While the name sounds like a piece of malware, PPSideLoader is actually a —a specific method of sideloading malicious code using Microsoft PowerPoint files ( .pps or .ppsx ).
As macro-based attacks decline, sideloading techniques like PPSideLoader will become the new normal. Defenders must shift from trusting file extensions and signatures to monitoring —because even a trusted app like PowerPoint can become a backdoor when loaded the wrong way. ppsideloader
PPSideLoader takes this concept and applies it specifically to PowerPoint. Attackers package a malicious DLL alongside a legitimate PowerPoint executable (or related component). When PowerPoint runs a slideshow, it looks for specific supporting files. If an attacker has placed a poisoned DLL in the same directory, PowerPoint will load it—granting the attacker code execution on the victim’s machine. Unlike macro-based attacks (which require the user to enable scripts), PPSideLoader relies on file system behavior and search order hijacking. While the name sounds like a piece of
In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, attackers are constantly refining their techniques to slip past traditional defenses. One such method that has gained traction among Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups and cybercriminals is PPSideLoader . PPSideLoader takes this concept and applies it specifically