Azure AKS CoreDNS or Kube-DNS Configuration Modified
Detects an identity creating or modifying the CoreDNS or kube-dns ConfigMap in the kube-system namespace on AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service), excluding known AKS control-plane and platform identities. Rewriting cluster…
Description
Detects an identity creating or modifying the CoreDNS or kube-dns ConfigMap in the kube-system namespace on AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service), excluding known AKS control-plane and platform identities. Rewriting cluster DNS (by editing coredns/kube-dns or creating and editing coredns-custom) enables cluster-wide adversary-in-the-middle by redirecting internal service resolution to attacker-controlled IPs, allowing credential capture and traffic interception. Coverage includes workload service accounts (system:serviceaccount:*), so a compromised in-cluster token is not excluded.
Detection logic
Its licence does not clear it for publishing here
Sunturai publishes a detection's own text where the licence it arrived under has been reviewed and permits it, and Elastic License 2.0 has not. The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form and the hash that pins this revision are in the workspace record.
Detection requirements
- Platform
- LinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows
The rule states no platform. This is derived from the ATT&CK technique it maps to.
- Log source category
- event_index
Known benign triggers
- Approved automation, platform controllers, or GitOps may update the CoreDNS ConfigMap (for example custom forward rules). Validate the identity and change window, and add exclusions for verified service accounts.
MITRE ATT&CK mappings
0 exclusive techniques.This is coverage no other published rule has; it is not this rule's total technique count.
References
| Reference | Cited by |
|---|---|
| hub.armosec.io/docs/c-0037 | Only this detection cites it |
| kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/administer-cluster/dns-custom-nameservers/ | 3 |
| learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/coredns-custom | Only this detection cites it |
| microsoft.github.io/Threat-Matrix-for-Kubernetes/ | 15 |
| microsoft.github.io/Threat-Matrix-for-Kubernetes/techniques/CoreDNS%20poisoning/ | Only this detection cites it |
| www.aquasec.com/blog/dns-spoofing-kubernetes-clusters/ | Only this detection cites it |
From the source
- At source
- Open at source
- Upstream identifier
- 1291513f-02f2-48d6-9f9c-06e5c8f23ecb
- Tagged by the source as
- Data Source: AzureData Source: Azure Platform LogsData Source: KubernetesDomain: CloudDomain: ContainersDomain: KubernetesNoise: UnknownPerformance: FastPlatform: AzurePlatform: KubernetesResources: Investigation GuideRule Type: Custom Query (KQL)Tactic: Credential AccessUse Case: Threat Detection
Licence
- Published under
- Elastic License 2.0Read the licence
- Attribution
- Required
Authorship
- Written by
- Published
- Sep 20, 2026
- Version
- 3