CAPEC-641: DLL Side-Loading (Version 3.9)
Archived: 2026-04-05 14:20:49 UTC
 Description
An adversary places a malicious version of a Dynamic-Link Library (DLL) in the Windows Side-by-Side (WinSxS)
directory to trick the operating system into loading this malicious DLL instead of a legitimate DLL. Programs specify the
location of the DLLs to load via the use of WinSxS manifests or DLL redirection and if they aren't used then Windows
searches in a predefined set of directories to locate the file. If the applications improperly specify a required DLL or WinSxS
manifests aren't explicit about the characteristics of the DLL to be loaded, they can be vulnerable to side-loading.
 Likelihood Of Attack
 Typical Severity
 Relationships
This table shows the other attack patterns and high level categories that are related to this attack pattern. These
relationships are defined as ChildOf and ParentOf, and give insight to similar items that may exist at higher and lower levels
of abstraction. In addition, relationships such as CanFollow, PeerOf, and CanAlsoBe are defined to show similar attack
patterns that the user may want to explore.
Nature Type
ChildOf Standard Attack Pattern - A standard level attack pattern in CAPEC is focused on a specific methodology or technique used in an attack. It
This table shows the views that this attack pattern belongs to and top level categories within that view.
 Prerequisites
The target must fail to verify the integrity of the DLL before using them.
 Skills Required
[Level: High]
Trick the operating system in loading a malicious DLL instead of a legitimate DLL.
 Consequences
This table specifies different individual consequences associated with the attack pattern. The Scope identifies the security
property that is violated, while the Impact describes the negative technical impact that arises if an adversary succeeds in
their attack. The Likelihood provides information about how likely the specific consequence is expected to be seen relative
to the other consequences in the list. For example, there may be high likelihood that a pattern will be used to achieve a
certain impact, but a low likelihood that it will be exploited to achieve a different impact.
Scope Impact Likelihood
Integrity
Execute Unauthorized Commands
Bypass Protection Mechanism
 Mitigations
Prevent unknown DLLs from loading through using an allowlist policy.
Patch installed applications as soon as new updates become available.
Properly restrict the location of the software being used.
Use of sxstrace.exe on Windows as well as manual inspection of the manifests.
Require code signing and avoid using relative paths for resources.
https://capec.mitre.org/data/definitions/641.html
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Taxonomy Mappings
CAPEC mappings to ATT&CK techniques leverage an inheritance model to streamline and minimize direct
CAPEC/ATT&CK mappings. Inheritance of a mapping is indicated by text stating that the parent CAPEC has relevant
ATT&CK mappings. Note that the ATT&CK Enterprise Framework does not use an inheritance model as part of the
mapping to CAPEC.
Relevant to the ATT&CK taxonomy mapping (also see parent)
Entry ID Entry Name
1574.002 Hijack Execution Flow:DLL Side-Loading
 References
 Content History
Submissions
Submission Date Submitter Organization
2018-07-31
(Version 2.12)
CAPEC Content Team The MITRE Corporation
Modifications
Modification Date Modifier Organization
2019-04-04
(Version 3.1)
CAPEC Content Team The MITRE Corporation
Updated Taxonomy_Mappings
2020-07-30
(Version 3.3)
CAPEC Content Team The MITRE Corporation
Updated Mitigations, Taxonomy_Mappings
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Source: https://capec.mitre.org/data/definitions/641.html
https://capec.mitre.org/data/definitions/641.html
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