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A DNS Filter and Switch for Packet-filtering Gateways


Bill Cheswick, Lucent Technologies
Steven M. Bellovin, AT&T Research

Abstract

IP-transparent firewalls require access to the external Domain Name System (DNS) from protected internal hosts. Misconfigurations and misuse of this system can create internal administrative and security problems.

Dnsproxy provides access to and protection from untrusted DNS services. It runs on a firewall, or on a trusted host just inside the firewall. The program receives (or intercepts) DNS queries and forwards them to an appropriate internal or external ``realm'' for processing. The responses can be checked, filtered, and modified before they are returned to the requester. The logging and consistency checks can provide information about possible DNS attacks and irregularities that are not available from most DNS implementations.


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Last changed: 1 May 2002 aw
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