Detection rules › Elastic
Suspicious DNS Query by MSIEXEC
Identifies DNS queries by MSIEXEC to suspicious DNS domains related to potentially unwanted software delivered via Windows installers.
MITRE ATT&CK coverage
| Tactic | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Stealth | |
| Command & Control |
Rule body
[rule]
description = """
Identifies DNS queries by MSIEXEC to suspicious DNS domains related to potentially unwanted software delivered via
Windows installers.
"""
id = "8212cb3a-52a3-4bd9-9074-d0c3488cab6b"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Suspicious DNS Query by MSIEXEC"
os_list = ["windows"]
version = "1.0.4"
query = '''
dns where process.name : "msiexec.exe" and
dns.question.name like ("check-key.com", "key-needs.com", "key-crack.com", "get-lic.com", "get-license?.com",
"software-license?.com", "*.postomodelo.com", "to-license?.com", "lifehackov.ru",
"cld.pt", "to-lic.com", "downloader.yandex.net", "clck.yandex.ru", "key-needs.com")
'''
min_endpoint_version = "7.16.0"
[[actions]]
action = "kill_process"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0
tree = true
[[optional_actions]]
action = "rollback"
field = "process.entity_id"
state = 0
[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1218"
name = "System Binary Proxy Execution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1218.007"
name = "Msiexec"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1218/007/"
[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0005"
name = "Defense Evasion"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0005/"
[[threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[threat.technique]]
id = "T1071"
name = "Application Layer Protocol"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1071/"
[[threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1071.004"
name = "DNS"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1071/004/"
[threat.tactic]
id = "TA0011"
name = "Command and Control"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0011/"
[internal]
min_endpoint_version = "7.16.0"
Stages and Predicates
Stage 1: dns
dns where process.name : "msiexec.exe" and
dns.question.name like ("check-key.com", "key-needs.com", "key-crack.com", "get-lic.com", "get-license?.com",
"software-license?.com", "*.postomodelo.com", "to-license?.com", "lifehackov.ru",
"cld.pt", "to-lic.com", "downloader.yandex.net", "clck.yandex.ru", "key-needs.com")
Indicators
These rows show field, operator, and value matches.
| Field | Kind | Values | Search |
|---|---|---|---|
dns.question.name | wildcard |
| field:"QueryName" kind:wildcard |
process.name | wildcard |
| field:"process_name" kind:wildcard value:"msiexec.exe" |