title: Application Shimming (T1546.011)
id: df00tech-t1546-011
status: experimental
description: Adversaries may establish persistence and/or elevate privileges by executing malicious content triggered by application shims. The Microsoft Windows Application Compatibility Infrastructure/Framework (Application Shim) was created to allow for backward compatibility of software as the operating system codebase changes over time. The SDB (Shim DataBase) stores fix entries and shims. Malicious shim databases can be installed by adversaries using sdbinst.exe. Custom shims can be written to intercept and redirect API calls to inject malicious code into otherwise legitimate processes. This allows adversaries to apply persistent fixes to legitimate applications that execute when those applications run.
references:
  - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1546/011/
  - https://df00tech.com/detections/T1546.011
author: df00tech
date: 2026/04/20
tags:
  - attack.t1546.011
# NOTE: logsource is auto-derived and may need adjustment for your environment
logsource:
  category: process_creation
  product: windows
detection:
  # This detection logic could not be auto-translated; see the KQL/SPL query on df00tech.
  selection:
    EventID: '*'
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Microsoft and third-party application compatibility fixes installed via Windows Update or application installers that use sdbinst.exe to deploy compatibility shims
  - Enterprise IT teams that deploy application compatibility databases via Group Policy or SCCM to resolve application compatibility issues
  - Software vendors that include shim databases in their installers to ensure compatibility with different Windows versions
  - Windows ADK (Assessment and Deployment Kit) users creating compatibility fixes for legacy applications
level: high