# Restricted DNS zone transferable from an unintended source

An unauthorized source can retrieve an entire zone that the owner intends to restrict.

**Candidate CWE:** [CWE-732](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/732.html)

## Test hypothesis

Use one explicitly owned, small fixture zone and a single AXFR request to its approved authoritative server. Compare the permitted transfer source with the restricted source, preserving transport and source identity.

## Evidence required

The exact zone, source addresses, full fixture transfer bracketed by SOA records and the owner's transfer-access rule.

## Rule out false positives

Intentionally published zones, a legitimate secondary server, ordinary public DNS queries, or an incomplete transfer response without the claimed disclosure.

## Playbook and command references

- [DNS, TLS and email trust boundaries](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/modules/dns-tls-mail.html) — Separate dangling records, transfer/recursion exposure, TLS identity and SMTP relay into controlled protocol tests.

[Find the associated command snippets](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/commands.html?q=DNS%2C%20TLS%20and%20email%20trust%20boundaries)

## Referenced by these target playbooks

[Network services](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/network.html)

## Report checklist

- [ ] Capture the affected version, configuration, identities, and object ownership.
- [ ] Preserve a valid baseline and a negative control.
- [ ] Reproduce the forbidden data access, action, or state change on controlled fixtures.
- [ ] Explain the intended security rule and why the observed behavior violates it.
- [ ] State prerequisites, uncertainty, cleanup, and the smallest demonstrated impact.

## Conditional ATT&CK mapping

No direct ATT&CK mapping selected. Record the weakness and demonstrated impact without forcing an adversary-behavior classification. See the [mapping guide](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/attack.html).

## Primary references

- [AXFR protocol](https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5936.html)
- [BIND dig reference](https://bind9.readthedocs.io/en/v9.20.13/manpages.html#dig-dns-lookup-utility)

[Back to the complete vulnerability catalog](https://bug-bounty-field-manual.kmahshooq.chatgpt.site/vulnerabilities.html)