Strengthening integrity assurances for DNS data

1. A method of resolving Domain Name System (DNS) queries, the method comprising:

obtaining, at a first DNS recursive resolver, a first DNS query for a domain name record from a requestor;

determining, by at least one hardware processor of the first DNS recursive resolver, that the first DNS recursive resolver does not contain an answer to the first DNS query stored in a memory;

providing, by the first DNS recursive resolver, one or more queries to a respective one or more witnesses;

obtaining, by the first DNS recursive resolver, one or more answers from the one or more witnesses;

accessing, from a memory of the first DNS recursive resolver, a policy, wherein the policy specifies a type of associated evidence of correctness the requestor is willing to accept;

determining, by at least one hardware processor of the first DNS recursive resolver, an answer to the first DNS query based on the policy, the one or more answers from the one or more witnesses, and evidence of correctness associated with at least one of: the one or more witnesses and the one or more answers; and

providing, by the first DNS recursive resolver, the answer to the requestor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to the providing the one or more queries:

providing a query to an authoritative name server;

obtaining an answer from the authoritative name server; and

determining that the answer is not secured using DNSSEC.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

ranking a plurality of witnesses based on reputation; and

selecting the one or more witnesses to use to answer the first query based on the ranking.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the associated evidence of correctness includes one or more metrics comprising a reputation score associated with a witness, a comparison of a DNSKEY record associated with the domain name record with other DNSKEY records from other open DNS recursive resolvers, a chain of trust associated with the domain name record, WHOIS and/or registration data associated with the domain name record, communications channel security indicators, a zone file, a zone modification request log, an error log, or a public ledger.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, by the DNS recursive resolver, a request to a trusted third party for a list of witnesses;

obtaining the list from the trusted third party; and

selecting the witnesses from the list.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that one or more witnesses is better at a least one of: a particular task and a particular zone than others of a plurality of witnesses; and

selecting the one or more witnesses to use to answer the first DNS query based on the determining.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the evidence of correctness associated with the witnesses and/or the one or more answers to the requestor.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a witness from the one or more witnesses is a DNS recursive resolver.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a witness from the one or more witnesses is a non-resolver witness.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the policy is associated with the requestor or is a global policy associated with all requestors.

11. A DNS recursive resolver comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory system comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the DNS recursive resolver to perform operations for resolving Domain Name System (DNS) queries, the operations comprising:

obtaining a first DNS query for a domain name record from a requestor;

determining that the DNS recursive resolver does not contain an answer to the first DNS query stored in a memory;

providing one or more queries to a respective one or more witnesses;

obtaining one or more answers from the one or more witnesses;

accessing a policy, wherein the policy specifies a type of associated evidence of correctness the requestor is willing to accept;

determining an answer to the first DNS query based on the policy, the one or more answers from the one or more witnesses, and evidence of correctness associated with at least one of: the one or more witnesses and the one or more answers; and

providing the answer to the requestor.

12. The DNS recursive resolver of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

prior to the providing the plurality of second queries:

providing a third query to an authoritative name server;

obtaining an answer from the authoritative name server; and

determining that the answer is not secured using DNSSEC.

13. The DNS recursive resolver of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

ranking a plurality of witnesses based on reputation; and

selecting the one or more second witnesses to use to answer the first query based on the ranking.

14. The DNS recursive resolver of claim 11 , wherein the associated evidence of correctness includes one or more metrics comprising a reputation score associated with a witness, a comparison of a DNSKEY record associated with the domain name record with other DNSKEY records from other open DNS recursive resolvers, a chain of trust associated with the domain name record, WHOIS and/or registration data associated with the domain name record, communications channel security indicators, a zone file, a zone modification request log, an error log, or a public ledger.

15. The DNS recursive resolver of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

providing a request to a trusted third party for a list of witnesses;

obtaining the list from the trusted third party; and

selecting the one or more witnesses from the list.

16. The DNS recursive resolver of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining that one or more witnesses is better at a least one of: a particular task and a particular zone than others of a plurality of witnesses; and

selecting the one or more witnesses to use to answer the first DNS query based on the determining.

17. A method of resolving Domain Name System (DNS) queries, the method comprising:

obtaining, at a DNS authoritative name server, a first DNS query for a domain name record from a requestor;

providing, by the DNS authoritative name server, one or more queries to a respective one or more witnesses;

obtaining, by the DNS authoritative name server, one or more answers from the one or more witnesses;

accessing, from a memory of the DNS authoritative name server, a policy, wherein the policy specifies a type of associated evidence of correctness the requestor is willing to accept;

determining, by at least one hardware processor of the first DNS authoritative name server, an answer to the first DNS query based on the policy, the one or more answers from the one or more witnesses, and evidence of correctness associated with at least one of: the one or more witnesses and the one or more answers; and

providing, by the DNS authoritative name server, the answer to the requestor.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

ranking a plurality of witnesses based on reputation; and

selecting the one or more witnesses to use to answer the first query based on the ranking.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the associated evidence of correctness includes one or more metrics comprising a reputation score associated with a DNS resolver, a comparison of a DNSKEY record associated with the domain name record with other DNSKEY records from open DNS recursive resolvers, a chain of trust associated with the domain name record, WHOIS and/or registration data associated with the domain name record, communications channel security indicators, a zone file, a zone modification request log, an error log, or a public ledger.

20. A DNS authoritative name server comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory system comprising one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the DNS authoritative name server to perform operations for resolving Domain Name System (DNS) queries, the operations comprising:

obtaining, at the DNS authoritative name server, a first DNS query for a domain name record from a requestor;

providing, by the DNS authoritative name server, one or more queries to a respective one or more witnesses;

obtaining, by the DNS authoritative name server, one or more answers from the one or more second DNS resolvers;

accessing, from a memory of the DNS authoritative name server, a policy, wherein the policy specifies a type of associated evidence of correctness the requestor is willing to accept;

determining, by at least one hardware processor of the DNS authoritative name server, an answer to the first DNS query based on the policy, the one or more answers from the one or more witnesses, and evidence of correctness associated with at least one of: the one or more witnesses and the one or more answers; and

providing, by the DNS authoritative name server, the answer to the requestor.

21. The DNS authoritative name server of claim 20 , wherein the operations further comprise:

ranking a plurality of witnesses based on reputation; and

selecting the one or more witnesses to use to answer the first query based on the ranking.

22. The DNS authoritative name server of claim 20 , wherein the associated evidence of correctness includes one or more metrics comprising a reputation score associated with a DNS resolver, a comparison of a DNSKEY record associated with the domain name record with other DNSKEY records from open DNS recursive resolvers, a chain of trust associated with the domain name record, WHOIS and/or registration data associated with the domain name record, communications channel security indicators, a zone file, a zone modification request log, an error log, or a public ledger.