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What is the DNS record type for secure IPv6?

Published in Networking 3 mins read

The DNS record type for mapping a domain name to a secure IPv6 address is the AAAA record.

While the AAAA record itself doesn't inherently provide security, it's the fundamental record used to resolve a domain name to its corresponding IPv6 address. Security measures like DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) are then applied to these records to ensure their authenticity and integrity. DNSSEC can be used with AAAA records just as it is with A records for IPv4.

Understanding AAAA Records

  • Purpose: The primary function of an AAAA record is to associate a hostname with its IPv6 address (e.g., 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334). Think of it as the IPv6 equivalent of the A record, which does the same for IPv4 addresses.

  • Syntax: A typical AAAA record in a DNS zone file looks like this:

    example.com.  IN  AAAA  2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334

    Where:

    • example.com. is the hostname.
    • IN indicates the Internet class.
    • AAAA is the record type (IPv6 address).
    • 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 is the IPv6 address.

Enhancing Security with DNSSEC

DNSSEC adds a layer of security to DNS by digitally signing DNS records. When DNSSEC is enabled, resolvers can verify that the DNS data they receive is authentic and hasn't been tampered with. This prevents attackers from redirecting users to malicious websites by spoofing DNS records. This security is applicable to both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses.

Key Components of DNSSEC

  • Digital Signatures: DNSSEC uses cryptographic signatures to verify the authenticity of DNS records.
  • Chain of Trust: DNSSEC establishes a chain of trust, starting from a root key and extending down to individual domains.
  • Record Types: DNSSEC introduces new DNS record types, such as RRSIG, DNSKEY, DS, and NSEC (or NSEC3), to store cryptographic keys and signatures.

Example: Securing AAAA Records with DNSSEC

When DNSSEC is enabled, alongside the AAAA record, you'll find other related records such as:

  • RRSIG (Resource Record Signature): Contains the digital signature for the AAAA record.
  • DNSKEY (DNS Key): Holds the public key used to verify the RRSIG.
  • DS (Delegation Signer): Used to delegate trust to subdomains.

In summary, while the AAAA record is the specific record type used to map a hostname to an IPv6 address, security is achieved through additional mechanisms like DNSSEC, which ensure the integrity and authenticity of all DNS records, including AAAA records.

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