T1073: DLL Side-Loading
Programs may specify DLLs that are loaded at runtime. Programs that improperly or vaguely specify a required DLL may be open to a vulnerability in which an unintended DLL is loaded. Side-loading vulnerabilities specifically occur when Windows Side-by-Side (WinSxS) manifests [1] are not explicit enough about characteristics of the DLL to be loaded. Adversaries may take advantage of a legitimate program that is vulnerable to side-loading to load a malicious DLL. [2]
Adversaries likely use this technique as a means of masking actions they perform under a legitimate, trusted system or software process.
This ATT&CK object is revoked or deprecated in the current MITRE ATT&CK release.
It remains available for historical context and inbound links. Use current ATT&CK relationships and replacement guidance before basing detection or reporting work on this page.
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DLL Side-Loading
Programs may specify DLLs that are loaded at runtime. Programs that improperly or vaguely specify a required DLL may be open to a vulnerability in which an unintended DLL is loaded. Side-loading vulnerabilities specifically occur when Windows Side-by-Side (WinSxS) manifests [1] are not explicit enough about characteristics of the DLL to be loaded. Adversaries may take advantage of a legitimate program that is vulnerable to side-loading to load a malicious DLL. [2]
Adversaries likely use this technique as a means of masking actions they perform under a legitimate, trusted system or software process.
How security teams should use this page
Treat this object as behavior context, not an attribution claim. Validate the related groups, software, data sources, and mitigations against official ATT&CK relationships and your own telemetry before making control-coverage decisions.
Related techniques
This mirrors the MITRE pattern of making group, software, campaign, and technique relationships scannable. Relationship notes come from mirrored ATT&CK relationship text when available.
| Domain | ID | Name | Relationship / procedure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enterprise | T1574.002 | DLL Side-LoadingSub-technique | This object revoked by DLL Side-Loading. |
All related ATT&CK context
Object version and sync metadata
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Imported snapshots across ATT&CK releases(1)
| Release | Bundle imported | Object version | Modified | Status | Raw hash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19.1 | 1.1 | Current bundleRevoked | 9db9bd55a430… |
Mirrored ATT&CK source object
The raw object is retained through the mirrored ATT&CK source bundle and object hash. The raw endpoint returns the exact object from the mirrored bundle when available.
External references and citations
MITRE external references are preserved separately from Glexia analysis so citations remain traceable to their original source records.
- [1]MSDN Manifests
Microsoft. (n.d.). Manifests. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
Open source URL - [2]Stewart 2014
Stewart, A. (2014). DLL SIDE-LOADING: A Thorn in the Side of the Anti-Virus Industry. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
Open source URL - [3]MSDN Manifests
Microsoft. (n.d.). Manifests. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
Open source URL - [4]MSDN Manifests
Microsoft. (n.d.). Manifests. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
Open source URL - [5]Stewart 2014
Stewart, A. (2014). DLL SIDE-LOADING: A Thorn in the Side of the Anti-Virus Industry. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
Open source URL - [6]Stewart 2014
Stewart, A. (2014). DLL SIDE-LOADING: A Thorn in the Side of the Anti-Virus Industry. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
Open source URL - [7]capecCAPEC-641Open source URL
- [8]capecCAPEC-641Open source URL
- [9]capecCAPEC-641Open source URL
- [10]mitre-attackT1073Open source URL
- [11]mitre-attackT1073Open source URL
- [12]mitre-attackT1073Open source URL
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