Network Activity to a Suspicious Top Level Domain

Last updated 7 days ago on 2025-09-05
Created 23 days ago on 2025-08-20

About

Identifies DNS queries to commonly abused Top Level Domains by common LOLBINs or executable running from world writable directories or unsigned binaries. This behavior matches on common malware C2 abusing less formal domain names.
Tags
Domain: EndpointOS: WindowsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: Command and ControlData Source: Elastic EndgameData Source: Elastic DefendData Source: Windows Security Event LogsData Source: SentinelOneData Source: CrowdstrikeData Source: SysmonLanguage: eql
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

Command and Control (TA0011)(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
endgame-*logs-endpoint.events.network-*logs-sentinel_one_cloud_funnel.*logs-crowdstrike.fdr*logs-windows.sysmon_operational-*winlogbeat-*
Related Integrations

endpoint(opens in a new tab or window)

windows(opens in a new tab or window)

sentinel_one_cloud_funnel(opens in a new tab or window)

crowdstrike(opens in a new tab or window)

Query
network where host.os.type == "windows" and dns.question.name != null and
 (
  process.name : ("MSBuild.exe", "mshta.exe", "wscript.exe", "powershell.exe", "pwsh.exe", "msiexec.exe", "rundll32.exe",
                  "bitsadmin.exe", "InstallUtil.exe", "python.exe", "regsvr32.exe", "dllhost.exe", "node.exe",
                  "java.exe", "javaw.exe", "*.pif", "*.com", "*.scr") 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\\*.exe", "?:\\ProgramData\\*.exe")
 ) and
dns.question.name regex """.*\.(top|buzz|xyz|rest|ml|cf|gq|ga|onion|monster|cyou|quest|cc|bar|cfd|click|cam|surf|tk|shop|club|icu|pw|ws|online|fun|life|boats|store|hair|skin|motorcycles|christmas|lol|makeup|mom|bond|beauty|biz|live|work|zip|country|accountant|date|party|science|loan|win|men|faith|review|racing|download|host)"""

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Network Activity to a Suspicious Top Level Domain 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).