Title

The DNS server implementation must, when a component failure is detected, activate a notification to the system administrator. (Cat II impact)

Discussion

Predictable failure prevention requires organizational planning to address system failure issues. If components key to maintaining systems security fail to function, the system could continue operating in an insecure state. The organization must be prepared and the application must support requirements that specify if the application must alarm for such conditions and/or automatically shut down the application or the system. This can include conducting a graceful application shutdown to avoid losing information. Automatic or manual transfer of components from standby to active mode can occur, for example, upon detection of component failures. If a component such as the DNSSEC or TSIG/SIG(0) signing capabilities were to fail, the DNS server should shut itself down to prevent continued execution without the necessary security components in place. Transactions such as zone transfers would not be able to work correctly anyway in this state.

Check Content

Review the DNS server implementation configuration to determine if the DNS server activates a notification to the system administrator when a component failure is detected. If the DNS server does not activate a notification to the system administrator when a failure is detected, this is a finding.

Fix Text

Configure the DNS server so that when a component failure is detected, the server activates a notification to the system administrator.

Additional Identifiers

Rule ID: SV-205192r879657_rule

Vulnerability ID: V-205192

Group Title: SRG-APP-000268

Expert Comments

CCIs tied to check.

Controls tied to check. These are derived from the CCIs shown above.