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Id4ab8b09e-3c23-4974-afbe-7e653779eb2b
RulenameDetect excessive NXDOMAIN DNS queries - Static threshold based (ASIM DNS Solution)
DescriptionThis rule generates an alert when the configured threshold for DNS queries to non-existent domains is breached. This helps in identifying possible C2 communications. It utilizes ASIM normalization and is applied to any source that supports the ASIM DNS schema.
SeverityMedium
TacticsCommandAndControl
TechniquesT1568
T1008
KindScheduled
Query frequency1h
Query period1h
Trigger threshold0
Trigger operatorgt
Source Urihttps://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/DNS%20Essentials/Analytic%20Rules/ExcessiveNXDOMAINDNSQueriesStaticThresholdBased.yaml
Version1.0.2
Arm template4ab8b09e-3c23-4974-afbe-7e653779eb2b.json
Deploy To Azure
let lookback = 1h;
let threshold = 200;
_Im_Dns(starttime=ago(lookback), responsecodename='NXDOMAIN')
| summarize NXDOMAINCount=count() by SrcIpAddr, bin(TimeGenerated, 15m)
| where NXDOMAINCount > threshold
| join kind=inner (_Im_Dns(starttime=ago(lookback), responsecodename='NXDOMAIN')
  | summarize DNSQueries = makeset(DnsQuery) by SrcIpAddr)
  on SrcIpAddr
| extend NXDOMAINthreshold=threshold
| project-away SrcIpAddr1
queryFrequency: 1h
description: |
  'This rule generates an alert when the configured threshold for DNS queries to non-existent domains is breached. This helps in identifying possible C2 communications. It utilizes [ASIM](https://aka.ms/AboutASIM) normalization and is applied to any source that supports the ASIM DNS schema.'
triggerThreshold: 0
relevantTechniques:
- T1568
- T1008
eventGroupingSettings:
  aggregationKind: AlertPerResult
kind: Scheduled
severity: Medium
query: |
  let lookback = 1h;
  let threshold = 200;
  _Im_Dns(starttime=ago(lookback), responsecodename='NXDOMAIN')
  | summarize NXDOMAINCount=count() by SrcIpAddr, bin(TimeGenerated, 15m)
  | where NXDOMAINCount > threshold
  | join kind=inner (_Im_Dns(starttime=ago(lookback), responsecodename='NXDOMAIN')
    | summarize DNSQueries = makeset(DnsQuery) by SrcIpAddr)
    on SrcIpAddr
  | extend NXDOMAINthreshold=threshold
  | project-away SrcIpAddr1
entityMappings:
- fieldMappings:
  - columnName: SrcIpAddr
    identifier: Address
  entityType: IP
status: Available
tactics:
- CommandAndControl
customDetails:
  NXDOMAINCount: NXDOMAINCount
  DNSQueries: DNSQueries
  NXDOMAINthreshold: NXDOMAINthreshold
queryPeriod: 1h
tags:
- Schema: ASimDns
  SchemaVersion: 0.1.6
version: 1.0.2
alertDetailsOverride:
  alertDisplayNameFormat: "[Static threshold] Excessive NXDOMAIN DNS Queries has been detected from client IP: '{{SrcIpAddr}}'"
  alertDescriptionFormat: |-
    Client is generating excessive amount of DNS queries for non-existent domains. This can be an indication of possible C2 communications. 

    'NXDOMAIN' error count threshold: '{{NXDOMAINthreshold}}'

    Current 'NXDOMAIN' error count from this client: '{{NXDOMAINCount}}'

    DNS queries requested by the client include:

    '{{DNSQueries}}'
triggerOperator: gt
id: 4ab8b09e-3c23-4974-afbe-7e653779eb2b
requiredDataConnectors: []
OriginalUri: https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/DNS%20Essentials/Analytic%20Rules/ExcessiveNXDOMAINDNSQueriesStaticThresholdBased.yaml
name: Detect excessive NXDOMAIN DNS queries - Static threshold based (ASIM DNS Solution)
{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "parameters": {
    "workspace": {
      "type": "String"
    }
  },
  "resources": [
    {
      "apiVersion": "2024-01-01-preview",
      "id": "[concat(resourceId('Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers', parameters('workspace'), 'Microsoft.SecurityInsights'),'/alertRules/4ab8b09e-3c23-4974-afbe-7e653779eb2b')]",
      "kind": "Scheduled",
      "name": "[concat(parameters('workspace'),'/Microsoft.SecurityInsights/4ab8b09e-3c23-4974-afbe-7e653779eb2b')]",
      "properties": {
        "alertDetailsOverride": {
          "alertDescriptionFormat": "Client is generating excessive amount of DNS queries for non-existent domains. This can be an indication of possible C2 communications. \n\n'NXDOMAIN' error count threshold: '{{NXDOMAINthreshold}}'\n\nCurrent 'NXDOMAIN' error count from this client: '{{NXDOMAINCount}}'\n\nDNS queries requested by the client include:\n\n'{{DNSQueries}}'",
          "alertDisplayNameFormat": "[Static threshold] Excessive NXDOMAIN DNS Queries has been detected from client IP: '{{SrcIpAddr}}'"
        },
        "alertRuleTemplateName": "4ab8b09e-3c23-4974-afbe-7e653779eb2b",
        "customDetails": {
          "DNSQueries": "DNSQueries",
          "NXDOMAINCount": "NXDOMAINCount",
          "NXDOMAINthreshold": "NXDOMAINthreshold"
        },
        "description": "'This rule generates an alert when the configured threshold for DNS queries to non-existent domains is breached. This helps in identifying possible C2 communications. It utilizes [ASIM](https://aka.ms/AboutASIM) normalization and is applied to any source that supports the ASIM DNS schema.'\n",
        "displayName": "Detect excessive NXDOMAIN DNS queries - Static threshold based (ASIM DNS Solution)",
        "enabled": true,
        "entityMappings": [
          {
            "entityType": "IP",
            "fieldMappings": [
              {
                "columnName": "SrcIpAddr",
                "identifier": "Address"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "eventGroupingSettings": {
          "aggregationKind": "AlertPerResult"
        },
        "OriginalUri": "https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/master/Solutions/DNS%20Essentials/Analytic%20Rules/ExcessiveNXDOMAINDNSQueriesStaticThresholdBased.yaml",
        "query": "let lookback = 1h;\nlet threshold = 200;\n_Im_Dns(starttime=ago(lookback), responsecodename='NXDOMAIN')\n| summarize NXDOMAINCount=count() by SrcIpAddr, bin(TimeGenerated, 15m)\n| where NXDOMAINCount > threshold\n| join kind=inner (_Im_Dns(starttime=ago(lookback), responsecodename='NXDOMAIN')\n  | summarize DNSQueries = makeset(DnsQuery) by SrcIpAddr)\n  on SrcIpAddr\n| extend NXDOMAINthreshold=threshold\n| project-away SrcIpAddr1\n",
        "queryFrequency": "PT1H",
        "queryPeriod": "PT1H",
        "severity": "Medium",
        "status": "Available",
        "subTechniques": [],
        "suppressionDuration": "PT1H",
        "suppressionEnabled": false,
        "tactics": [
          "CommandAndControl"
        ],
        "tags": [
          {
            "Schema": "ASimDns",
            "SchemaVersion": "0.1.6"
          }
        ],
        "techniques": [
          "T1008",
          "T1568"
        ],
        "templateVersion": "1.0.2",
        "triggerOperator": "GreaterThan",
        "triggerThreshold": 0
      },
      "type": "Microsoft.OperationalInsights/workspaces/providers/alertRules"
    }
  ]
}