---
title: Execution via local SxS Shared Module
description: Identifies the creation, change, or deletion of a DLL module within a Windows SxS local folder. Adversaries may abuse shared modules to execute malicious...
url: https://www.elastic.co/docs/reference/security/prebuilt-rules/rules/windows/execution_shared_modules_local_sxs_dll
products:
  - Elastic Security
---

# Execution via local SxS Shared Module
Identifies the creation, change, or deletion of a DLL module within a Windows SxS local folder. Adversaries may abuse
shared modules to execute malicious payloads by instructing the Windows module loader to load DLLs from arbitrary local
paths.
**Rule type**: eql
**Rule indices**:
- winlogbeat-*
- logs-endpoint.events.file-*
- logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*
- endgame-*
- logs-m365_defender.event-*
- logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*
- logs-crowdstrike.fdr*

**Rule Severity**: medium
**Risk Score**: 47
**Runs every**: 
**Searches indices from**: `now-9m`
**Maximum alerts per execution**: 100
**References**:
- [[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dlls/dynamic-link-library-redirection](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dlls/dynamic-link-library-redirection)](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/dlls/dynamic-link-library-redirection)

**Tags**:
- Domain: Endpoint
- OS: Windows
- Use Case: Threat Detection
- Tactic: Execution
- Data Source: Elastic Endgame
- Data Source: Elastic Defend
- Data Source: Sysmon
- Data Source: Microsoft Defender XDR
- Data Source: SentinelOne
- Data Source: Crowdstrike
- Resources: Investigation Guide
- Noise: Low
- Performance: Normal
- Rule Type: Event Correlation (EQL)
- Platform: Windows

**Version**: 316
**Rule authors**:
- Elastic

**Rule license**: Elastic License v2

## Setup

This rule is designed for data generated by [Elastic Defend](https://www.elastic.co/security/endpoint-security), which provides native endpoint detection and response, along with event enrichments designed to work with our detection rules.
Setup instructions: [https://ela.st/install-elastic-defend](https://ela.st/install-elastic-defend)

### Additional data sources

This rule also supports the following third-party data sources. For setup instructions, refer to the links below:
- [CrowdStrike](https://ela.st/crowdstrike-integration)
- [Microsoft Defender XDR](https://ela.st/m365-defender)
- [SentinelOne Cloud Funnel](https://ela.st/sentinel-one-cloud-funnel)
- [Sysmon Event ID 11 - File Create](https://ela.st/sysmon-event-11-setup)


## Investigation guide


## Triage and analysis

The SxS DotLocal folder is a legitimate feature that can be abused to hijack standard modules loading order by forcing an executable on the same application.exe.local folder to load a malicious DLL module from the same directory.

## Rule Query

```eql
file where host.os.type == "windows" and file.extension : "dll" and
  file.path : (
    "C:\\*\\*.exe.local\\*.dll",
    /* Crowdstrike specific condition as it uses NT Object paths */
    "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\*\\*.exe.local\\*.dll"
  )
```

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Execution
  - Id: TA0002
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0002/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Shared Modules
  - Id: T1129
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1129/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1129/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1129/)

**Framework:** MITRE ATT&CK
- Tactic:
  - Name: Defense Evasion
  - Id: TA0005
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/)](https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/)
- Technique:
  - Name: Hijack Execution Flow
  - Id: T1574
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/)
- Sub Technique:
  - Name: DLL
  - Id: T1574.001
  - Reference URL: [[https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/001/](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/001/)](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1574/001/)