
Summary
This detection rule identifies potential malicious activity related to the Windows Input Method Editor (IME) that uses a registry value to load a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) into the process. Specifically, the rule triggers when an uncommon file extension, outside of the typical '.ime', is registered as an 'Ime File' in the Windows Registry under the Keyboard Layouts configuration. The IME is fundamentally necessary for typing languages that exceed the standard character set, such as Chinese and Japanese; however, attackers could exploit it by exploiting the input language change messages to load their crafted DLLs. As part of the detection logic, the rule checks if the registry value contains 'Ime File' and ensures that it is associated with a less common file extension that does not end with '.ime'. If these conditions are met, a notification is triggered indicating a potential security risk. This rule aims to help security teams identify potential malicious use of IME configurations in the Windows environment.
Categories
- Endpoint
- Windows
Data Sources
- Windows Registry
Created: 2023-11-21