Validation fails for some DNSSEC-signed zones in a Windows Server 2012 R2 environment

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Symptoms

Consider the following scenarios:

When a Windows Server 2012 R2-based DNS server is enabled for domain name system security extensions (DNSSEC) validation, the DNS server may not always resolve some DNSSEC-signed zones. For example, when the DNS server receives a request to resolve a host name in a DNSSEC-signed zone, the DNS server returns a SERVFAIL error to the client.
A server that is running Windows Server 2012 R2 is used as an upstream forwarder for DNSSEC queries. In this case, when the Windows Server 2012 R2 forwarder DNS server does not receive DNSSEC records in a certain order, it cannot cache the full record list, and replies to the validating DNS server are incomplete. This causes DNSSEC validation to fail. This behavior occurs when a BIND server is used to return DNSSEC records to the Windows Server 2012 R2 forwarder.

Resolution

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft Support. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, go to the following Microsoft website:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this update, you must first have update 2919355 installed in Windows Server 2012 R2.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any previously released hotfix.

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File information

The English (United States) version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows Server 2012 R2 file information and notes

Important Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only "Windows 8.1" is listed on the Hotfix Request page. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 8.1" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system that each hotfix applies to.

The files that apply to a specific product, milestone (RTM,SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

Version Product Milestone Service branch
6.3.960 0.17 xxx Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM GDR
The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are extremely important to maintain the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

Version	Product	Milestone	Service branch
6.3.960 0.17 xxx	Windows Server 2012 R2	RTM	GDR

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2012 R2

File name	File version	File size	Date	Time	Platform
Cache.dns	Not Applicable	3,198	18-Jun-2013	14:43	Not Applicable
Dns.exe	6.3.9600.17631	1,733,632	12-Jan-2015	01:37	x64
Dnsserver.events.xml	Not Applicable	609	18-Jun-2013	14:43	Not Applicable

Additional file information for Windows Server 2012 R2

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2012 R2

File name	Amd64_3b6d1ec6222173bff5f67987c4d5cf6b_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17634_none_20af599b9f7b0d62.manifest
File version	Not Applicable
File size	710
Date (UTC)	15-Jan-2015
Time (UTC)	07:45

File name	Amd64_microsoft-windows-dns-server-service_31bf3856ad364e35_6.3.9600.17634_none_3efa4406aa6324e0.manifest
File version	Not Applicable
File size	287,325
Date (UTC)	15-Jan-2015
Time (UTC)	02:47

File name	Package_1_for_kb3014171~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.3.2.0.mum
File version	Not Applicable
File size	1,832
Date (UTC)	15-Jan-2015
Time (UTC)	07:45

File name	Package_for_kb3014171_rtm_gm~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.3.2.0.mum
File version	Not Applicable
File size	1,413
Date (UTC)	15-Jan-2015
Time (UTC)	07:45

File name	Package_for_kb3014171_rtm~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.3.2.0.mum
File version	Not Applicable
File size	1,465
Date (UTC)	15-Jan-2015
Time (UTC)	07:45