Orphaned DNS
An Orphaned DNS record is a DNS entry pointing to a resource (such as a website or server) that no longer exists or is no longer active, yet the record remains in the DNS zone file. This often occurs when a service is decommissioned or migrated without updating or removing its corresponding DNS records.
Ramifications of Orphaned DNS Records:
Subdomain Takeover: An attacker can identify the orphaned record and register the now-available domain or subdomain it points to. They can then host malicious content or perform phishing attacks, leveraging the trust associated with the original domain.
Traffic Redirection: Even without a full takeover, attackers can manipulate the record to redirect traffic meant for the legitimate service to their malicious servers, potentially stealing data or infecting users with malware.
Service Disruption: Orphaned DNS records for essential services like email (MX records) can disrupt legitimate communications and hinder business operations.
Brand Damage: If users land on a malicious or inappropriate site due to an orphaned record, it can severely damage the reputation and trustworthiness of the associated brand.
SEO Impact: Search engine rankings can be negatively affected as search engines may penalize sites with broken links or irrelevant content resulting from orphaned records.
Orphaned DNS records create security vulnerabilities and can have detrimental consequences for both organizations and their users. Proper DNS hygiene, including regular audits and promptly removing outdated records, is crucial to prevent these risks.
ThreatNG employs a multi-pronged strategy to detect and address the risks posed by orphaned DNS records:
Proactive Discovery and Assessment:
Domain Intelligence:
DNS Intelligence: Continuously scans and analyzes DNS zone files to identify records that point to non-existent or inactive resources.
Subdomain Intelligence: Monitors all subdomains, including those that may have been forgotten or overlooked, to assess their activity and configuration.
Certificate Intelligence: Tracks SSL certificate associations to uncover discrepancies or missing certificates for potentially orphaned domains.
Continuous Monitoring and Alerting:
Continuous monitoring of all DNS records for changes, inconsistencies, or signs of potential orphaning.
Security teams should receive immediate alerts when orphaned records or changes that might indicate an impending orphaning event are detected.
Integration with existing security solutions to automate incident response and streamline remediation workflows.
Intelligence Enrichment and Contextualization:
Archived Web Pages: Examines archived web pages for references to old or decommissioned services, helping to identify potentially orphaned DNS records.
Dark Web Presence: Monitors underground forums and marketplaces for discussions or exploitation of orphaned records related to the organization.
Compromised Credentials: This capability identifies leaked or stolen credentials that could be used to gain unauthorized access to DNS management systems, potentially leading to the creation or manipulation of orphaned records.
Complementary Solutions Integration:
ThreatNG's ability to integrate with other security tools further strengthens its effectiveness in tackling orphaned DNS records:
Vulnerability Scanners: Regular vulnerability scans can help identify misconfigurations or weaknesses in DNS infrastructure that might contribute to creating orphaned records.
Configuration Management Databases (CMDBs): CMDBs can provide valuable asset inventory information, allowing ThreatNG to correlate DNS records with active resources and flag discrepancies.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: SIEMs can collect and correlate data from ThreatNG and other security tools to comprehensively view the organization's security posture and identify potential threats related to orphaned DNS records.
ThreatNG presents a robust and proactive solution for mitigating the risks associated with orphaned DNS records. By combining profound discovery, continuous monitoring, and intelligence enrichment with seamless integration with complementary solutions, ThreatNG equips organizations to identify, assess effectively, and remediate vulnerabilities in their DNS infrastructure, thereby protecting their critical assets and brand reputation.
