Episode 18 — DNS, DHCP, NAT: Security Implications
Core network services often go overlooked, yet they represent some of the most targeted and misunderstood layers of modern infrastructure. This episode unpacks the role of DNS, DHCP, and NAT—three foundational services that make networks usable but also introduce unique attack surfaces. You’ll learn how DNS resolution works, why spoofing and cache poisoning occur, and how secure configurations like DNSSEC mitigate those risks. We also explain how DHCP dynamically assigns addresses and how rogue servers or misconfigurations can redirect traffic or bypass security policies.
The second half of the episode focuses on Network Address Translation and its mixed blessings. NAT hides internal structure but can complicate logging, forensics, and endpoint attribution. We discuss best practices for balancing privacy and traceability while avoiding blind spots in monitoring. Through practical scenarios, you’ll discover how attackers abuse DNS tunnels, DHCP exhaustion, or NAT reflection, and how defenders can detect these patterns. The session helps listeners recognize why these “background” services appear so often in exam questions—and why in real operations, they demand the same attention as any firewall or endpoint control. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
