Possible FIN7 DGA Command and Control Behavior

[metadata]
creation_date = "2020/07/06"
integration = ["network_traffic", "panw"]
maturity = "production"
updated_date = "2026/08/26"

[rule]
author = ["Elastic"]
description = """
This rule detects a known command and control pattern in network events. The FIN7 threat group is known to use this
command and control technique, while maintaining persistence in their target's network.
"""
false_positives = [
    """
    This rule could identify benign domains that are formatted similarly to FIN7's command and control algorithm. Alerts
    should be investigated by an analyst to assess the validity of the individual observations.
    """,
]
from = "now-9m"
language = "esql"
license = "Elastic License v2"
name = "Possible FIN7 DGA Command and Control Behavior"
note = """## Triage and analysis

In the event this rule identifies benign domains in your environment, the `destination.domain` exclusion in the rule can be modified to include those domains. Example: `... | where destination.domain not in ("zoom.us", "benign.domain1", "benign.domain2")`."""
references = [
    "https://www.fireeye.com/blog/threat-research/2018/08/fin7-pursuing-an-enigmatic-and-evasive-global-criminal-operation.html",
]
risk_score = 73
rule_id = "4a4e23cf-78a2-449c-bac3-701924c269d3"
severity = "high"
tags = [
    "Use Case: Threat Detection",
    "Tactic: Command and Control",
    "Domain: Endpoint",
    "Rule Type: ESQL",
    "Data Source: PAN-OS",
    "Resources: Investigation Guide",
]
timestamp_override = "event.ingested"
type = "esql"

query = '''
from packetbeat-*, filebeat-*, logs-network_traffic.*, logs-panw.panos* metadata _id, _version, _index
| where (
    data_stream.dataset in ("network_traffic.tls", "network_traffic.http") or
    (
      data_stream.dataset == "panw.panos" and
      network.application in ("ssl", "web-browsing") and network.transport == "tcp"
    ) or
    (event.category in ("network", "network_traffic") and network.protocol in ("tls", "http") and network.transport == "tcp")
  )
| where destination.domain RLIKE "[a-zA-Z]{4,5}\\.(pw|us|club|info|site|top)"
| where destination.domain != "zoom.us"
| keep @timestamp, destination.domain, source.ip, destination.ip, network.protocol, network.transport, data_stream.dataset, _id, _version, _index
'''


[[rule.threat]]
framework = "MITRE ATT&CK"
[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1071"
name = "Application Layer Protocol"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1071/"
[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1071.001"
name = "Web Protocols"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1071/001/"


[[rule.threat.technique]]
id = "T1568"
name = "Dynamic Resolution"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1568/"
[[rule.threat.technique.subtechnique]]
id = "T1568.002"
name = "Domain Generation Algorithms"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1568/002/"



[rule.threat.tactic]
id = "TA0011"
name = "Command and Control"
reference = "https://attack.mitre.org/tactics/TA0011/"