Malicious GS-Netcat Command and Control via Global Socket Relay Network (via dns_query)

ATT&CK techniques

C2

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
- T1071.004DNS
- T1572Protocol Tunneling
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects DNS resolution of the Global Socket Relay Network domain used by the GS-Netcat backdoor. In Operation Highland the Velvet Ant actor deployed GS-Netcat configured to reach single character subdomains of the relay network for reverse shell access. Resolution of this domain on servers is not expected in enterprise environments.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious GS-Netcat Command and Control via Global Socket Relay Network (via dns_query)

Pivot detection · T1071.004 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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