Description: The Child Delegation Signer (CDS) record is a type of DNS record used in the context of DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions). Its primary function is to facilitate the secure delegation of DNS zones, allowing the public key records of a secondary zone to be signed by the parent zone. This ensures that DNS responses are authentic and have not been altered during transmission. The CDS record contains information about the public keys used to sign the DNS records of a zone, enabling name servers to validate the authenticity of the data. This mechanism is crucial for protecting the integrity of information on the Internet, as it helps prevent attacks such as DNS cache poisoning. The use of CDS records allows domain administrators to effectively implement DNSSEC, ensuring that their domains are protected against malicious manipulations and guaranteeing trust in domain name resolution.
History: The concept of DNSSEC was introduced in the 1990s as a response to the growing need for security in the domain name system. The specification for CDS records was formalized later, in 2010, with the publication of RFC 7344, which defined how CDS records should be used to facilitate the secure delegation of DNS zones. As the adoption of DNSSEC has grown, so has the importance of CDS records in the security infrastructure of the Internet.
Uses: CDS records are primarily used to implement DNSSEC in domains that require secure delegation. They allow domain administrators to specify the public keys used to sign the DNS records of a secondary zone, ensuring that the data is authentic and has not been tampered with. This is especially relevant for organizations that handle sensitive information or wish to protect their online reputation.
Examples: A practical example of using CDS records can be seen in a company managing multiple subdomains and wishing to implement DNSSEC to protect its DNS records. By using CDS records, the company can delegate the signing of its subdomains to a parent zone, ensuring that any queries to those subdomains are verified and authenticated. This helps prevent spoofing attacks and guarantees the integrity of the information provided to users.
