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T1584.002 DNS Server

Adversaries may compromise third-party DNS servers that can be used during targeting. During post-compromise activity, adversaries may utilize DNS traffic for various tasks, including for Command and Control (ex: Application Layer Protocol). Instead of setting up their own DNS servers, adversaries may compromise third-party DNS servers in support of operations.

By compromising DNS servers, adversaries can alter DNS records. Such control can allow for redirection of an organization’s traffic, facilitating Collection and Credential Access efforts for the adversary.31 Additionally, adversaries may leverage such control in conjunction with Digital Certificates to redirect traffic to adversary-controlled infrastructure, mimicking normal trusted network communications.12 Alternatively, they may be able to prove ownership of a domain to a SaaS service in order to assert control of the service or create a new administrative Cloud Account.6 Adversaries may also be able to silently create subdomains pointed at malicious servers without tipping off the actual owner of the DNS server.45

Item Value
ID T1584.002
Sub-techniques T1584.001, T1584.002, T1584.003, T1584.004, T1584.005, T1584.006, T1584.007, T1584.008
Tactics TA0042
Platforms PRE
Version 1.3
Created 01 October 2020
Last Modified 24 October 2025

Procedure Examples

ID Name Description
G1004 LAPSUS$ LAPSUS$ has reconfigured a victim’s DNS records to actor-controlled domains and websites.9
G1041 Sea Turtle Sea Turtle modified Name Server (NS) items to refer to Sea Turtle-controlled DNS servers to provide responses for all DNS lookups.78

Mitigations

ID Mitigation Description
M1056 Pre-compromise This technique cannot be easily mitigated with preventive controls since it is based on behaviors performed outside of the scope of enterprise defenses and controls.

References

  1. Hirani, M., Jones, S., Read, B. (2019, January 10). Global DNS Hijacking Campaign: DNS Record Manipulation at Scale. Retrieved October 9, 2020. ↩↩

  2. Matt Dahl. (2019, January 25). Widespread DNS Hijacking Activity Targets Multiple Sectors. Retrieved February 14, 2022. ↩

  3. Mercer, W., Rascagneres, P. (2018, November 27). DNSpionage Campaign Targets Middle East. Retrieved October 9, 2020. ↩

  4. Nick Biasini. (2015, March 3). Threat Spotlight: Angler Lurking in the Domain Shadows. Retrieved March 6, 2017. ↩

  5. Proofpoint Staff. (2015, December 15). The shadow knows: Malvertising campaigns use domain shadowing to pull in Angler EK. Retrieved October 16, 2020. ↩

  6. Tony Mau. (2025, May 29). Keys to the (SaaS) kingdom. Retrieved May 30, 2025. ↩

  7. Cisco Talos. (2019, April 17). Sea Turtle: DNS Hijacking Abuses Trust In Core Internet Service. Retrieved November 20, 2024. ↩

  8. Paul Rascagneres. (2019, July 9). Sea Turtle keeps on swimming, finds new victims, DNS hijacking techniques. Retrieved November 20, 2024. ↩

  9. Brown, D., et al. (2022, April 28). LAPSUS$: Recent techniques, tactics and procedures. Retrieved December 22, 2022. ↩