huntrule

Windows DNS ServerLevelPluginDll Registry Installation

Detects registry changes setting DNS ServerLevelPluginDll, which can enable malicious DNS plugin DLL loading after restart.

FreeReviewedSigma · High · v1
Product
windows
Category
registry_set
Author
Florian Roth (Nextron Systems) (SigmaHQ), DRL 1.1
Published
2017-05-08
Updated
2026-07-30
AnalysisDetection

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Defense Evasion

  1. Recon

  2. Resource Dev

  3. Initial Access

  4. Execution

  5. Persistence

  6. Priv Esc

  7. Defense Evasion

  8. Cred Access

  9. Discovery

  10. Lateral Movement

  11. Collection

  12. C2

  13. Exfiltration

  14. Impact

What it detects

This rule flags installation of a DNS ServerLevelPluginDll by matching a registry value whose TargetObject ends with \services\DNS\Parameters\ServerLevelPluginDll. Attackers can use this setting to load attacker-controlled code by installing a malicious plugin DLL, typically requiring a DNS server restart to take effect. It relies on registry set telemetry that records the TargetObject path for the written value.

Reporting behind it

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Windows DNS ServerLevelPluginDll Registry Installation
Pivot detection · T1574.001 · 9 related

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