Network Activity to a Suspicious Top Level Domain

Last updated a month ago on 2026-03-30
Created 9 months ago on 2025-08-20

About

Identifies DNS queries to commonly abused Top Level Domains by common LOLBINs or executables 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: SentinelOneData Source: CrowdstrikeData Source: SysmonLanguage: eql
Severity
high
Risk Score
73
MITRE ATT&CK™

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

Defense Evasion (TA0005)(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.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 : ("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", "curl.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\\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 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|zone)""" and not process.executable : ( "?:\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender\\platform\\*\\*.exe", "\\Device\\HarddiskVolume*\\ProgramData\\Microsoft\\Windows Defender\\platform\\*\\*.exe" )

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