Unclaimed DNS Record
An Unclaimed DNS record is a DNS entry that points to a resource (such as a website or a cloud service) that is no longer active or controlled by its original owner and has not been claimed or re-registered by anyone else. This can happen when a company shuts down a service, migrates to a new platform, or simply forgets to renew a domain name, leaving the associated DNS records pointing to a void.
How an Unclaimed DNS Record Can Lead to Subdomain Takeover
Resource Decommissioning or Expiration: A company shuts down a service hosted on a third-party platform (e.g., a cloud service provider) or lets a domain name expire.
DNS Record Remains: The DNS record pointing to this deactivated or expired resource is not updated or deleted, leaving it "unclaimed."
Attacker Identification: A malicious actor discovers this unclaimed DNS record and realizes the associated resource is up for grabs.
Resource Recreation: The attacker creates a new resource on the same platform (using the same name or configuration as the original resource).
Takeover: The unclaimed DNS record now inadvertently points to the attacker's newly created resource.
Malicious Activity: The attacker has effectively taken control of the subdomain and can now host malicious content, perform phishing attacks, or redirect traffic to harmful websites.
Key Points:
CNAME records are particularly susceptible to subdomain takeovers because they directly reference another domain or hostname.
Regular DNS audits and prompt cleanup of unused records are essential to prevent subdomain takeovers.
Subdomain takeovers can severely damage a company's reputation, lead to data breaches, and result in financial losses.
An unclaimed DNS record is like an open door inviting malicious actors to take control of a subdomain. Organizations must maintain proper DNS hygiene to prevent these risks.
ThreatNG employs a multi-layered strategy to identify and mitigate risks associated with unclaimed DNS records, effectively preventing subdomain takeovers:
Proactive Discovery and Assessment:
Domain Intelligence:
DNS Intelligence: Continuously scans DNS records, looking for entries pointing to no longer active or responding resources.
Subdomain Intelligence: Discovers and monitors all subdomains, identifying inactive or misconfigured ones.
Certificate Intelligence: Checks for expired or mismatched SSL certificates, which can indicate an unclaimed or vulnerable subdomain.
Cloud and SaaS Exposure:
Sanctioned/Unsanctioned Cloud Services: This capability discovers the organization's cloud services, highlighting any that may have been decommissioned but still have associated DNS records.
Cloud Service Impersonations: This feature identifies potential attempts by attackers to impersonate the organization's cloud services, which could be a tactic for subdomain takeover.
Archived Web Pages:
Subdomains and Directories: This capability analyzes archived web pages to find references to old or discontinued services, potentially revealing unclaimed DNS records.
Continuous Monitoring and Alerting:
Continuous monitoring of all DNS records and subdomains for any changes or signs of potential takeover.
Immediately alerts security teams when unclaimed DNS records or suspicious activity are detected.
Integration with existing security solutions for automated incident response and remediation.
Intelligence Enrichment and Contextualization:
Dark Web Presence: Monitors underground forums for discussions about potential subdomain takeovers or sales of unclaimed domains related to the organization.
Compromised Credentials: Identifies leaked credentials that could grant access to DNS management systems, potentially leading to the creation or manipulation of unclaimed records.
Complementary Solutions Integration:
ThreatNG complements other security tools to enhance subdomain takeover prevention:
Vulnerability Scanners: Correlates findings with DNS data to pinpoint subdomains with exploitable weaknesses.
Web Application Firewalls (WAFs): Configures WAF rules to block traffic to or from suspicious subdomains.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Systems: Feeds subdomain takeover alerts into SIEMs for centralized monitoring and incident response.
By leveraging its extensive capabilities and integrating with other security solutions, ThreatNG empowers organizations to proactively identify and address unclaimed DNS records, preventing subdomain takeovers and protecting their digital assets.
