↳ GitHub sourceAnalytics ruleHigh

Regsvr32 Rundll32 Image Loads Abnormal Extension

Description

This query is looking for regsvr32.exe or rundll32.exe loading DLL images with other extensions than .dll. Joins the data to public network events. References: https://threathunt.blog/running-live-malware-for-threat-hunting-purposes/
Rule type
Scheduled
Version
1.0.0
Declared status
Available
Query frequency
1h
Query period
1h
Trigger
gt 0

Declared MITRE coverage

Declared sources

Metadata from the source file. No dependencies inferred from KQL.

Connectors

Data types

KQL query

Original query, unchanged.

DeviceImageLoadEvents 
| where InitiatingProcessFileName has_any ("rundll32.exe","regsvr32.exe")
| where FileName !endswith ".dll"
| join (
DeviceNetworkEvents
| where InitiatingProcessFileName has_any ("rundll32.exe","regsvr32.exe")
| where RemoteIPType == "Public"
) on InitiatingProcessFileName, InitiatingProcessId, InitiatingProcessCreationTime, InitiatingProcessCommandLine
| project TimeGenerated, DeviceName, FileName, FolderPath, SHA1, InitiatingProcessFileName, InitiatingProcessCommandLine, LocalIP, LocalPort, RemoteIP, RemoteUrl, RemotePort, InitiatingProcessParentFileName
| extend HostName = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, 0, indexof(DeviceName, '.')), DeviceName)
| extend DnsDomain = iff(DeviceName has '.', substring(DeviceName, indexof(DeviceName, '.') + 1), "")

Declared entities

HostIPURL

Related content

Links established from declared identifiers and solution manifests.

Source provenance

GitHub

Displayed values come from files in Azure/Azure-Sentinel. They describe the published template, not your workspace configuration.

Source identifier
36fbd4e7-5630-4414-aa42-702a7fdded21
Additional source files 2Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Analytic Rules/Defense Evasion/Regsvr32Rundll32ImageLoadsAbnormalExtension.yamlsource ↗Solutions/Microsoft Defender XDR/Data/Solution_Microsoft Defender XDR.jsonsolution-membership ↗
GSTEP / CATALOG TRACKING

Added to catalog : 16 Sept 2026 · 05:49 UTC
Last change observed : 16 Sept 2026 · 05:49 UTC

GSTEP sync dates, separate from the source content’s publication dates.