Security has become a massive concern in the rapidly evolving world of information technology. Our ever-increasing reliance on digital systems means the threats we face are becoming more sophisticated.
One such threat is DNS tunnelling, a technique that can be used to bypass network security measures and carry out malicious activities such as DNS data infiltration and DNS-based malware distribution. This article will provide you with an understanding of DNS tunnelling, its risks, and how to prevent them.
DNS, or Domain Name System, is a protocol that translates human readable domain names (for example, www.example.com) to machine readable IP addresses (for example, 192.0.2.44).
DNS tunnelling is a method used to encode the data of other programs or protocols in DNS queries and responses. It leverages this system to smuggle data in and out of a network, making it an example of DNS exfiltration and DNS command and control technique.
DNS tunnelling has existed for almost 20 years and is not inherently malicious. Initially designed to encapsulate network traffic, it can be used for legitimate purposes such as bypassing firewalls and other network restrictions to access blocked content.
However, cybercriminals have exploited this technique for nefarious purposes, such as data exfiltration, C&C (command and control), and DNS-based malware distribution.
DNS tunnelling exploits the structure of the DNS protocol by using DNS encoders to encode the data or command and carry out attacks.
Here's a simplified step-by-step explanation:
The primary risk of DNS tunnelling is that it can be used to bypass network security measures. Since DNS is a necessary protocol for the functioning of the internet, most networks allow DNS traffic to pass through without inspection. This makes DNS an ideal channel for cybercriminals to data exfiltration, network infiltration or control of DNS tunnelling malware.
DNS tunnelling can also be used to carry out attacks, where a large amount of DNS traffic is used to overwhelm a network and cause a denial of service.
Furthermore, DNS tunnelling can be used to hide the presence of DNS-based malware on a network, making it harder to detect and remove.
Preventing DNS tunnelling risks involves a combination of monitoring, detection, and mitigation strategies.
Monitoring involves keeping a close eye on DNS traffic to identify any unusual patterns or volumes and DNS tunnelling tools like dnsHunter and reassemble_dns can be used.
Detection involves using DNS tunnelling tools and techniques to identify this type of activity. This can include looking for anomalies in DNS requests, such as unusually long domain names or a high frequency of requests.
Mitigation of DNS tunnelling attacks involves proactive measures once the activity has been detected. This defence can take various forms. For instance, one could block domain names, IP addresses, or geolocation regions based on their known reputation or perceived danger. In addition, implementing rules around peculiar DNS query strings or the length, type, or size of both outbound and inbound DNS queries can also be effective.
Ultra-slow DNS tunnelling is a more covert attempt at circumventing network security measures in which data is transferred in small chunks and at a very low rate. This is typically achieved by spreading DNS queries across multiple domains and defining very low Time-to-Live (TTL) values for them to reduce the likelihood of detection.
Since data is transmitted in small amounts over a long period of time, it is essential to implement powerful DNS monitoring tools capable of discovering suspicious DNS traffic patterns such as unusual query sizes or frequent queries to the same domain.
Implementing best practices for DNS security can help to prevent DNS tunnelling vulnerabilities.
These include:
DNSSense offers a solution called DNSDome, a comprehensive cloud-based protection system that defends networks against advanced threats.
Powered by AI-based threat intelligence Cyber X-Ray, DNSDome uses heuristics and behavioural methods to detect and block DNS tunnelling attempts instantly. It provides enhanced protection against sophisticated attacks such as ultra-slow DNS tunnelling by its uncanny ability to identify and block data packets as small as 1.5 MB transferred over a period of 2 years.
This solution is particularly effective as many organisations do not examine their DNS traffic for malicious activity, making DNS Tunnelling a powerful tool in the arsenal of threat actors to bypass defences.
DNS tunnelling is a serious security threat that can be used to bypass network security measures and carry out malicious activities. However, with the proper knowledge and tools, detecting and preventing DNS tunnelling is possible.
By implementing best practices for DNS security and using advanced solutions like DNSSense's DNSDome, organisations can protect their networks and ensure their data remains secure.
Visit: Prevent DNS Tunnelling Attacks
Advantages:
DNS exfiltration techniques have the advantage of being able to bypass many traditional network security measures, as DNS traffic often needs to be inspected for malicious activity.
This method is also stealthy, with data concealed within legitimate-looking DNS queries and responses, making it easier to detect with specific tools.
Furthermore, DNS is a fundamental protocol allowed through almost all firewalls, providing universal access and making it a convenient channel for data exfiltration.
Limitations:
However, DNS exfiltration also has its limitations. The data transfer rates are slow compared to other methods, making it less suitable for extracting large files or databases.
Implementing this technique requires technical sophistication to correctly encode and decode the data and craft DNS queries and responses to avoid detection. While it can bypass many traditional security measures, advanced security tools can identify DNS exfiltration by looking for anomalies in DNS traffic.
Lastly, this method relies on the ability to send DNS queries to an external DNS server controlled by the attacker, which may not be possible if outbound DNS queries are restricted or closely monitored.
Some commonly used DNS tunnels include Iodine, DNS2TCP, OzymanDNS and DNScat2. These tools can be used to create a DNS tunnel for data exfiltration or command and control.
Detecting DNS tunnelling in encrypted traffic can be challenging, but it is possible with the right tools and techniques. This can include looking for anomalies in DNS requests, such as unusually long domain names or a high frequency of requests, machine learning algorithms can be trained to recognise the characteristics of DNS tunnelling in encrypted traffic or through deep packet inspection(DPI) as it can still analyse the packet headers and metadata to identify suspicious patterns that may indicate DNS tunnelling.
Best practices for mitigating DNS tunnelling malware include regularly updating and patching DNS servers, implementing DNSSEC, using a DNS firewall, implementing rate limiting, and regularly monitoring and auditing DNS logs.
Steganographic DNS tunnelling attacks can be prevented by implementing strict controls on DNS traffic, using advanced detection tools to identify any unusual patterns or volumes in DNS requests, and blocking the IP addresses associated with the DNS tunnelling activity.
DNS-based command and control channels can allow APT groups to control malware on a network, bypassing traditional network security measures. This can lead to data breaches, network disruptions, and other serious security incidents.
The latest trends in DNS tunnelling attacks include more sophisticated encoding techniques and DNS over HTTPS (DoH) to conceal DNS tunnelling activity further. However, these trends can be countered by implementing advanced DNS security measures, such as DNSSEC and DNS firewalls, and advanced detection tools.
DNS tunnelling attacks can significantly impact network performance, generating a large amount of DNS traffic and consuming network resources.
The most effective ways to prevent these attacks include: