Individual skill
detecting-command-and-control-over-dns
Detects command-and-control (C2) communications tunneled through DNS protocol including DNS tunneling tools (Iodine, dnscat2, dns2tcp, Cobalt Strike DNS beacon), domain generation algorithms (DGA), encoded payload delivery via TXT/CNAME records, and DNS beaconing patterns. Covers Shannon entropy analysis of query subdomains, statistical anomaly detection, ML-based DGA classification, passive DNS correlation, and Zeek/Suricata signature development. Activates for requests involving DNS-based C2 detection, DNS tunnel identification, suspicious DNS traffic investigation, or DGA domain classification.
internal/tools/skills/data/network-security/detecting-command-and-control-over-dns/SKILL.md
Source commit d42f381ad34843e71a42658e5c57290c713e85af
What was checked
- Matches the observed repository HEAD
- Yes
- Scanner rules are current
- Yes
- Repository scan complete
- No
- Skill scan complete
- No
- Observed behavior
- Instructions only
- Last checked
- Nov 9, 2026
These are observations at the recorded commit, not a guarantee of safety. Review the source before running it.
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Repository context
- Repository stars (not skill ratings)
- 1,319
- Repository last updated
- Nov 8, 2026
- License
- Apache-2.0
Observed agent integration: No specific integration evidence. Standard SKILL.md installation does not imply verified compatibility.
- cybersecurity Repository topic
- security Repository topic
- bug-bounty Repository topic
- automation Repository topic
- autonomous-pentesting Repository topic
- ai-agent Repository topic
- ai-security Repository topic
- ethical-hacking Repository topic
- golang Repository topic
- penetration-testing 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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# 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.
