The Windows DNS Server must protect the authenticity of query responses via DNSSEC.

Severity	Group ID	Group Title	Version	Rule ID	Date	STIG Version
medium	V-259391	SRG-APP-000219-DNS-000030	WDNS-22-000063	SV-259391r1043178_rule	2025-02-25	2

Description
The underlying feature in the major threat associated with DNS query/response (i.e., forged response or response failure) is the integrity of DNS data returned in the response. An integral part of integrity verification is to ensure that valid data has originated from the right source. DNSSEC is required for securing the DNS query/response transaction by providing data origin authentication and data integrity verification through signature verification and the chain of trust.

Description

The underlying feature in the major threat associated with DNS query/response (i.e., forged response or response failure) is the integrity of DNS data returned in the response. An integral part of integrity verification is to ensure that valid data has originated from the right source. DNSSEC is required for securing the DNS query/response transaction by providing data origin authentication and data integrity verification through signature verification and the chain of trust.

ℹ️ Check
Note: This check is not applicable for Windows DNS Servers that host only Active Directory-integrated zones or for Windows DNS Servers on a classified network. Authenticity of query responses is provided with DNSSEC signing of zones. Validate this check from the Windows DNS Server being configured/reviewed. Log on to the Windows DNS Server using the account designated as Administrator or DNS Administrator. Determine a valid host in the zone. Open the Windows PowerShell prompt on the Windows DNS Server being configured/reviewed. Issue the following command: (Replace www.zonename.mil with a FQDN of a valid host in the zone being validated. Replace ###.###.###.### with the FQDN or IP address of the Windows DNS Server hosting the signed zone.) resolve-dnsname www.zonename.mil -server ###.###.###.### -dnssecok <enter> Note: It is important to use the -server switch followed by the DNS server name/IP address. The result should show the "A" record results. In addition, the results should show QueryType: RRSIG with an expiration, date signed, signer, and signature, similar to the following: Name: www.zonename.mil QueryType: RRSIG TTL: 189 Section: Answer TypeCovered: CNAME Algorithm: 8 LabelCount: 3 OriginalTtl: 300 Expiration: 11/21/2014 10:22:28 PM Signed: 10/22/2014 10:22:28 PM Signer: zonename.mil Signature: {87, 232, 34, 134...} Name: origin-www.zonename.mil QueryType: A TTL: 201 Section: Answer IP4Address: ###.###.###.### If the results do not show the RRSIG and signature information, this is a finding.

ℹ️ Check

Note: This check is not applicable for Windows DNS Servers that host only Active Directory-integrated zones or for Windows DNS Servers on a classified network. Authenticity of query responses is provided with DNSSEC signing of zones. Validate this check from the Windows DNS Server being configured/reviewed. Log on to the Windows DNS Server using the account designated as Administrator or DNS Administrator. Determine a valid host in the zone. Open the Windows PowerShell prompt on the Windows DNS Server being configured/reviewed. Issue the following command: (Replace www.zonename.mil with a FQDN of a valid host in the zone being validated. Replace ###.###.###.### with the FQDN or IP address of the Windows DNS Server hosting the signed zone.) resolve-dnsname www.zonename.mil -server ###.###.###.### -dnssecok <enter> Note: It is important to use the -server switch followed by the DNS server name/IP address. The result should show the "A" record results. In addition, the results should show QueryType: RRSIG with an expiration, date signed, signer, and signature, similar to the following: Name: www.zonename.mil QueryType: RRSIG TTL: 189 Section: Answer TypeCovered: CNAME Algorithm: 8 LabelCount: 3 OriginalTtl: 300 Expiration: 11/21/2014 10:22:28 PM Signed: 10/22/2014 10:22:28 PM Signer: zonename.mil Signature: {87, 232, 34, 134...} Name: origin-www.zonename.mil QueryType: A TTL: 201 Section: Answer IP4Address: ###.###.###.### If the results do not show the RRSIG and signature information, this is a finding.

✔️ Fix
Sign or re-sign the hosted zone(s) on the DNS server being validated. In the DNS Manager console tree on the DNS server being validated, navigate to "Forward Lookup Zones". Right-click the zone (repeat for each hosted zone), point to DNSSEC, and then click "Sign the Zone" using either saved parameters or custom parameters.