Ngrok Reverse Proxy on Network

name: Ngrok Reverse Proxy on Network
id: 5790a766-53b8-40d3-a696-3547b978fcf0
version: 8
date: '2026-03-10'
author: Michael Haag, Splunk
status: production
type: Anomaly
description: The following analytic detects DNS queries to common Ngrok domains, indicating potential use of the Ngrok reverse proxy tool. It leverages the Network Resolution datamodel to identify queries to domains such as "*.ngrok.com" and "*.ngrok.io". While Ngrok usage is not inherently malicious, it has been increasingly adopted by adversaries for covert communication and data exfiltration. If confirmed malicious, this activity could allow attackers to bypass network defenses, establish persistent connections, and exfiltrate sensitive data, posing a significant threat to the network's security.
data_source:
    - Sysmon EventID 22
search: |-
    | tstats `security_content_summariesonly` count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime FROM datamodel=Network_Resolution
      WHERE DNS.query IN ("*.ngrok.com","*.ngrok.io", "ngrok.*.tunnel.com", "korgn.*.lennut.com")
      BY DNS.answer DNS.answer_count DNS.query
         DNS.query_count DNS.reply_code_id DNS.src
         DNS.vendor_product
    | `drop_dm_object_name("DNS")`
    | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)`
    | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`
    | `ngrok_reverse_proxy_on_network_filter`
how_to_implement: The Network Resolution Datamodel will need to have data mapped to it regarding DNS queries. Modify query as needed to use another source.
known_false_positives: False positives will be present based on organizations that allow the use of Ngrok. Filter or monitor as needed.
references:
    - https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/sites/default/files/publications/aa22-320a_joint_csa_iranian_government-sponsored_apt_actors_compromise_federal%20network_deploy_crypto%20miner_credential_harvester.pdf
drilldown_searches:
    - name: View the detection results for - "$src$"
      search: '%original_detection_search% | search  src = "$src$"'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
    - name: View risk events for the last 7 days for - "$src$"
      search: '| from datamodel Risk.All_Risk | search normalized_risk_object IN ("$src$") starthoursago=168  | stats count min(_time) as firstTime max(_time) as lastTime values(search_name) as "Search Name" values(risk_message) as "Risk Message" values(analyticstories) as "Analytic Stories" values(annotations._all) as "Annotations" values(annotations.mitre_attack.mitre_tactic) as "ATT&CK Tactics" by normalized_risk_object | `security_content_ctime(firstTime)` | `security_content_ctime(lastTime)`'
      earliest_offset: $info_min_time$
      latest_offset: $info_max_time$
rba:
    message: An endpoint, $src$, is beaconing out to the reverse proxy service of Ngrok.
    risk_objects:
        - field: src
          type: system
          score: 20
    threat_objects: []
tags:
    analytic_story:
        - Reverse Network Proxy
        - CISA AA22-320A
        - CISA AA24-241A
    asset_type: Endpoint
    mitre_attack_id:
        - T1572
        - T1090
        - T1102
    product:
        - Splunk Enterprise
        - Splunk Enterprise Security
        - Splunk Cloud
    security_domain: network
tests:
    - name: True Positive Test
      attack_data:
        - data: https://media.githubusercontent.com/media/splunk/attack_data/master/datasets/attack_techniques/T1572/ngrok/windows-sysmon.log
          source: XmlWinEventLog:Microsoft-Windows-Sysmon/Operational
          sourcetype: XmlWinEventLog