Tag Archives: dnssec

Net_DNS2 v1.4.4 – Bugfixes and Updates for PHP 7.2

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I’ve released version 1.4.4 of the PEAR Net_DNS2 library- this release is primarily just bug fixes.

You can install it now through the command line PEAR installer:

pear install Net_DNS2

Or, you can also add it to your project using composer:

composer require pear/net_dns2

Version 1.4.4

  • Bugfix when returning an empty bitmap-type in BitMap.php – patch from BugMaster510945.
  • Added the BIND 9 private record RR (TYPE65534) – patch from BugMaster510945.
  • Added DNSSEC algorithms 13-16 (ECDSAP256SHA256, ECDSAP384SHA384, ED25519, and ED448).
  • Added SSHFP algoritm ED25519.
  • Modified Net_DNS2::sendPacket() to use current()/next() rather than the deprecated each() (deprecated in 7.2).

Net_DNS2 v1.4.3 – Interim Bugfix Release

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I’ve released version 1.4.3 of the PEAR Net_DNS2 library- this release is primarily just bug fixes.

You can install it now through the command line PEAR installer:

pear install Net_DNS2

Or, you can also add it to your project using composer:

composer require pear/net_dns2

Version 1.4.3

  • fixed an issue when looking up . or com., when using the strict_query_mode flag.
  • fixed a bug in the caching logic where I was loading the content more than once per instance, when really I only need to do it once.
  • changed the Net_DNS2::sock array to use the SOCK_DGRAM and SOCK_STREAM defines, rather than the strings ‘tcp’ or ‘udp’.
  • fixed a bug in the Net_DNS2_Header and Net_DNS2_Question classes, where I was using the wrong bit-shift operators when parsing some of the values. This only became apparent when somebody was trying to use the CAA class (id 257); it was causing this to roll over to the next 8 bit value, and returning 1 (RR A) instead of the CAA class.
  • fixed a bug that occurs when a DNS lookup request times out, and then the same class is reused for a subsequent request. Because I’m caching the sockets, the timed out data could eventually come in, and end up being seen as the result for a subsequent lookup.
  • fixed a couple cases in NSAP.php where I was comparing a string to an integer.

Net_DNS2 v1.4.2 – SMIMEA and AVC Resource Records and SHA-256 SSHFP

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I’ve released version 1.4.2 of the PEAR Net_DNS2 library- you can install it now through the command line PEAR installer:

pear install Net_DNS2

Or, you can also add it to your project using composer:

composer require pear/net_dns2

Version 1.4.2

  • changed the role for the README.md file to doc.
  • parse the resolv.conf options line; right now I just support the timeout and rotate options.
  • the options values only work if you set the new option use_resolv_options to true; this is to keep backwards compatibility.
  • added support for RFC 6594; support for SHA-256 and ECDSA in the SSHFP resource record.
  • added the SMIMEA resource record; this just extends the TLSA record.
  • added the AVC resource records; this just extends the TXT record.
  • added error and EDNS0 defines for DNS Cookies (RFC7873).
  • added EDNS0 defines to the lookup class.
  • dropped the Net_DNS2_Packet::formatIPv6() function; this was deprecated in v1.1.3.
  • re-wrote the Net_DNS2::expandIPv6() function. Based on testing, the new version is about twice as fast.

How Are Blacklists Used? (Part 2)

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Originally posted on RBLTracker Blacklist Check Service blog.

In Part 1 of our series we talked about what RBLs are, and the different types of RBLs. In this article, we’ll talk more about how they can be used by administrators to control the flow of SPAM into their networks.

How Are They Used?

Most mail server software can be configured to make requests against DNSBLs, and reject or accept mail, based on if the sending mail servers IP address is listed in the DNSBL. Or in the case of URIBLs, if a domain name or website URL found in the body of the message is listed.

Example

As a quick example, the Exim mail transfer agent (MTA) supports specifying one or more DNSBLs during the ACL processing of an inbound SMTP message.

exim_rbl

Exim will make a DNS lookup request on the sending mail servers’ IP address, and if found in the DNSBL, can reject the message with a specific error message.

The Postfix MTA allows administrator to add one or more DNSBLs using the reject_rbl_client configuration option in the smtpd_recipient_restrictions option.

postfix_rbl

You can also do a simple check on Windows, Mac, and Unix, using the command line nslookup tool. Simply reverse the digits in your IP address, and prefix it to one of the DNSBL host names.

So for example, if your IP address was 127.0.0.2 and you wanted to check the bl.spamcop.net DNSBL, you would do a DNS lookup on: 2.0.0.127.bl.spamcop.net:

manual_lookup

Check back for Part 3 of our series where I talk about how RBLs affect organizations, and why they can be an important part of your day-to-day administration.

RBLTracker.com: Now with DNSSEC and TLSA

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The RBLTracker domain is now signed with DNSSEC, and we’ve published the website certificate fingerprint via a TLSA record (also known as DANE), so that you can be 100% sure you’re interacting with the RBLTracker servers. dnssec

This can be validated through the Verisign Labs Test Tool.

What is DNSSEC, and why do I care?

The point of DNSSEC is to provide a way for DNS records to be trusted by whoever receives them. The key innovation of DNSSEC is the use of public key cryptography to ensure that DNS records are authentic.

DNSSEC not only allows a DNS server to prove the authenticity of the records it returns. It also allows the assertion of “non-existence of records”.

What about DANE, what’s that all about?

DANE, or “DNS-based Authentication of Named Entities”, is a way for domain and website owners to publish SSL certificate fingerprints, so that visitors can validate that the certificate being used on a website is valid for that site.

Over the last few years, there have been several security breaches with Certificate Signing Authorities (CA’s)- companies that sign certificates that you use for your secure website- allowing the issuance of certificates for domains, not owned by the domain owners.

Using DANE, you can define exactly which certificate or CA is valid for your website, restricting the ability for a would-be hacker to masquerade as your website, by gaining access to your CA.

This obviously only makes sense in tandem with DNSSEC, as you need to validate that the DNS information providing the certificate fingerprint is valid, and not modified along the way.

How can I tell if a site is using DNSSEC/DANE?

Until there is more mainstream support for DNSSEC/DANE- for example, building support for it directly in the OS layer and in web browsers- there is a great browser plugin by cz.nic, that will show you when a site is protected with DNSSEC and DANE.