name: analyzing-tls-certificate-transparency-logs description: 'Queries Certificate Transparency logs via crt.sh and pycrtsh to detect phishing domains, unauthorized certificate issuance, and shadow IT. Monitors newly issued certificates for typosquatting and brand impersonation using Levenshtein distance. Use for proactive phishing domain detection and certificate monitoring.

' domain: cybersecurity subdomain: security-operations tags:

• certificate-transparency
• ct-logs
• crt-sh
• phishing-detection
• tls-monitoring
• security-operations version: '1.0' author: mahipal license: Apache-2.0 atlas_techniques:
• AML.T0073
• AML.T0052 nist_csf:
• DE.CM-01
• RS.MA-01
• GV.OV-01
• DE.AE-02 mitre_attack:
• T1583.001
• T1566.002
• T1598.003
• T1583.006 mitre_f3: version: '1.1' tactics:
  • reconnaissance
  • resource-development
  • initial-access techniques:
  • id: T1598 name: Phishing for Information tactic: reconnaissance source: attack
  • id: T1593 name: Search Open Websites/Domains tactic: reconnaissance source: attack
  • id: T1583.001 name: 'Acquire Infrastructure: Domains' tactic: resource-development source: attack
  • id: F1020.002 name: 'Create Fake Materials: Fake Website' tactic: resource-development source: f3
  • id: T1660 name: Phishing tactic: initial-access source: attack

Analyzing TLS Certificate Transparency Logs

When to Use

• When investigating security incidents that require analyzing tls certificate transparency logs
• When building detection rules or threat hunting queries for this domain
• When SOC analysts need structured procedures for this analysis type
• When validating security monitoring coverage for related attack techniques

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with security operations concepts and tools
• Access to a test or lab environment for safe execution
• Python 3.8+ with required dependencies installed
• Appropriate authorization for any testing activities

Instructions

Query crt.sh Certificate Transparency database to find certificates issued for domains similar to your organization's brand, detecting phishing infrastructure.

from pycrtsh import Crtsh

c = Crtsh()
# Search for certificates matching a domain
certs = c.search("example.com")
for cert in certs:
    print(cert["id"], cert["name_value"])

# Get full certificate details
details = c.get(certs[0]["id"], type="id")

Key analysis steps:

1. Query crt.sh for all certificates matching your domain pattern
2. Identify certificates with typosquatting variations (Levenshtein distance)
3. Flag certificates from unexpected CAs
4. Monitor for wildcard certificates on suspicious subdomains
5. Cross-reference with known phishing infrastructure

Examples

from pycrtsh import Crtsh
c = Crtsh()
certs = c.search("%.example.com")
for cert in certs:
    print(f"Issuer: {cert.get('issuer_name')}, Domain: {cert.get('name_value')}")