.type == "windows" and event.type == "start" and
 process.name : ("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe") and
  process.parent.name : "rundll32.exe" and process.parent.command_line != null and
  /* common FPs can be added here */
  not process.parent.args : ("C:\\Windows\\System32\\SHELL32.dll,RunAsNewUser_RunDLL",
                             "C:\\WINDOWS\\*.tmp,zzzzInvokeManagedCustomActionOutOfProc")

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Command Shell Activity Started via RunDLL32 in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(external, opens in a new tab or window).