DNS resolution occurs before HTTPS connection

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 49 views

Introduction

DNS rebinding is a type of attack that allows an attacker to bypass the same-origin policy and access sensitive information on a victim's device. This attack works by manipulating the DNS resolution process to redirect the victim's browser to a malicious server, which then serves a malicious script that can access the victim's local resources. In this article, we will explore whether HTTPS can protect against DNS rebinding attacks.

What is DNS Rebinding?

DNS rebinding is a type of attack that takes advantage of the way browsers handle DNS resolution. When a user types a URL into their browser, the browser sends a request to the DNS server to resolve the domain name to an IP address. If the DNS server returns an IP address that is different from the one the browser initially requested, the browser will send a request to the new IP address. This can be used to bypass the same-origin policy and access sensitive information on a victim's device.

How Does DNS Rebinding Work?

The DNS rebinding attack works as follows:

The attacker creates a malicious script that will be served from a server under their control.
The attacker sets up a DNS server that will return a different IP address for a domain name than the one the browser initially requested.
The victim visits a website that contains a link to the malicious script.
The browser sends a request to the DNS server to resolve the domain name to an IP address.
The DNS server returns the IP address of the malicious server.
The browser sends a request to the malicious server, which serves the malicious script.
The malicious script can then access the victim's local resources, such as files and network connections.

Can HTTPS Protect Against DNS Rebinding?

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is a protocol that uses encryption to secure data transmitted between a web server and a client's web browser. One of the key features of HTTPS is that it provides a secure connection between the client and the server, which prevents an attacker from intercepting or modifying the data being transmitted.

However, HTTPS does not provide any protection against DNS rebinding attacks. This is because the DNS rebinding attack works by manipulating the DNS resolution process, which occurs before the HTTPS connection is established. The attacker can still manipulate the DNS resolution process and redirect the victim's browser to a malicious server, even if the connection is encrypted.

Why Can't HTTPS Protect Against DNS Rebinding?

There are several reasons why HTTPS cannot protect against DNS rebinding attacks:

DNS resolution occurs before HTTPS connection: The DNS resolution process occurs before the HTTPS connection is established. This means that the attacker can still manipulate the DNS resolution process and redirect the victim's browser to a malicious server, even if the connection is encrypted.
HTTPS does not provide any protection against DNS manipulation: HTTPS only provides protection against data being intercepted or modified during transmission. It does not provide any protection against DNS manipulation, which is what the DNS rebinding attack relies on.
Browser's same-origin policy is bypassed: The DNS rebinding attack bypasses the browser's same-origin policy, which is designed to prevent scripts from accessing resources from a different origin. This means that the malicious script can access the victim's local resources, even if the connection is encrypted.

Conclusion

In conclusion, HTTPS does not provide any protection against DNS rebinding attacks. The DNS rebinding attack works by manipulating the DNS resolution process, which occurs before the HTTPS connection is established. This means that the attacker can still manipulate the DNS resolution process and redirect the victim's browser to a malicious server, even if the connection is encrypted.

Prevention and Mitigation

While HTTPS cannot protect against DNS rebinding attacks, there are several prevention and mitigation strategies that can be employed to reduce the risk of such attacks:

Use a secure DNS server: Using a secure DNS server can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks. A secure DNS server will return the correct IP address for a domain name, rather than redirecting the browser to a malicious server.
Use a DNSSEC-enabled DNS server: DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is a protocol that provides authentication and integrity for DNS data. Using a DNSSEC-enabled DNS server can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by ensuring that the DNS data is authentic and has not been tampered with.
Use a web application firewall (WAF): A WAF can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by blocking malicious requests and preventing the malicious script from being served.
Use a content delivery network (CDN): A CDN can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by serving content from a secure location, rather than from a malicious server.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while HTTPS cannot protect against DNS rebinding attacks, there are several prevention and mitigation strategies that can be employed to reduce the risk of such attacks. By using a secure DNS server, a DNSSEC-enabled DNS server, a web application firewall, and a content delivery network, organizations can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks and protect their users' sensitive information.

References

[1] "DNS Rebinding Attacks: A Threat to Web Security" by [Author]
[2] "HTTPS and DNS Rebinding" by [Author]
[3] "Prevention and Mitigation of DNS Rebinding Attacks" by [Author]

Appendix

A. DNS Rebinding Attack Example

The following is an example of a DNS rebinding attack:

The attacker creates a malicious script that will be served from a server under their control.
The attacker sets up a DNS server that will return a different IP address for a domain name than the one the browser initially requested.
The victim visits a website that contains a link to the malicious script.
The browser sends a request to the DNS server to resolve the domain name to an IP address.
The DNS server returns the IP address of the malicious server.
The browser sends a request to the malicious server, which serves the malicious script.
The malicious script can then access the victim's local resources, such as files and network connections.

B. Prevention and Mitigation Strategies

The following are some prevention and mitigation strategies that can be employed to reduce the risk of DNS rebinding attacks:

Use a secure DNS server: Using a secure DNS server can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks. A secure DNS server will return the correct IP address for a domain name, rather than redirecting the browser to a malicious server.
Use a DNSSEC-enabled DNS server: DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is a protocol that provides authentication and integrity for DNS data. Using a DNSSEC-enabled DNS server can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by ensuring that the DNS data is authentic and has not been tampered with.
Use a web application firewall (WAF): A WAF can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by blocking malicious requests and preventing the malicious script from being served.
Use a content delivery network (CDN): A CDN can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by serving content from a secure location, rather than from a malicious server.
DNS Rebinding Attacks: A Q&A Guide =====================================

Introduction

DNS rebinding attacks are a type of attack that allows an attacker to bypass the same-origin policy and access sensitive information on a victim's device. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about DNS rebinding attacks and provide guidance on how to prevent and mitigate them.

Q: What is a DNS rebinding attack?

A: A DNS rebinding attack is a type of attack that allows an attacker to bypass the same-origin policy and access sensitive information on a victim's device. The attack works by manipulating the DNS resolution process to redirect the victim's browser to a malicious server, which then serves a malicious script that can access the victim's local resources.

Q: How does a DNS rebinding attack work?

A: The DNS rebinding attack works as follows:

The attacker creates a malicious script that will be served from a server under their control.
The attacker sets up a DNS server that will return a different IP address for a domain name than the one the browser initially requested.
The victim visits a website that contains a link to the malicious script.
The browser sends a request to the DNS server to resolve the domain name to an IP address.
The DNS server returns the IP address of the malicious server.
The browser sends a request to the malicious server, which serves the malicious script.
The malicious script can then access the victim's local resources, such as files and network connections.

Q: Can HTTPS protect against DNS rebinding attacks?

A: No, HTTPS cannot protect against DNS rebinding attacks. The DNS rebinding attack works by manipulating the DNS resolution process, which occurs before the HTTPS connection is established. This means that the attacker can still manipulate the DNS resolution process and redirect the victim's browser to a malicious server, even if the connection is encrypted.

Q: What are some prevention and mitigation strategies for DNS rebinding attacks?

A: Some prevention and mitigation strategies for DNS rebinding attacks include:

Using a secure DNS server: Using a secure DNS server can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks. A secure DNS server will return the correct IP address for a domain name, rather than redirecting the browser to a malicious server.
Using a DNSSEC-enabled DNS server: DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions) is a protocol that provides authentication and integrity for DNS data. Using a DNSSEC-enabled DNS server can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by ensuring that the DNS data is authentic and has not been tampered with.
Using a web application firewall (WAF): A WAF can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by blocking malicious requests and preventing the malicious script from being served.
Using a content delivery network (CDN): A CDN can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by serving content from a secure location, rather than from a malicious server.

Q: What are some best practices for preventing DNS rebinding attacks?

A: Some best practices for preventing DNS rebinding attacks include:

Validating DNS responses: Validating DNS responses can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by ensuring that the DNS data is authentic and has not been tampered with.
Using a secure protocol: Using a secure protocol, such as HTTPS, can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by encrypting the data being transmitted.
Implementing a WAF: Implementing a WAF can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by blocking malicious requests and preventing the malicious script from being served.
Monitoring DNS traffic: Monitoring DNS traffic can help prevent DNS rebinding attacks by detecting and blocking suspicious activity.

Q: What are some common mistakes that can lead to DNS rebinding attacks?

A: Some common mistakes that can lead to DNS rebinding attacks include:

Not validating DNS responses: Not validating DNS responses can make it easier for an attacker to manipulate the DNS resolution process and redirect the victim's browser to a malicious server.
Not using a secure protocol: Not using a secure protocol, such as HTTPS, can make it easier for an attacker to intercept and modify the data being transmitted.
Not implementing a WAF: Not implementing a WAF can make it easier for an attacker to serve malicious scripts and access the victim's local resources.
Not monitoring DNS traffic: Not monitoring DNS traffic can make it easier for an attacker to go undetected and launch a DNS rebinding attack.

Conclusion

In conclusion, DNS rebinding attacks are a type of attack that allows an attacker to bypass the same-origin policy and access sensitive information on a victim's device. By understanding how DNS rebinding attacks work and implementing prevention and mitigation strategies, organizations can help prevent and mitigate these types of attacks.