Possible DNS Server Enumeration Through LDAP Query (via dns_query)

title: Possible DNS Server Enumeration Through LDAP Query (via dns_query)
id: 4e7fa803-3668-5735-ad5d-14f6d51e4cf0
status: stable
description: This rule detects DNS server discovery via LDAP query requests from uncommon applications
references:
    - https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1482/
    - https://github.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/blob/980f3f83fd81f37c1ca9c02dccfd1c3d9f9d0841/atomics/T1016/T1016.md#atomic-test-9---dns-server-discovery-using-nslookup
    - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-adts/7fcdce70-5205-44d6-9c3a-260e616a2f04
author: Huntrule Team
date: 2026-01-17
tags:
    - attack.discovery
    - attack.t1482
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: dns_query
detection:
    selection:
        QueryName|startswith: '_ldap.'
    filter_main_generic:
        Image|contains:
            - ':\Program Files\'
            - ':\Program Files (x86)\'
            - ':\Windows\'
    filter_main_defender:
        Image|contains: ':\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Platform\'
        Image|endswith: '\MsMpEng.exe'
    filter_main_unknown:
        Image: '<unknown process>'
    filter_optional_azure:
        Image|startswith: 'C:\WindowsAzure\GuestAgent'
    filter_main_null:
        Image:
    filter_optional_browsers:
        Image|endswith:
            - '\chrome.exe'
            - '\firefox.exe'
            - '\opera.exe'
    condition: selection and not 1 of filter_main_* and not 1 of filter_optional_*
falsepositives:
    - Unknown
level: low