type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--1996eef1-ced3-4d7f-bf94-33298cabbf72
created: 2020-03-15T16:27:31.768Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1071/004
external_id: T1071.004
source_name: Medium DnsTunneling
description: Galobardes, R. (2018, October 30). Learn how easy is to bypass firewalls using DNS tunneling (and also how to block it). Retrieved March 15, 2020.
url: https://medium.com/@galolbardes/learn-how-easy-is-to-bypass-firewalls-using-dns-tunneling-and-also-how-to-block-it-3ed652f4a000
source_name: University of Birmingham C2
description: Gardiner, J., Cova, M., Nagaraja, S. (2014, February). Command & Control Understanding, Denying and Detecting. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
url: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/1408/1408.1136.pdf
source_name: OilRig Uses Updated BONDUPDATER to Target Middle Eastern Government
description: Kyle Wilhoit, Robert Falcone. (2018, September 12). OilRig Uses Updated BONDUPDATER to Target Middle Eastern Government. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-oilrig-uses-updated-bondupdater-target-middle-eastern-government/
source_name: PAN DNS Tunneling
description: Palo Alto Networks. (n.d.). What Is DNS Tunneling?. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
url: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/what-is-dns-tunneling
source_name: DNS Beacons
description: Vercara. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2025.
url: https://vercara.digicert.com/resources/dns-beacons#page_top
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-10-24T17:48:27.877Z
name: DNS
description: Adversaries may communicate using the Domain Name System (DNS) application layer protocol to avoid detection/network filtering by blending in with existing traffic. Commands to the remote system, and often the results of those commands, will be embedded within the protocol traffic between the client and server. 

The DNS protocol serves an administrative function in computer networking and thus may be very common in environments. DNS traffic may also be allowed even before network authentication is completed. DNS packets contain many fields and headers in which data can be concealed. Often known as DNS tunneling, adversaries may abuse DNS to communicate with systems under their control within a victim network while also mimicking normal, expected traffic.(Citation: PAN DNS Tunneling)(Citation: Medium DnsTunneling)

DNS beaconing may be used to send commands to remote systems via DNS queries. A DNS beacon is created by tunneling DNS traffic (i.e. [Protocol Tunneling](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1572)). The commands may be embedded into different DNS records, for example, TXT or A records.(Citation: OilRig Uses Updated BONDUPDATER to Target Middle Eastern Government) DNS beacons may be difficult to detect because the beacons infrequently communicate with infected devices.(Citation: DNS Beacons) Infrequent communication conceals the malicious DNS traffic with normal DNS traffic. 
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: command-and-control
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.3.0
x_mitre_contributors: Jan Petrov, Citi
Chris Heald
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: yes
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Linux
macOS
Windows
Network Devices
ESXi
x_mitre_version: 1.4