DSE security knowledge hub

Cybersecurity
Knowledge

Page 111 of the DSE Cybersecurity knowledge center, with source-backed guidance and practical next steps.

DSE-authoredOfficial sourcesReviewed guidance
Search the library
Explore this topic

Cybersecurity knowledge center

Source-backed guidance for identity, vulnerability reduction, ransomware readiness, detection, response, and recovery.

Start with the cornerstone guide
DSE post stream

Cybersecurity

1,745 articles
DSE visual briefNetworks & infrastructure

Assign forward and reverse DNS updates between DHCPv4 client and server

In the DHCPv4 Client FQDN option, S requests server responsibility for the A-record update, N requests no server updates, and O reports that the server overrode the requested S value. A client requesting server-performed forward updates sets S to 1 and sets O and N to 0 in its Client FQDN option.

Published Reviewed 3 min readBy DSE Security Editorial Team
Read the guide
DSE visual briefNetworks & infrastructure

Audit DNS serials, MX targets, and delegation glue for common errors

A zone’s serial must be changed whenever its data changes; otherwise, secondaries will not transfer the new zone data. Every delegated name server should answer authoritatively for the zone; a delegated server that does not serve the zone creates a lame delegation.

Published Reviewed 3 min readBy DSE Security Editorial Team
Read the playbook
DSE visual briefNetworks & infrastructure

Authorize secure DNS UPDATE operations at the zone boundary

Every secure dynamic update carries TSIG or SIG(0) authentication so the primary server can identify the update principal. A TKEY-derived shared secret established without authentication must not be used to authorize secure dynamic updates.

Published Reviewed 3 min readBy DSE Security Editorial Team
Read the checklist
DSE visual briefNetworks & infrastructure

Bound AXFR to a complete SOA-delimited zone transfer over TCP

An AXFR response that transfers a zone consists of one or more DNS messages carrying the zone’s contents. The AXFR message series begins and ends with the same zone SOA; non-SOA records may otherwise arrive in any order or grouping.

Published Reviewed 3 min readBy DSE Security Editorial Team
Read the explainer
DSE visual briefNetworks & infrastructure

Bound NXDOMAIN and NODATA caching from SOA data

NXDOMAIN means the queried name does not exist, while NODATA is a successful response showing that the existing name lacks the requested record type. An authoritative NXDOMAIN or NODATA response must include the zone’s SOA record in the authority section.

Published Reviewed 3 min readBy DSE Security Editorial Team
Read the guide
DSE visual briefNetworks & infrastructure

Cap resolver retries that amplify failures into unnecessary query load

An iterative resolver must not ask a parent server for the NS RRset of a zone whose listed servers are all nonresponsive. A resolver that caches lame servers must key each entry by zone name, class, and server IP address and suppress queries for a configurable interval.

Published Reviewed 3 min readBy DSE Security Editorial Team
Read the playbook
DSE visual briefNetworks & infrastructure

Classify Unicode code points before admitting them to an IDNA label

IDNA2008 assigns each Unicode code point one derived property: PVALID, CONTEXTJ, CONTEXTO, DISALLOWED, or UNASSIGNED. The property derivation applies the category rules in order, and the first matching rule determines the code point’s property.

Published Reviewed 3 min readBy DSE Security Editorial Team
Read the briefing
DSE visual briefNetworks & infrastructure

Establish DNS shared keys only through an explicit TKEY exchange mode

A TKEY record carries the key algorithm, inception and expiration times, exchange mode, error, key data, and optional other data. A TKEY query places its TKEY record in the additional-information section and uses the mode field to select the key-agreement procedure.

Published Reviewed 3 min readBy DSE Security Editorial Team
Read the explainer