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== Detailed Description ==
== Detailed Description ==


We will build systemd with `-Ddefault-dns-over-tls=opportunistic` to protect DNS queries against passive network attackers. An active network attacker can trivially subvert this protection, but we cannot make DoT mandatory because other operating systems do not do so and most DNS servers do not support it. DoT will only be used if the configured DNS server supports it and if it is not blocked by an active network attacker.
We will build systemd with `-Ddefault-dns-over-tls=opportunistic` to protect DNS queries against passive network attackers. An active network attacker can trivially subvert this protection, but we cannot make DoT mandatory because other operating systems do not do so and many (or most?) DNS servers do not support it. DoT will only be used if the configured DNS server supports it and if it is not blocked by an active network attacker.


Note that DoT is different from DNS over HTTPS (DoH). In particular, DoT is not an anti-censorship tool like DoH. It does not look like regular HTTPS traffic, and it can be blocked by network administrators if desired, so it should not be a problem for corporate networks.
Note that DoT is different from DNS over HTTPS (DoH). In particular, DoT is not an anti-censorship tool like DoH. It does not look like regular HTTPS traffic, and it can be blocked by network administrators if desired, so it should not be a problem for corporate networks.
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== Benefit to Fedora ==
== Benefit to Fedora ==


DNS queries are encrypted and private by default, if the user's ISP supports DNS over TLS. Most probably don't, but users who manually configure a custom DNS server (e.g. Cloudflare or Google) will automatically benefit from DNS over TLS.
DNS queries are encrypted and private by default, if the user's ISP supports DoT. Most probably don't, but users who manually configure a custom DNS server (e.g. Cloudflare or Google) will automatically benefit from DNS over TLS.


== Scope ==
== Scope ==
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== How To Test ==
== How To Test ==
TODO
Load any website in a web browser. If you succeed, then name resolution probably works.
 
Try using `resolvectl query fedoraproject.org` to see that resolvectl still works.
 
Bonus points: set your DNS server to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, then use Wireshark to see if your DNS is really encrypted or not.


== User Experience ==
== User Experience ==
Users should not notice any difference in behavior, unless checking how DNS is sent in Wireshark.
Users should not notice any difference in behavior.


== Dependencies ==
== Dependencies ==
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== Release Notes ==
== Release Notes ==
TODO
systemd-resolved now enables DNS over TLS (DoT) support by default, in opportunistic mode. DoT will be used only if supported by your DNS server, and provides only best-effort encryption to protect against passive network observers. For compatibility with existing DNS servers, systemd-resolved will fall back to unencrypted DNS if DoT does not appear to be supported, reducing the security benefit. If you wish to manually configure systemd-resolved to prevent fallback to unencrypted DNS, set `DNSOverTLS=yes` in `/etc/systemd/resolved.conf`. Note that DoT is different than DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in that it does not use HTTPS and is therefore easy to distinguish from HTTPS traffic.

Revision as of 15:48, 29 September 2020

DNS Over TLS

Summary

Fedora will attempt to use DNS over TLS (DoT) if supported by configured DNS servers.

Owner

Current status

  • Targeted release: Fedora 34
  • Last updated: 2020-09-29
  • FESCo issue: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
  • Tracker bug: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>
  • Release notes tracker: <will be assigned by the Wrangler>

Detailed Description

We will build systemd with -Ddefault-dns-over-tls=opportunistic to protect DNS queries against passive network attackers. An active network attacker can trivially subvert this protection, but we cannot make DoT mandatory because other operating systems do not do so and many (or most?) DNS servers do not support it. DoT will only be used if the configured DNS server supports it and if it is not blocked by an active network attacker.

Note that DoT is different from DNS over HTTPS (DoH). In particular, DoT is not an anti-censorship tool like DoH. It does not look like regular HTTPS traffic, and it can be blocked by network administrators if desired, so it should not be a problem for corporate networks.

Feedback

Benefit to Fedora

DNS queries are encrypted and private by default, if the user's ISP supports DoT. Most probably don't, but users who manually configure a custom DNS server (e.g. Cloudflare or Google) will automatically benefit from DNS over TLS.

Scope

  • Proposal owners: change meson flags in systemd.spec
  • Other developers: N/A (nothing should be required)
  • Release engineering: #9772 (a check of an impact with Release Engineering is needed)
  • Policies and guidelines: N/A (nothing should be required)
  • Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
  • Alignment with Objectives: Nope

Upgrade/compatibility impact

DoT will be enabled automatically on upgrade to F34. If DoT is unsupported, systemd-resolved will fall back to unencrypted DNS, so there should be no compatibility impact.

How To Test

Load any website in a web browser. If you succeed, then name resolution probably works.

Try using resolvectl query fedoraproject.org to see that resolvectl still works.

Bonus points: set your DNS server to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8, then use Wireshark to see if your DNS is really encrypted or not.

User Experience

Users should not notice any difference in behavior.

Dependencies

No dependencies.

Contingency Plan

  • Contingency mechanism: revert the change
  • Contingency deadline: can be done at any time, before F34 beta freeze would be best
  • Blocks release? No
  • Blocks product? No

Documentation

See the section DNSOverTLS= in the manpage resolved.conf(5)

Release Notes

systemd-resolved now enables DNS over TLS (DoT) support by default, in opportunistic mode. DoT will be used only if supported by your DNS server, and provides only best-effort encryption to protect against passive network observers. For compatibility with existing DNS servers, systemd-resolved will fall back to unencrypted DNS if DoT does not appear to be supported, reducing the security benefit. If you wish to manually configure systemd-resolved to prevent fallback to unencrypted DNS, set DNSOverTLS=yes in /etc/systemd/resolved.conf. Note that DoT is different than DNS over HTTPS (DoH) in that it does not use HTTPS and is therefore easy to distinguish from HTTPS traffic.