Windows DNS Server: Failed DNS Zone Transfer Requests (Event ID 6004)
Alerts on Windows DNS Server Event ID 6004 indicating a failed DNS zone transfer request for a non-existent or non-authoritative zone.
- Product
- windows
- Service
- dns-server
- Author
- Zach Mathis (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
- Published
- 2023-05-24
- Updated
- 2026-07-31
ATT&CK techniques
ReconRecon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact
What it detects
This rule identifies Windows DNS Server events where a DNS zone transfer request fails for a non-existent or non-authoritative zone. Attackers may probe DNS infrastructure with zone transfer attempts to enumerate DNS records, even if authorization is missing. It relies on DNS Server service telemetry for Event ID 6004, including the source requesting system and the target zone name.
Reporting behind it
Changelog
v2- v2Candidate ingested via manual entry.2026-07-31
- v1No 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.
title: "Windows DNS Server: Failed DNS Zone Transfer Requests (Event ID 6004)"
id: 2f45d857-8d84-4cbe-902c-17696d3ded0b
status: test
description: This rule identifies Windows DNS Server events where a DNS zone transfer request fails for a non-existent or non-authoritative zone. Attackers may probe DNS infrastructure with zone transfer attempts to enumerate DNS records, even if authorization is missing. It relies on DNS Server service telemetry for Event ID 6004, including the source requesting system and the target zone name.
references:
- https://kb.eventtracker.com/evtpass/evtpages/EventId_6004_Microsoft-Windows-DNS-Server-Service_65410.asp
- https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/windows/builtin/dns_server/win_dns_server_failed_dns_zone_transfer.yml
author: Zach Mathis, Huntrule Team
date: 2023-05-24
tags:
- attack.reconnaissance
- attack.t1590.002
logsource:
product: windows
service: dns-server
detection:
selection:
EventID: 6004
condition: selection
falsepositives:
- Unlikely
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1
related:
- id: 6d444368-6da1-43fe-b2fc-44202430480e
type: derived