DNS-over-HTTPS Enabled by Registry

title: DNS-over-HTTPS Enabled by Registry
id: 04b45a8a-d11d-49e4-9acc-4a1b524407a5
status: test
description: |
    Detects when a user enables DNS-over-HTTPS.
    This can be used to hide internet activity or be used to hide the process of exfiltrating data.
    With this enabled organization will lose visibility into data such as query type, response and originating IP that are used to determine bad actors.
references:
    - https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/151318-how-enable-disable-dns-over-https-doh-microsoft-edge.html
    - https://github.com/elastic/detection-rules/issues/1371
    - https://chromeenterprise.google/policies/?policy=DnsOverHttpsMode
    - https://admx.help/HKLM/Software/Policies/Mozilla/Firefox/DNSOverHTTPS
author: Austin Songer
date: 2021-07-22
modified: 2023-08-17
tags:
    - attack.persistence
    - attack.stealth
    - attack.defense-impairment
    - attack.t1140
    - attack.t1112
logsource:
    product: windows
    category: registry_set
detection:
    selection_edge:
        TargetObject|endswith: '\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge\BuiltInDnsClientEnabled'
        Details: DWORD (0x00000001)
    selection_chrome:
        TargetObject|endswith: '\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\DnsOverHttpsMode'
        Details: 'secure'
    selection_firefox:
        TargetObject|endswith: '\SOFTWARE\Policies\Mozilla\Firefox\DNSOverHTTPS\Enabled'
        Details: DWORD (0x00000001)
    condition: 1 of selection_*
falsepositives:
    - Unlikely
level: medium