title: Suspicious Control Panel DLL Load
id: d7eb979b-c2b5-4a6f-a3a7-c87ce6763819
status: test
description: Detects suspicious Rundll32 execution from control.exe as used by Equation Group and Exploit Kits
references:
    - https://twitter.com/rikvduijn/status/853251879320662017
    - https://twitter.com/felixw3000/status/853354851128025088
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2017-04-15
modified: 2023-02-09
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.011
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_parent:
        ParentImage|endswith: '\System32\control.exe'
    selection_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\rundll32.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'RUNDLL32.EXE'
    filter:
        CommandLine|contains: 'Shell32.dll'
    condition: all of selection_* and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: Control Panel Items
id: 0ba863e6-def5-4e50-9cea-4dd8c7dc46a4
status: test
description: Detects the malicious use of a control panel item
references:
    - https://ired.team/offensive-security/code-execution/code-execution-through-control-panel-add-ins
author: Kyaw Min Thein, Furkan Caliskan (@caliskanfurkan_)
date: 2020-06-22
modified: 2023-10-11
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.002
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.t1546
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: process_creation
detection:
    selection_reg_img:
        - Image|endswith: '\reg.exe'
        - OriginalFileName: 'reg.exe'
    selection_reg_cli:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'add'
            - 'CurrentVersion\Control Panel\CPLs'
    selection_cpl:
        CommandLine|endswith: '.cpl'
    filter_cpl_sys:
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '\System32\'
            - '%System%'
            - '|C:\Windows\system32|'
    filter_cpl_igfx:
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - 'regsvr32 '
            - ' /s '
            - 'igfxCPL.cpl'
    condition: all of selection_reg_* or (selection_cpl and not 1 of filter_cpl_*)
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

title: System Control Panel Item Loaded From Uncommon Location
id: 2b140a5c-dc02-4bb8-b6b1-8bdb45714cde
status: test
description: |
    Detects image load events of system control panel items (.cpl) from uncommon or non-system locations that may indicate DLL sideloading or other abuse techniques.
references:
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2024/01/06/1-little-known-secret-of-fondue-exe/
    - https://www.hexacorn.com/blog/2024/01/01/1-little-known-secret-of-hdwwiz-exe/
    - https://github.com/mhaskar/FsquirtCPLPoC
    - https://securelist.com/sidewinder-apt/114089/
author: Anish Bogati
date: 2024-01-09
modified: 2026-02-17
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1574.001
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: image_load
detection:
    selection:
        ImageLoaded|endswith:
            - '\appwiz.cpl' # Usually loaded by fondue.exe
            - '\bthprops.cpl' # Usually loaded by fsquirt.exe
            - '\hdwwiz.cpl' # Usually loaded by hdwwiz.exe
    filter_main_legit_location:
        ImageLoaded|startswith:
            - 'C:\Windows\Prefetch\'
            - 'C:\Windows\System32\'
            - 'C:\Windows\SysWOW64\'
            - 'C:\Windows\WinSxS\'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
regression_tests_path: regression_data/rules/windows/image_load/image_load_side_load_cpl_from_non_system_location/info.yml