System Public IP Discovery via DNS Query

Last updated 6 days ago on 2026-05-06
Created 9 months ago on 2025-08-20

About

Identifies DNS queries to known public IP address lookup web services from suspicious Windows processes, which can reveal external IP or internet-connectivity discovery before follow-on activity.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: DiscoveryTactic: Command and ControlData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: SentinelOneData Source: CrowdstrikeData Source: SysmonLanguage: eql
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

Discovery (TA0007)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Command and Control (TA0011)(external, opens in a new tab or window)

License
Elastic License v2(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Event Correlation Rule
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns
endgame-*logs-endpoint.events.network-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*logs-windows.forwarded*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*winlogbeat-*
Related Integrations

endpoint(external, opens in a new tab or window)

windows(external, opens in a new tab or window)

sentinel_one_cloud_funnel(external, opens in a new tab or window)

crowdstrike(external, opens in a new tab or window)

Query
text code block:
network where host.os.type == "windows" and dns.question.name != null and process.name != null and ( process.name : ("MSBuild.exe", "mshta.exe", "wscript.exe", "powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe", "msiexec.exe", "rundll32.exe", "bitsadmin.exe", "InstallUtil.exe", "RegAsm.exe", "vbc.exe", "RegSvcs.exe", "python.exe", "regsvr32.exe", "dllhost.exe", "node.exe", "javaw.exe", "java.exe", "*.pif", "*.com", "curl.exe", "bun.exe") or (?process.code_signature.trusted == false or ?process.code_signature.exists == false) or ?process.code_signature.subject_name : ("AutoIt Consulting Ltd", "OpenJS Foundation", "Python Software Foundation") or ?process.executable : ( "?:\\Users\\Public\\*.exe", "?:\\ProgramData\\*.exe", "?:\\Users\\*\\Downloads\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\Users\\Public\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\ProgramData\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\Users\\*\\Downloads\\*.exe" ) ) and dns.question.name : ( "ip-api.com", "checkip.dyndns.org", "api.ipify.org", "api.ipify.com", "whatismyip.akamai.com", "bot.whatismyipaddress.com", "ifcfg.me", "ident.me", "ipof.in", "ip.tyk.nu", "icanhazip.com", "curlmyip.com", "wgetip.com", "eth0.me", "ipecho.net", "ip.appspot.com", "api.myip.com", "geoiptool.com", "api.2ip.ua", "api.ip.sb", "ipinfo.io", "checkip.amazonaws.com", "wtfismyip.com", "iplogger.*", "freegeoip.net", "freegeoip.app", "geoplugin.net", "myip.dnsomatic.com", "www.geoplugin.net", "api64.ipify.org", "ip4.seeip.org", "*.geojs.io", "*portmap.io", "api.db-ip.com", "geolocation-db.com", "httpbin.org", "myip.opendns.com" ) and not ( process.executable : ( "?:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender\\platform\\*\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender\\platform\\*\\*.exe" ) and user.id == "S-1-5-18" )

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect System Public IP Discovery via DNS Query in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(external, opens in a new tab or window).