All authoritative name servers for a zone must be located on different network segments.

Overview

Finding ID	Version	Rule ID	IA Controls	Severity
V-215581	WDNS-CM-000012	SV-215581r561297_rule		Medium

Description
Most enterprises have an authoritative primary server and a host of authoritative secondary name servers. It is essential that these authoritative name servers for an enterprise be located on different network segments. This dispersion ensures the availability of an authoritative name server not only in situations in which a particular router or switch fails but also during events involving an attack on an entire network segment. A network administrator may choose to use a "hidden" master authoritative server and only have secondary servers visible on the network. A hidden master authoritative server is an authoritative DNS server whose IP address does not appear in the name server set for a zone. If the master authoritative name server is "hidden", a secondary authoritative name server may reside on the same network as the hidden master.

Description

Most enterprises have an authoritative primary server and a host of authoritative secondary name servers. It is essential that these authoritative name servers for an enterprise be located on different network segments. This dispersion ensures the availability of an authoritative name server not only in situations in which a particular router or switch fails but also during events involving an attack on an entire network segment. A network administrator may choose to use a "hidden" master authoritative server and only have secondary servers visible on the network. A hidden master authoritative server is an authoritative DNS server whose IP address does not appear in the name server set for a zone. If the master authoritative name server is "hidden", a secondary authoritative name server may reside on the same network as the hidden master.

STIG	Date
Microsoft Windows 2012 Server Domain Name System Security Technical Implementation Guide	2020-09-30

Details

Check Text ( C-16775r314218_chk )
Windows DNS Servers that are Active Directory-integrated must be located where required to meet the Active Directory services. If all of the Windows DNS Servers are AD-integrated, this check is not applicable. If any or all of the Windows DNS Servers are stand-alone and non-AD-integrated, verify with the System Administrator their geographic dispersal. If all of the authoritative name servers are located on the same network segment, and the master authoritative name server is not "hidden", this is a finding.

Check Text ( C-16775r314218_chk )

Windows DNS Servers that are Active Directory-integrated must be located where required to meet the Active Directory services.

If all of the Windows DNS Servers are AD-integrated, this check is not applicable.

If any or all of the Windows DNS Servers are stand-alone and non-AD-integrated, verify with the System Administrator their geographic dispersal.

If all of the authoritative name servers are located on the same network segment, and the master authoritative name server is not "hidden", this is a finding.

Fix Text (F-16773r314219_fix)
For non-AD-integrated Windows DNS Servers, distribute secondary authoritative servers on separate network segments from the primary authoritative server.