Individual skill
detecting-command-and-control-over-dns
Detect command-and-control (C2) traffic tunneled over DNS from tools like Iodine, dnscat2, dns2tcp, and Cobalt Strike DNS beacon, using Shannon entropy analysis of query subdomains, ML-based DGA classification, passive DNS correlation, and Zeek/Suricata signatures. Use when investigating suspected DNS tunneling, classifying DGA domains, detecting DNS beaconing, or building DNS anomaly rules for a SOC/SIEM.
skills/detecting-command-and-control-over-dns/SKILL.md
Source commit 54a798831d2266a3ca61ce68a7acb80b81160d57
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- Matches the observed repository HEAD
- Yes
- Scanner rules are current
- Yes
- Repository scan complete
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- Skill scan complete
- No
- Observed behavior
- Network or broad shell
- Last checked
- Nov 9, 2026
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Repository context
- Repository stars (not skill ratings)
- 35,926
- Repository last updated
- Aug 31, 2026
- License
- Apache-2.0
Observed agent integration: No specific integration evidence. Standard SKILL.md installation does not imply verified compatibility.
- ai-agents Repository topic
- claude-code Repository topic
- cybersecurity Repository topic
- incident-response Repository topic
- mitre-attack Repository topic
- penetration-testing Repository topic
- red-team Repository topic
- security Repository topic
- cloud-security Repository topic
- malware-analysis Repository topic
- dns Declared skill tag
- c2 Declared skill tag
- tunneling Declared skill tag
- dga Declared skill tag
- network-forensics Declared skill tag
- threat-detection Declared skill tag
- security Derived category
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LICENSEasset · 11,255 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesSKILL.mdcore · 52,765 bytesreferences/api-reference.mddoc · 8,333 bytesscripts/agent.pyruns · 40,670 bytes
Read excerpt
# Detecting Command and Control Over DNS
## When to Use
- Investigating suspected DNS tunneling used for C2 communication or data exfiltration
- Analyzing DNS query logs for signs of encoded payloads in subdomain strings
- Classifying domains as DGA-generated vs. legitimate using statistical or ML methods
- Detecting DNS beaconing patterns (regular intervals, consistent query sizes)
- Hunting for Iodine, dnscat2, dns2tcp, Cobalt Strike DNS, or Sliver DNS traffic
- Monitoring TXT record abuse for command delivery or staged payload download
- Building DNS anomaly detection rules for SOC/SIEM deployment
**Do not use** for general DNS performance monitoring or DNS configuration auditing; use DNS health monitoring tools for those. For HTTP/HTTPS-based C2 detection, use network traffic analysis skills focused on web protocols.
