Slashdot Mirror
Hackers Compromise ICANN, Access Zone File Data System
Trailrunner7 writes with this news from ThreatPost: Unknown hackers were able to compromise vital systems belonging to ICANN, the organization that manages the global top-level domain system, and had access to the system that manages the files with data on resolving specific domain names. The attack apparently took place in November and ICANN officials discovered it earlier this month. The intrusion started with a spear phishing campaign that targeted ICANN staffers and the email credentials of several staff members were compromised. The attackers then were able to gain access to the Centralized Zone Data System, the system that allows people to manage zone files. The zone files contain quite bit of valuable information, including domain names, the name server names associated with those domains and the IP addresses for the name servers. ICANN officials said they are notifying any users whose zone data might have been compromised." (Here's ICANN's public note on the compromise.)
This explains a lot! We're not posting on the real Slashdot at all! We're on someone's bad copy! The entire "beta" thing was just a hijack attempt!
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
I've been able to get all of that info for 15 years using the apparently malicious tool, WHOIS. Now, if they were able to change that data, that's different, but according to this post, all the "hackers" got was publicly available information.
The correct answer is 42.
And replace it with what, exactly?
Seriously, how do you intend to manage all of the addressing, both the IP level and the human-readable level, without some form of central authority?
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
I'll bet he could tell you. He has written a hostfile manager that guards your home, brings you your slippers and makes your coffee in the morning.
I think the squirrel would disagree..
Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
This never would have happened if there was an air gap between the DNS servers and the internet.
...it is about publishing them. You can request a free account and download the current zone file for the root dns.
Verisign also provides this service for free for .COM and .NET, CZDS is just a centralized place so you can get the zones for all the new gTLDs without requesting accounts at 500 registries.
This hack, while bad, doesn't directly affect the root dns system.
We have a document control system at work, it has grown to such a degree that adding a document is a 3 day process involving a document controller and various other tasks. If the document does not fit a corporate template it may get rejected.
At that point people tend to go "fuck it" and just send around work copies until it is finalized and THEN go through the hassle.
It is unfortunate, but I've seen it happen in two different companies so far... both multinational, both ignoring their own procedures for sensitive data.