Suspicious ShellExec_RunDLL Call Via Ordinal

SIGMA detection rule by Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel · GPL-2.0

Detects suspicious call to the "ShellExec_RunDLL" exported function of SHELL32.DLL through the ordinal number to launch other commands. Adversary might only use the ordinal number in order to bypass existing detection that alert on usage of ShellExec_RunDLL on CommandLine.

title: Suspicious ShellExec_RunDLL Call Via Ordinal
id: afe56692-d76f-5259-cd59-c1032f5cf01b
related:
    - id: d87bd452-6da1-456e-8155-7dc988157b7d
      type: derived
    - id: 8823e85d-31d8-473e-b7f4-92da070f0fc6
      type: derived
status: test
description: |
    Detects suspicious call to the "ShellExec_RunDLL" exported function of SHELL32.DLL through the ordinal number to launch other commands.
    Adversary might only use the ordinal number in order to bypass existing detection that alert on usage of ShellExec_RunDLL on CommandLine.
references:
    - https://redcanary.com/blog/raspberry-robin/
    - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2022/10/27/raspberry-robin-worm-part-of-larger-ecosystem-facilitating-pre-ransomware-activity/
    - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/issues/1009
    - https://strontic.github.io/xcyclopedia/library/shell32.dll-65DA072F25DE83D9F83653E3FEA3644D.html
author: Swachchhanda Shrawan Poudel
date: 2024-12-01
tags:
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1218.011
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    process_creation:
        EventID: 4688
        Channel: Security
    selection_parent_img:
        ParentCommandLine|contains: SHELL32.DLL
    selection_parent_ordinal:
        ParentCommandLine|contains:
            # Note: The ordinal number may differ depending on the DLL version
            # Example: rundll32 SHELL32.DLL,#572 "cmd.exe" "/c calc.exe"
            - '#568'
            - '#570'
            - '#572'
            - '#576'
    selection_susp_cli_parent:
        # Note: Add additional binaries and suspicious paths to increase coverage
        - ParentCommandLine|contains:
              - comspec
              - iex
              - Invoke-
              - msiexec
              - odbcconf
              - regsvr32
        - ParentCommandLine|contains:
              - \Desktop\
              - \ProgramData\
              - \Temp\
              - \Users\Public\
    selection_susp_child_img:
        NewProcessName|endswith:
            - \bash.exe
            - \bitsadmin.exe
            - \cmd.exe
            - \cscript.exe
            - \curl.exe
            - \mshta.exe
            - \msiexec.exe
            - \msxsl.exe
            - \odbcconf.exe
            - \powershell.exe
            - \pwsh.exe
            - \regsvr32.exe
            - \schtasks.exe
            - \wmic.exe
            - \wscript.exe
    condition: process_creation and (all of selection_parent_* and 1 of selection_susp_*)
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high
ruletype: Sigma

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