Windows DLL Side-Loading In Calc

This analytic detects suspicious DLL modules loaded by calc.exe that are not located in the %systemroot%\system32 or %systemroot%\sysWoW64 directories. This detection leverages Sysmon EventCode 7 to identify DLL side-loading, a technique often used by Qakbot malware to execute malicious DLLs. This activity is significant as it indicates potential malware execution through a trusted process, which can bypass security controls. If confirmed malicious, this could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, maintain persistence, and escalate privileges within the environment.