Dynamic Resolution: Fast Flux DNS
- ID
- T1568.001
- Tactics
- TA0011 Command and Control
- Sub-technique of
- T1568 Dynamic Resolution
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Windows, ESXi
- Data sources
- Network Connection Creation, Process Creation, Network Traffic Flow
- Source
- attack.mitre.org
- MITRE last modified
- 25 Oct 2025
Adversaries may use Fast Flux DNS to hide a command and control channel behind an array of rapidly changing IP addresses linked to a single domain resolution. This technique uses a fully qualified domain name, with multiple IP addresses assigned to it which are swapped with high frequency, using a combination of round robin IP addressing and short Time-To-Live (TTL) for a DNS resource record.[1][2][3]
The simplest, "single-flux" method, involves registering and de-registering an addresses as part of the DNS A (address) record list for a single DNS name. These registrations have a five-minute average lifespan, resulting in a constant shuffle of IP address resolution.[3]
In contrast, the "double-flux" method registers and de-registers an address as part of the DNS Name Server record list for the DNS zone, providing additional resilience for the connection. With double-flux additional hosts can act as a proxy to the C2 host, further insulating the true source of the C2 channel.
Detection
- DET0485 Detection Strategy for Dynamic Resolution using Fast Flux DNS
Data components: Network Connection Creation, Process Creation, Network Traffic Flow
