Zeek DNS queries matching Tor proxy and hidden service domains

ATT&CK techniques

Exfiltration

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
- T1048Exfiltration Over Alternative Protocol
Impact

What it detects

This rule flags DNS lookup activity where the queried names match a set of common Tor proxy, hidden service, and related domain suffixes. Such lookups are often used to reach anonymity-network infrastructure, which can support malicious activity by hiding origin and intent. It relies on Zeek DNS telemetry, specifically the DNS query name suffixes observed in DNS logs.

Reporting behind it

Related detections9 linkedT1048 — drag to rearrange

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Windows DNS Queries to git-tanstack.com and filev2.getsession.org

Windows Process Execution: Restic Backup Tool Command-Line Indicators

Zeek DNS queries matching Tor proxy and hidden service domains

Pivot detection · T1048 · 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.

zeek-dns-queries-to-tor-proxy-and-onion-domain-indicators-a8322756

title: Zeek DNS queries matching Tor proxy and hidden service domains
id: 27c6663f-7f96-49b4-8596-e391d65284f6
related:
  - id: b55ca2a3-7cff-4dda-8bdd-c7bfa63bf544
    type: similar
  - id: 8384bd26-bde6-4da9-8e5d-4174a7a47ca2
    type: similar
  - id: a8322756-015c-42e7-afb1-436e85ed3ff5
    type: derived
status: test
description: This rule flags DNS lookup activity where the queried names match a set of common Tor proxy, hidden service, and related domain suffixes. Such lookups are often used to reach anonymity-network infrastructure, which can support malicious activity by hiding origin and intent. It relies on Zeek DNS telemetry, specifically the DNS query name suffixes observed in DNS logs.
references:
  - https://github.com/Azure/Azure-Sentinel/blob/f99542b94afe0ad2f19a82cc08262e7ac8e1428e/Detections/ASimDNS/imDNS_TorProxies.yaml
  - https://github.com/SigmaHQ/sigma/blob/master/rules/network/zeek/zeek_dns_torproxy.yml
author: Saw Winn Naung , Azure-Sentinel, Huntrule Team
date: 2021-08-15
modified: 2025-09-12
tags:
  - attack.exfiltration
  - attack.t1048
logsource:
  service: dns
  product: zeek
detection:
  selection:
    query|endswith:
      - .hiddenservice.net
      - .onion.ca
      - .onion.cab
      - .onion.casa
      - .onion.city
      - .onion.direct
      - .onion.dog
      - .onion.glass
      - .onion.gq
      - .onion.guide
      - .onion.in.net
      - .onion.ink
      - .onion.it
      - .onion.link
      - .onion.lt
      - .onion.lu
      - .onion.ly
      - .onion.mn
      - .onion.network
      - .onion.nu
      - .onion.pet
      - .onion.plus
      - .onion.pt
      - .onion.pw
      - .onion.rip
      - .onion.sh
      - .onion.si
      - .onion.to
      - .onion.top
      - .onion.ws
      - .onion
      - .s1.tor-gateways.de
      - .s2.tor-gateways.de
      - .s3.tor-gateways.de
      - .s4.tor-gateways.de
      - .s5.tor-gateways.de
      - .t2w.pw
      - .tor2web.ae.org
      - .tor2web.blutmagie.de
      - .tor2web.com
      - .tor2web.fi
      - .tor2web.io
      - .tor2web.org
      - .tor2web.xyz
      - .torlink.co
  condition: selection
falsepositives:
  - Unknown
level: medium
license: DRL-1.1

Convert

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

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