Elastic Security Detection Rules

Unusual File Modification by dns.exe

Last updated 19 days ago on 2025-01-17
Created 5 years ago on 2020-07-16

About

Identifies an unexpected file being modified by dns.exe, the process responsible for Windows DNS Server services, which may indicate activity related to remote code execution or other forms of exploitation.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Lateral MovementData Source: Elastic EndgameUse Case: VulnerabilityData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: SysmonLanguage: eql
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

Lateral Movement (TA0008)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Exploitation of Remote Services (T1210)(opens in a new tab or window)

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

Definition

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

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

windows(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
file where host.os.type == "windows" and process.name : "dns.exe" and event.type in ("creation", "deletion", "change") and
  not file.name : "dns.log" and not
  (file.extension : ("old", "temp", "bak", "dns", "arpa") and file.path : "C:\\Windows\\System32\\dns\\*") and

  /* DNS logs with custom names, header converts to "DNS Server log" */
  not ?file.Ext.header_bytes : "444e5320536572766572206c6f67*"

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Unusual File Modification by dns.exe 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).