Elastic Security Detection Rules

DNS Tunneling

Last updated 7 months ago on 2025-01-15
Created 5 years ago on 2020-03-25

About

A machine learning job detected unusually large numbers of DNS queries for a single top-level DNS domain, which is often used for DNS tunneling. DNS tunneling can be used for command-and-control, persistence, or data exfiltration activity. For example, dnscat tends to generate many DNS questions for a top-level domain as it uses the DNS protocol to tunnel data.
Tags
Use Case: Threat DetectionRule Type: MLRule Type: Machine LearningTactic: Command and Control
Severity
low
Risk Score
21
MITRE ATT&CK™

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

↳ Protocol Tunneling (T1572)(opens in a new tab or window)

False Positive Examples
DNS domains that use large numbers of child domains, such as software or content distribution networks, can trigger this alert and such parent domains can be excluded.
License
Elastic License v2(opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type
Machine Learning
Integration Pack
Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

network_traffic(opens in a new tab or window)

Query

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect DNS Tunneling 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(opens in a new tab or window).