STIGQter: STIG Summary: BIND 9.x Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 3 Release: 3 Benchmark Date: 01 Jul 2026:

The BIND 9.x server implementation must uniquely identify and authenticate the other DNS server before responding to a server-to-server transaction, zone transfer, and/or dynamic update request using cryptographically based bidirectional authentication to protect the integrity of the information in transit.

DISA Rule

SV-272435r1124068_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-272435

Group Title

SRG-APP-000439-DNS-000063

Rule Version

BIND-9X-002010

Severity

CAT I

CCI(s)

• CCI-002418 - Protect the confidentiality and/or integrity of transmitted information.
• CCI-001958 - Authenticate organization-defined devices and/or types of devices before establishing a local, remote, and/or network connection.
• CCI-001967 - Authenticate organization-defined devices and/or types of devices before establishing a local, remote, and/or network connection using bidirectional authentication that is cryptographically based.
• CCI-002421 - Implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure of information and/or detect changes to information during transmission.
• CCI-000778 - Uniquely identify organization-defined devices and/or types of devices before establishing a local, remote, and/or network connection.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure the BIND 9.x server to use TSIG keys.

Add a key statement to the "named.conf" file for TSIG that is being used:

key tsig_example. {
algorithm hmac-SHA256;
include "tsig-example.key";
};

Add key statements to the allow-transfer statements on a primary name server:

allow-transfer { key tsig_example.; };

Add key statements to the server statements on a secondary name server:

server <ip_address> {
keys { tsig_example };
};

Restart the BIND 9.x process.

Check Contents

If zone transfers are disabled with the "allow-transfer { none; };" directive, this is not applicable.

Verify that the BIND 9.x server is configured to uniquely identify a name server before responding to a zone transfer.

Inspect the "named.conf" file for the presence of TSIG key statements.

On the primary name server, this is an example of a configured key statement:

key tsig_example. {
algorithm hmac-SHA256;
include "tsig-example.key";
};

zone "disa.mil" {
type Primary;
file "db.disa.mil";
allow-transfer { key tsig_example.; };
};

On the secondary name server, this is an example of a configured key statement:

key tsig_example. {
algorithm hmac-SHA256;
include "tsig-example.key";
};

server <ip_address> {
keys { tsig_example };
};

zone "disa.mil" {
type Secondary;
Primarys { <ip_address>; };
file "db.disa.mil";
};

If a primary name server does not have a key defined in the "allow-transfer" block, this is a finding.

If a secondary name server does not have a server statement that contains a "keys" sub-statement, this is a finding.

Vulnerability Number

V-272435

Documentable

False

Rule Version

BIND-9X-002010

Severity Override Guidance

If zone transfers are disabled with the "allow-transfer { none; };" directive, this is not applicable.

Verify that the BIND 9.x server is configured to uniquely identify a name server before responding to a zone transfer.

Inspect the "named.conf" file for the presence of TSIG key statements.

On the primary name server, this is an example of a configured key statement:

key tsig_example. {
algorithm hmac-SHA256;
include "tsig-example.key";
};

zone "disa.mil" {
type Primary;
file "db.disa.mil";
allow-transfer { key tsig_example.; };
};

On the secondary name server, this is an example of a configured key statement:

key tsig_example. {
algorithm hmac-SHA256;
include "tsig-example.key";
};

server <ip_address> {
keys { tsig_example };
};

zone "disa.mil" {
type Secondary;
Primarys { <ip_address>; };
file "db.disa.mil";
};

If a primary name server does not have a key defined in the "allow-transfer" block, this is a finding.

If a secondary name server does not have a server statement that contains a "keys" sub-statement, this is a finding.

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

5687