---
title: "What does a dangling DMARC record mean? | DuoCircle"
description: "What does a dangling DMARC record mean?"
image: "https://www.duocircle.com/images/og-default.png"
canonical: "https://www.duocircle.com/blog/dmarc/what-does-a-dangling-dmarc-record-mean/"
---

Quick Answer

A dangling DMARC record is a published, valid DMARC TXT record for a domain that no longer sends mail or is no longer actively managed. This is different from a broken DMARC record (which is malformed or syntactically invalid). Dangling records are a security risk because subdomains may inherit the parent policy, and if SPF or DKIM are missing or weak and the policy is not p=reject, attackers can send spoofed mail that appears legitimate to receivers. Threat actors actively scan DNS for orphaned authentication records as soft targets for BEC and phishing. Detection: audit DNS regularly for domains and subdomains you no longer use, remove or update stale DMARC records, and enforce p=reject on any retired sending domain.

What does a dangling DMARC record mean?

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![DMARC record](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2025/05/sender-policy-framework-5457.jpg) 

Not all DNS records are created equal; some can disrupt the entire [email authentication](/resources/email-authentication) ecosystem if left unattended. 

**Ever wondered** what happens to a DMARC record that exists even after the domain it corresponds to expires, is abandoned, or is left unmanaged? Well, such a DMARC record is termed a dangling [DMARC record](/resources/create-dmarc-records), and this blog precisely talks about how its existence poses a security risk and how to detect it to prevent its abuse.

## What is a dangling DMARC record?

_A dangling DMARC record refers to a valid DMARC record with a policy published in DNS for a domain that no longer sends emails or isn’t actively managed_. DMARC records usually remain in the DNS even after the **sending infrastructure** is dismantled or the domain is abandoned; the domain owner or administrator must manually remove them.

_Please note that a dangling DMARC record and a broken DMARC record are two different things_. Some people use them interchangeably, which is wrong. A broken DMARC record means that the **DMARC record published** in your DNS is either invalid, malformed, or misconfigured, so it cannot be properly interpreted by receiving [mail servers](https://www.activecampaign.com/glossary/mail-server). Whereas, a dangling DMARC record is technically valid, but no longer in use. 

[![mail server](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2025/05/hosted-email-server-5789.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2025/05/hosted-email-server-5789.jpg)

## Why are dangling DMARC records a security risk?

A dangling [DNS record](https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/dns/dns-records/) is dangerous to your [email infrastructure](https://www.voilanorbert.com/blog/email-infrastructure/) because:

### It’s an open invitation for subdomain abuse

Even if a primary domain is inactive, its subdomains remain exposed to cyberattacks, especially if they are configured to inherit the primary domain’s [DMARC policy](/dmarc/using-the-right-dmarc-policy-in-2025-a-guide/). Attackers can exploit these subdomains to send [spoofed emails](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-now-blocks-spoofed-emails-for-better-phishing-protection/) that appear legitimate because the **parent domain’s DMARC policy** is still considered active.

If the domain doesn’t have a properly set up SPF or [DKIM](/resources/what-is-dkim) record and its DMARC policy is not set to p=reject, it serves as a readymade platter to cyberactors. They can send phishing emails from that domain, which will **bypass filters** and reach the inboxes of targeted recipients. 

This type of abuse is particularly dangerous in [business email compromise](https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/business-email-compromise-55bn/) (BEC) scenarios, where trust in the domain name is crucial.

[![Business Email Compromise](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2025/05/spf-validator-4674.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2025/05/spf-validator-4674.jpg)

### It’s a signal for attack surface discovery

Some [threat actors](https://thehackernews.com/2024/07/tag-100-new-threat-actor-uses-open.html) routinely scan [DNS zones](https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/dns-zone) for misconfigured and legacy DNS records. When attackers encounter a dangling DMARC record, it tells them, “This domain used to send emails and might still have systems connected to it, but no one’s really watching over it now.” This makes it an easy target.

This provides them with a **perfect platform** to impersonate reputable companies and attempt [phishing attacks](https://hackread.com/ongoing-phishing-campaign-targets-employees/) in their names. 

[![ phishing attacks](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2025/05/email-smtp-service-4674.jpg)](https://media.mailhop.org/duocircle/images/2025/05/email-smtp-service-4674.jpg)

## Detection and prevention!

To avoid the risks associated with dangling DMARC records, it’s essential to incorporate **regular DNS hygiene audits** into your [email security](/) routine. Use tools like [MXToolbox](https://mxtoolbox.com/) to identify outdated or unnecessary DNS records associated with domains you no longer use. And when you’re ready to retire a domain, don’t just let it go, first remove all associated authentication records like [DMARC](https://dmarcreport.com/what-is-dmarc/), SPF, and DKIM. This ensures that attackers can’t misuse your abandoned domain for spoofing or phishing purposes.

## Topics

DKIMDMARCemail securitySecurityspf 

![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/dmarcreport/images/team/brad-slavin.jpg) 

Brad Slavin 

General Manager

General Manager at DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead across the email security portfolio.

## Secure your email infrastructure

Protect, authenticate, and deliver. Contact our team to find the right solution.

[Contact Sales](/contact/) [Explore Products](/products/) 

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