New DNS ServerLevelPluginDll Installed Via Dnscmd.EXE

Hunt Hypothesis

Detects the installation of a DNS plugin DLL via ServerLevelPluginDll parameter in registry, which can be used to execute code in context of the DNS server (restart required)

Detection Rule

Sigma (Original)

title: New DNS ServerLevelPluginDll Installed Via Dnscmd.EXE
id: f63b56ee-3f79-4b8a-97fb-5c48007e8573
related:
    - id: e61e8a88-59a9-451c-874e-70fcc9740d67
      type: derived
    - id: cbe51394-cd93-4473-b555-edf0144952d9
      type: derived
status: test
description: Detects the installation of a DNS plugin DLL via ServerLevelPluginDll parameter in registry, which can be used to execute code in context of the DNS server (restart required)
references:
    - https://medium.com/@esnesenon/feature-not-bug-dnsadmin-to-dc-compromise-in-one-line-a0f779b8dc83
    - https://blog.3or.de/hunting-dns-server-level-plugin-dll-injection.html
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems)
date: 2017-05-08
modified: 2023-02-05
tags:
    - attack.privilege-escalation
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.execution
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1574.001
    - attack.t1112
logsource:
    category: process_creation
    product: windows
detection:
    selection:
        Image|endswith: '\dnscmd.exe'
        CommandLine|contains|all:
            - '/config'
            - '/serverlevelplugindll'
    condition: selection
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: high

KQL (Azure Sentinel)

imProcessCreate
| where TargetProcessName endswith "\\dnscmd.exe" and (TargetProcessCommandLine contains "/config" and TargetProcessCommandLine contains "/serverlevelplugindll")

Required Data Sources

False Positive Guidance

• Unknown

MITRE ATT&CK Context

• Tactic: Privilege Escalation
• Tactic: Persistence
• Tactic: Execution
• Technique: T1574.001 — T1574.001
• Technique: T1112 — T1112

References

• https://medium.com/@esnesenon/feature-not-bug-dnsadmin-to-dc-compromise-in-one-line-a0f779b8dc83
• https://blog.3or.de/hunting-dns-server-level-plugin-dll-injection.html
• SigmaHQ Rule