Unsigned .node File Loaded

Detects the loading of unsigned .node files. Adversaries may abuse a lack of .node integrity checking to execute arbitrary code inside of trusted applications such as Slack. .node files are native add-ons for Electron-based applications, which are commonly used for desktop applications like Slack, Discord, and Visual Studio Code. This technique has been observed in the DripLoader malware, which uses unsigned .node files to load malicious native code into Electron applications.

title: Unsigned .node File Loaded
id: e5f5c693-52d7-4de5-88ae-afbfbce85595
status: experimental
description: |
    Detects the loading of unsigned .node files.
    Adversaries may abuse a lack of .node integrity checking to execute arbitrary code inside of trusted applications such as Slack.
    .node files are native add-ons for Electron-based applications, which are commonly used for desktop applications like Slack, Discord, and Visual Studio Code.
    This technique has been observed in the DripLoader malware, which uses unsigned .node files to load malicious native code into Electron applications.
references:
    - https://www.coreycburton.com/blog/driploader-case-study
    - https://github.com/CoreyCBurton/DripLoaderNG
    - https://www.electronjs.org/docs/latest/tutorial/native-code-and-electron
author: Jonathan Beierle (@hullabrian)
date: 2025-11-22
modified: 2026-08-27
tags:
    - attack.execution
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.t1129
    - attack.t1574.001
    - attack.t1036.005
logsource:
    category: image_load
    product: windows
detection:
    selection_node_extension:
        ImageLoaded|endswith: '.node'
    selection_status:
        - Signed: 'false'
        - SignatureStatus: 'Unavailable'
    filter_optional_vscode_jupyter:
        Image|endswith: '\Code.exe'
        ImageLoaded|contains: '.vscode\extensions\ms-toolsai.jupyter-'
        ImageLoaded|endswith:
            - '\electron.napi.node'
            - '\node.napi.glibc.node'
    filter_optional_vscode_core:
        Image|contains: '\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe'
        ImageLoaded|contains: '\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\node_modules'
    filter_optional_evernote:
        Image|contains:
            - 'C:\Program Files (x86)\'
            - 'C:\Program Files\'
            - '\AppData\Local\Programs\'
        Image|endswith: '\Evernote\Evernote.exe'
        ImageLoaded|contains: '\Evernote\resources\app'
    condition: all of selection_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - VsCode extensions or similar legitimate tools might use unsigned .node files. These should be investigated on a case-by-case basis, and whitelisted if determined to be benign.
level: medium

• T1036.005Match Legitimate Resource Name or Location
• T1129Shared Modules
• T1574.001DLL

• https://www.coreycburton.com/blog/driploader-case-study↗
• https://github.com/CoreyCBurton/DripLoaderNG↗
• https://www.electronjs.org/docs/latest/tutorial/native-code-and-electron↗