DNS Queries for Monero Mining Pool Domains

ATT&CK techniques

Exfiltration → Impact

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
- T1567Exfiltration Over Web Service
Impact
- T1496Resource Hijacking

What it detects

This rule flags DNS lookups whose queried domain contains known Monero mining pool hostnames. Attackers may use mining pools to carry out unauthorized cryptomining, making pool-related DNS activity a useful indicator. It relies on DNS telemetry containing query strings that include the listed pool domain fragments.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1496 — drag to rearrange

Malicious Madgicx Plus Extension C2 Domain Resolution

Malicious Hadooken Cryptominer Execution via Masqueraded Binaries (via process_creation)

Suspicious Lucifer Botnet Mining Pool Domain Resolution (via dns_query)

Suspicious Proxyjacking Service Resolution Observed in perfctl Campaign (via dns_query)

Malicious PureMiner Persistence Executable in AppData HResult Folder

Suspicious T-Rex CoinMiner Binaries in Windows NT Program Files Folder (via file_event)

Malicious Cryptocurrency Miner Execution (via process_creation)

Suspicious Credential Exfiltration to webhook.site (via dns_query)

Possible Cryptomining Beacon to c3pool Mining Domain

DNS Queries for Monero Mining Pool Domains

Pivot detection · T1496 · 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.

suspicious-dns-lookups-for-monero-mining-pool-domains-b593fd50

title: DNS Queries for Monero Mining Pool Domains
id: 8bb20fe6-0641-464d-affd-6a21cde67d7c
status: stable
description: This rule flags DNS lookups whose queried domain contains known Monero mining pool hostnames. Attackers may use mining pools to carry out unauthorized cryptomining, making pool-related DNS activity a useful indicator. It relies on DNS telemetry containing query strings that include the listed pool domain fragments.
references:
  - https://www.nextron-systems.com/2021/10/24/monero-mining-pool-fqdns/
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/network/dns/net_dns_pua_cryptocoin_mining_xmr.yml
author: Florian Roth (Nextron Systems), Huntrule Team
date: 2021-10-24
tags:
  - attack.impact
  - attack.t1496
  - attack.exfiltration
  - attack.t1567
logsource:
  category: dns
detection:
  selection:
    query|contains:
      - pool.minexmr.com
      - fr.minexmr.com
      - de.minexmr.com
      - sg.minexmr.com
      - ca.minexmr.com
      - us-west.minexmr.com
      - pool.supportxmr.com
      - mine.c3pool.com
      - xmr-eu1.nanopool.org
      - xmr-eu2.nanopool.org
      - xmr-us-east1.nanopool.org
      - xmr-us-west1.nanopool.org
      - xmr-asia1.nanopool.org
      - xmr-jp1.nanopool.org
      - xmr-au1.nanopool.org
      - xmr.2miners.com
      - xmr.hashcity.org
      - xmr.f2pool.com
      - xmrpool.eu
      - pool.hashvault.pro
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Legitimate crypto coin mining
level: high
license: DRL-1.1
related:
  - id: b593fd50-7335-4682-a36c-4edcb68e4641
    type: derived

Convert

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

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