Detections
Analytics

WDNS-AU-000006 - The Windows 2012 DNS Server logging must be enabled to record events from all DNS server functions.

Information

DNS server performance can be affected when additional logging is enabled; however, the enhanced DNS logging and diagnostics feature in Windows Server 2012 R2 is designed to have a very low impact on performance. Enhanced DNS logging and diagnostics in Windows Server 2012 R2 and later includes DNS Audit events and DNS Analytic events. DNS audit logs are enabled by default and do not significantly affect DNS server performance. DNS analytical logs are not enabled by default and typically will only affect DNS server performance at very high DNS query rates.

Without the capability to generate audit records, it would be difficult to establish, correlate, and investigate the events relating to an incident or identify those responsible for one. The actual auditing is performed by the OS/NDM, but the configuration to trigger the auditing is controlled by the DNS server.

In order to compile an accurate risk assessment, it is essential for security personnel to know what is being performed on the system, where an event occurred, when an event occurred, and by whom the event was triggered. Logging the actions of specific events provides a means to investigate an attack, recognize resource utilization or capacity thresholds, or identify an improperly configured DNS system. If auditing is not comprehensive, it will not be useful for intrusion monitoring, security investigations, and forensic analysis. It is important, therefore, to log all possible data related to events so they can be correlated and analyzed to determine the risk.

Data required to be captured include: whether an event was successful or failed, the event type or category, timestamps for when the event occurred, where the event originated, who/what initiated the event, the effect the event had on the DNS implementation, and any processes associated with the event.

Solution

Log on to the DNS server using the Domain Admin or Enterprise Admin account or Local Administrator account.

Open an elevated Windows PowerShell prompt on the DNS server to which event logging needs to be enabled.

Use the 'Set-DnsServerDiagnostics' cmdlet to enable the required diagnostic events.

Set-DnsServerDiagnostics -<diagnostic event> $true <enter> for the required diagnostic events.

For example, to set EnableLoggingForLocalLookupEvent to true, enter the following at the command line:
Set-DnsServerDiagnostics -EnableLoggingForLocalLookupEvent $true <enter>

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_MS_Windows_2012_Server_DNS_V2R5_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

References: 800-53|AU-12a., CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000169, Rule-ID|SV-215651r819716_rule, STIG-ID|WDNS-AU-000006, STIG-Legacy|SV-72981, STIG-Legacy|V-58551, Vuln-ID|V-215651

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 2773a01a9358611ead49bc04faa082c3beccadbcdc01ec509312713baf04ab23