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.^[1],[2]

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). The commands may be embedded into different DNS records, for example, TXT or A records.^[3] DNS beacons may be difficult to detect because the beacons infrequently communicate with infected devices.^[4] Infrequent communication conceals the malicious DNS traffic with normal DNS traffic.

References

1. Palo Alto Networks. (n.d.). What Is DNS Tunneling?. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
2. 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.
3. Kyle Wilhoit, Robert Falcone. (2018, September 12). OilRig Uses Updated BONDUPDATER to Target Middle Eastern Government. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
4. Vercara. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2025.

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