[New Rule] DNS to Commonly Abused Web Services

[Aegrah]

Summary

Adversaries may implement command and control (C2) communications that use common web services to hide their activity. This attack technique is typically targeted at an organization and uses web services common to the victim network, which allows the adversary to blend into legitimate traffic activity. These popular services are typically targeted since they have most likely been used before compromise, which helps malicious traffic blend in.

The domains chosen were based on several endpoint rules, manual testing, and the two currently existing detection rules:

• https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/b5e5822c1fff27e33bce16d915d44a3f6977a860/rules/windows/command_and_control_common_webservices.toml
• https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/blob/b5e5822c1fff27e33bce16d915d44a3f6977a860/rules/macos/command_and_control_unusual_network_connection_to_suspicious_web_service.toml

[github-actions]

Rule: New - Guidelines

These guidelines serve as a reminder set of considerations when proposing a new rule.

Documentation and Context

• Detailed description of the rule.
• List any new fields required in ECS/data sources.
• Link related issues or PRs.
• Include references.

Rule Metadata Checks

• creation_date matches the date of creation PR initially merged.
• min_stack_version should support the widest stack versions.
• name and description should be descriptive and not include typos.
• query should be inclusive, not overly exclusive, considering performance for diverse environments. Non ecs fields should be added to non-ecs-schema.json if not available in an integration.
• min_stack_comments and min_stack_version should be included if the rule is only compatible starting from a specific stack version.
• index pattern should be neither too specific nor too vague, ensuring it accurately matches the relevant data stream (e.g., use logs-endpoint.process-* for process data).
• integration should align with the index. If the integration is newly introduced, ensure the manifest, schemas, and new_rule.yaml template are updated.
• setup should include the necessary steps to configure the integration.
• note should include any additional information (e.g. Triage and analysis investigation guides, timeline templates).
• tags should be relevant to the threat and align/added to the EXPECTED_RULE_TAGS in the definitions.py file.
• threat, techniques, and subtechniques should map to ATT&CK always if possible.

New BBR Rules

• building_block_type should be included if the rule is a building block and the rule should be located in the rules_building_block folder.
• bypass_bbr_timing should be included if adding custom lookback timing to the rule.

Testing and Validation

• Provide evidence of testing and detecting the expected threat.
• Check for existence of coverage to prevent duplication.

[tradebot-elastic]

⛔️ Test failed

Results

• ❌ DNS to Commonly Abused Web Services (eql)
  • coverage_issue: no_rta
  • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

[tradebot-elastic]

⛔️ Test failed

Results

• ❌ DNS to Commonly Abused Web Services (eql)
  • coverage_issue: no_rta
  • stack_validation_failed: no_rta

[imays11]

Are there any known noisy patterns you could exclude upfront like the Windows rule does? Or have you considered making this a new terms rule like the mac one? Otherwise this one seems like it will be really noisy. Maybe as a BBR rule it can be combined with something else more indicative of threat behavior?

[terrancedejesus]

Suggested change

	"Domain: Endpoint",
	"Domain: Endpoint",
	"Domain: Network",

[terrancedejesus]

Suggested change

	"yandex.ru", "*.yandex.ru"
	"yandex.ru", "*.yandex.ru",
	/* Crypto mining pools */
	"*.nicehash.com", "stratum*.nicehash.com",
	"*.2miners.com", "*.moneroocean.stream", "*.supportxmr.com",
	"*.nanopool.org", "*.f2pool.com", "*.poolbinance.com",
	"*.antpool.com", "*.viabtc.com", "*.braiins.com", "*.slushpool.com",
	/* Decentralized */
	"ipfs.io", "*.ipfs.io", "dweb.link", "*.dweb.link",
	"*.ipfs.dweb.link", "*.ipns.dweb.link",
	"gateway.pinata.cloud", "*.mypinata.cloud",
	"web3.storage", "*.web3.storage",
	"nftstorage.link", "*.nftstorage.link",
	"arweave.net", "*.arweave.net",
	"ar.io", "*.ar.io",
	"ic0.app", "*.ic0.app",
	"icp0.io", "*.icp0.io",
	"*.storjshare.io"