Windows PowerShell nslookup DNS TXT Download Cradle

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.001PowerShell
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule identifies PowerShell command content that uses nslookup with TXT-query patterns and an embedded payload index marker ('[1]'). Attackers may use DNS TXT records to stage or retrieve follow-on code while blending into seemingly normal name-resolution activity. Detection relies on Windows PowerShell classic start telemetry capturing the command text for nslookup usage and the specific TXT/HTTP query arguments.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1059.001 — drag to rearrange

Suspicious Script Interpreter Spawned by Explorer via ClickFix Run Dialog (via process_creation)

Suspicious PowerShell Download Cradle via ClickFix Fake CAPTCHA (via process_creation)

Suspicious PowerShell EncodedCommand Spawned From Command Shell via Process Creation

Suspicious Script Download via Curl and PowerShell by Dohdoor

Malicious Mass Hyper-V Virtual Machine Shutdown via PowerShell by Kraken Ransomware

Suspicious PowerShell WebClient DownloadFile of Archive Payload (UAT-7237)

Suspicious SharePoint Worker Process Spawning Command Interpreter via ToolShell

Malicious Emmenhtal JavaScript Loader Spawning Encoded PowerShell

Suspicious Python Interpreter Launching Encoded PowerShell via subprocess

Windows PowerShell nslookup DNS TXT Download Cradle

Pivot detection · T1059.001 · 9 related

Changelog

v2

v2
Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
v1
No changelog recorded for this version.2026-07-30

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

powershell-download-cradle-using-nslookup-and-txt-http-queries-on-windows-999bff6d

title: Windows PowerShell nslookup DNS TXT Download Cradle
id: cb106821-262b-44a8-973a-feca27222827
related:
  - id: 1b3b01c7-84e9-4072-86e5-fc285a41ff23
    type: similar
  - id: 999bff6d-dc15-44c9-9f5c-e1051bfc86e1
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule identifies PowerShell command content that uses nslookup with TXT-query patterns and an embedded payload index marker ('[1]'). Attackers may use DNS TXT records to stage or retrieve follow-on code while blending into seemingly normal name-resolution activity. Detection relies on Windows PowerShell classic start telemetry capturing the command text for nslookup usage and the specific TXT/HTTP query arguments.
references:
  - https://twitter.com/Alh4zr3d/status/1566489367232651264
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/powershell/powershell_classic/posh_pc_abuse_nslookup_with_dns_records.yml
author: Sai Prashanth Pulisetti @pulisettis, Aishwarya Singam, Huntrule Team
date: 2022-12-10
modified: 2025-02-25
tags:
  - attack.execution
  - attack.t1059.001
logsource:
  product: windows
  category: ps_classic_start
detection:
  selection:
    Data|contains|all:
      - powershell
      - nslookup
      - "[1]"
    Data|contains:
      - -q=txt http
      - -querytype=txt http
      - -type=txt http
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

This rule as a query you can run. Uses no unlock credit.

SplunkSPL