DNS Zone Transfers
Attack Pattern ID: 291 (Standard Attack Pattern Completeness: Stub)Typical Severity: LowStatus: Draft
+ Description

Summary

An attacker exploits a DNS misconfiguration that permits a ZONE transfer. Some external DNS servers will return a list of IP address and valid hostnames. Under certain conditions, it may even be possible to obtain Zone data about the organization's internal network. When successful the attacker learns valuable information about the topology of the target organization, including information about particular servers, their role within the IT structure, and possibly information about the operating systems running upon the network. This is configuration dependent behavior so it may also be required to search out multiple DNS servers while attempting to find one with ZONE transfers allowed.

+ Target Attack Surface

Target Attack Surface Description

Targeted OSI Layers: Application Layer

Target Attack Surface Localities

Server-side

Target Attack Surface Types: Service

Target Functional Services

Target Functional Service 1: Domain Name Service (DNS)
+ Attack Prerequisites

Access to a DNS server that allows Zone transfers.

+ Resources Required

A client application capable of interacting with the DNS server or a command-line utility or web application that automates DNS interactions.

+ Related Attack Patterns
NatureTypeIDNameDescriptionView(s) this relationship pertains toView\(s\)
ChildOfAttack PatternAttack Pattern309Scanning for Devices, Systems, or Routes 
Mechanism of Attack1000
+ References
Stuart McClure, Joel Scambray, George Kurtz. "Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets & Solutions". 6th Edition. McGraw Hill, ISBN: 978-0-07-161374-3. 2009.
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