title: Possible Shim Database Persistence via sdbinst.exe
id: 517490a7-115a-48c6-8862-1a481504d5a8
status: experimental
description: Detects installation of a new shim using sdbinst.exe. A shim can be used to load malicious DLLs into applications.
references:
    - https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2017/05/fin7-shim-databases-persistence.html
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.privilege_escalation
    - attack.t1546.011
    - attack.t1138 # an old one
author: Markus Neis
date: 2019/01/16
modified: 2021/04/01
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\sdbinst.exe'
        CommandLine|contains:
            - '.sdb'
    filter:
        - CommandLine|contains:
            - 'iisexpressshim.sdb' # normal behaviour for IIS Express (e.g. https://www.hybrid-analysis.com/sample/15d4ff941f77f7bdfc9dfb2399b7b952a0a2c860976ef3e835998ff4796e5e91?environmentId=120)
    condition: selection and not filter
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high