DNSSEC misconfiguration occurs when the components of your DNSSEC setup don't align correctly. Unlike complete failures, misconfigurations may cause intermittent issues or partial breakage.
Types of DNSSEC Misconfiguration
Incomplete Chain of Trust
The zone is signed, but the DS record at the parent is missing, incorrect, or doesn't match the current keys.
Detection: DNSViz shows a broken chain; zone appears "insecure" to validators despite being signed.
Fix: Verify DS record at registrar matches your current KSK. Regenerate DS if needed.
Orphaned DS Record
A DS record exists at the parent zone, but the corresponding zone is no longer signed, or uses different keys.
Detection: Validation fails; DS record points to non-existent DNSKEY.
Fix: Either remove the DS record at registrar, or re-enable DNSSEC with matching keys.
NSEC/NSEC3 Issues
Authenticated denial records are malformed or missing, causing issues when querying non-existent names.
Detection: NXDOMAIN queries fail validation while existing records work.
Fix: Re-sign the zone; check DNS software configuration for NSEC generation.
Key Algorithm Conflicts
Zone uses an algorithm not supported by the parent zone or one that validators don't recognize.
Detection: DS validation fails despite correct hash.
Fix: Use widely supported algorithms (ECDSAP256SHA256 / Algorithm 13, or RSASHA256 / Algorithm 8).
Diagnostic Commands
Check DS Record at Parent
dig DS yourdomain.com @a.gtld-servers.netCheck DNSKEY in Zone
dig DNSKEY yourdomain.com +dnssecVerify DS Matches DNSKEY
Generate DS from current DNSKEY and compare to registered DS:
dig DNSKEY yourdomain.com | dnssec-dsfromkey -2 -f - yourdomain.comVisual Diagnosis with DNSViz
Visit dnsviz.net and enter your domain. The visualization shows:
- Green nodes: Properly signed and validated
- Red nodes: Validation errors
- Yellow/Orange: Warnings (may work but suboptimal)
- Broken lines: Chain of trust issues
Common Misconfiguration Scenarios
| Scenario | Symptom | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Changed DNS providers | Old DS record, new keys | Update DS at registrar |
| Key rollover failed | DS points to old KSK | Add new DS, wait, remove old |
| Disabled DNSSEC incorrectly | Orphaned DS record | Remove DS at registrar |
| Zone transfer issues | Secondary missing RRSIG | Fix zone transfer; include DNSSEC records |
Prevention Best Practices
- Use managed DNSSEC that handles key rotation automatically
- Test DNSSEC changes on a staging domain first
- Monitor DNSSEC status with automated tools
- Document your DNSSEC configuration for reference