---
title: "Fixing dangling DMARC record issues | DMARC Report"
description: "DMARC (RFC 7489) ties SPF and DKIM together by requiring alignment between the envelope sender and the visible From header."
image: "https://dmarcreport.com/og/blog/fixing-dangling-dmarc-record-issues.png"
canonical: "https://dmarcreport.com/blog/fixing-dangling-dmarc-record-issues/"
---
Quick Answer
DMARC (RFC 7489) ties SPF and DKIM together by requiring alignment between the envelope sender and the visible \`From\` header. According to Google's February 2024 bulk sender requirements, a DMARC policy of at least \`p=none\` is now mandatory for any domain sending 5,000+ messages per day to Gmail users. DMARC Report
Related: [Free DMARC Checker](/tools/dmarc-checker/) ·[How to Create an SPF Record](/tools/spf-record-generator/) ·[SPF Record Format](/blog/spf-format-checker-dos-and-donts-for-email-authentication/)
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## Try Our Free DMARC Checker
Validate your DMARC policy, check alignment settings, and verify reporting configuration.
[ Check DMARC Record → ](/tools/dmarc-checker/)
> DMARC is the only email authentication protocol that gives you both enforcement and visibility, says Brad Slavin, General Manager of DuoCircle. SPF and DKIM authenticate silently - DMARC tells you what happened and lets you control the outcome. That combination of reporting and policy is why DMARC adoption is accelerating.
DMARC ([RFC 7489](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7489)) ties SPF and DKIM together by requiring alignment between the envelope sender and the visible `From` header. According to Google’s February 2024 bulk sender requirements, a DMARC policy of at least `p=none` is now mandatory for any domain sending 5,000+ messages per day to Gmail users. DMARC Report
Fixing dangling DMARC record issues
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For DMARC to function optimally, it must be appropriately **configured and foolproof**. However, with numerous best practices to follow and frequent changes in enterprise-level [email infrastructures](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/resource-center/the-email-infrastructure-guide-build-it-or-buy-it), domain owners often make a common misstep: overlooking the presence of dangling DMARC records.
While dangling DMARC records may sound harmless, they can leave your domains exposed to risks, reduce [email deliverability](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-is-email-deliverability-important-for-online-businesses/), and even **undermine compliance efforts**.
In this blog, we’ll break down what dangling DMARC records are, why they occur, and how to fix them effectively.
## What are dangling DMARC records?
A ‘dangling’ [DMARC record](https://dmarcreport.com/dmarc-record/) refers to an incomplete or incorrect DNS entry that exists in your domain but doesn’t point to a valid or **active policy**.\_ In other words, the record is published but doesn’t serve its intended purpose\_.
As of 2025, DMARC is mandatory under multiple compliance frameworks. [CISA BOD 18-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-18-01) requires p=reject for US federal domains. [PCI DSS v4.0](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/) mandates DMARC for organizations processing payment card data as of March 2025\. Google and Yahoo require DMARC for bulk senders (5,000+ messages/day) since February 2024, and [Microsoft began rejecting](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-office-365/email-authentication-dmarc-configure) non-compliant email in May 2025\. The UK [NCSC](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/email-security-and-anti-spoofing), Australia’s [ASD](https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/ism/cyber-security-guidelines/guidelines-email), and Canada’s [CCCS](https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/implementation-guidance-email-domain-protection) all mandate DMARC for government domains. Cyber insurers increasingly require DMARC enforcement as an underwriting condition.
This often happens when:
- The DMARC TXT record is added, but without a valid policy (e.g., p= tag missing or incomplete).
- The record points to an invalid reporting [URI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform%5FResource%5FIdentifier) (e.g., reports are being sent to a mailbox that no longer exists).
- Old DMARC records remain in DNS after configuration changes.
_While the domain technically has a DMARC record, it’s actually ‘dangling,’ which means there is little to no protection_.
## Why are dangling DMARC records a big problem?
Here is how dangling DMARC records create issues for a **domain owner**\-
## False sense of security
Publishing a DMARC record is only the first step; its effectiveness depends on having a **valid policy**. _A dangling record, for example, one missing the p= tag, signals to receivers that DMARC is technically present but not enforcing authentication_. This often lulls domain owners into assuming their domain is protected when, in reality, [malicious actors](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/malicious-actors-using-ai-pose-senior-us-officials-fbi-says-2025-05-15/) can still send unauthenticated emails without consequence.
## Exploitable gaps
Attackers closely monitor domains with weak or incomplete DMARC policies. If your record doesn’t define how unauthenticated mail should be treated, providers may accept spoofed messages as if they were legitimate. This allows bad actors to exploit your [brand reputation](https://influencity.com/blog/en/brand-reputation-definition), sending [phishing emails](https://thehackernews.com/2024/07/proofpoint-email-routing-flaw-exploited.html) that appear to come from your domain.
In scenarios where [SPF](https://autospf.com/blog/spf-guide-understanding-sender-policy-framework/) or DKIM are misaligned, a dangling DMARC record creates a perfect loophole, allowing these spoofed messages to slip through without triggering a fail response.
## Deliverability issues
Email providers like Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo now use DMARC policies to decide whether your emails are trustworthy. _If your DMARC record is broken or incomplete, it confuses the receiving system; it sees that a record exists, but can’t apply the rules properly._ This confusion can hurt your **sending reputation**, which means even genuine emails may land in the [spam folder](https://cybernews.com/news/microsofts-breach-notification-emails-end-up-in-spam-folder/).
Over time, this not only disrupts important messages, such as **invoices or password resets**, but can also harm your [marketing campaigns](https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/glossary/email-campaign/), erode customer trust, and put you at risk of failing new bulk sender rules.
## Wasted visibility
One of the best things about [DMARC](https://dmarcreport.com/) is its reporting feature (rua and ruf tags). These reports show you who is sending emails using your domain; whether it’s you, a [third-party service](https://www.websitepolicies.com/blog/third-party-service-provider), or an attacker.
_However, if the reporting addresses are incorrect, outdated, or not verified, the reports may never reach you._ As a result, you miss signs of misuse or minor errors in SPF and [DKIM](https://dmarcreport.com/what-is-dkim/) that can grow into bigger issues. In short, your domain looks protected, but you have no real visibility into what’s **happening behind the scenes**.
## How to detect a dangling DMARC record?
The first step is to audit your DNS. You can:
- Use [command-line tools](https://www.ibm.com/docs/pt/was/9.0.5?topic=clients-using-command-line-tools) like dig or [nslookup](https://www.techtarget.com/searchnetworking/definition/nslookup) to query your domain’s [TXT records](https://www.digicert.com/faq/dns/what-is-a-txt-record).
- Check whether your DMARC record includes the essential tags (v=DMARC1, p=, rua=, ruf=).
- Run your domain through [DMARC analyzers](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/understanding-dmarc-analysis-protect-your-domain-from-phishing/) or \*\*online lookup tools to validate the record.
If the lookup shows errors like ‘policy missing,’ ‘invalid rua,’ or ‘syntax error,’ chances are you’re dealing with a dangling record.
## Quick fixes to a dangling DMARC record
## Verify the policy Tag (p=)
The most important element of a DMARC record is the policy tag (p=) . Ensure your record includes a valid policy, such as p=none, [p=quarantine, or p=reject](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/dmarc-enforcement-timeline-none-to-reject-roadmap/). Missing this tag is one of the most common reasons for dangling DMARC records, as it leaves the record incomplete and ineffective.
## Clean up old or duplicate records
Each domain should have only one DMARC record. If there are outdated entries or duplicate records left behind from past configurations, they can cause confusion or conflicts. \*\*Removing unnecessary records ensures that your active [DMARC policy](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/what-is-a-dmarc-policy-and-how-does-it-affect-sending-my-emails/) works as intended.
## Check rua and ruf reporting addresses
DMARC’s value lies in its reporting, so it’s important to make sure the **rua (aggregate reports) and ruf (forensic reports)** mailboxes are active and monitored. If you’ve switched [email security](https://dmarcreport.com/blog/why-email-security-matters-and-how-to-get-it-right/) providers or changed mailboxes, update these addresses so reports don’t go to the wrong place or vanish entirely.
## Valid syntax and formatting
_A DMARC record is sensitive to errors; even a single typo can make it useless_. Before publishing the record in DNS, always run it through a syntax checker or validator . This simple step prevents small mistakes from creating big security gaps.
## Use subdomain policies if needed
If you’ve published a DMARC record for your main (root) domain, don’t forget about subdomains. By adding the sp= (subdomain policy) tag, you can extend \*\*protection to subdomains and prevent attackers from exploiting them as a weak spot.
## How Do You Monitor after fixing?
_Once you’ve corrected and updated your DMARC record, continue to monitor it_. \*\*Review reports regularly to confirm that [legitimate email](https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/08/23/gmail-spam-filter-email-inbox-google/8242847002/) flows are being authenticated correctly. Pay attention to any unexpected sources, as they may be signs of misconfiguration or [malicious activity](https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official%5Ftexts%5F237067.htm) that needs immediate action.
## Sources
- [CISA Binding Operational Directive 18-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-18-01)
- [Microsoft Outlook DMARC Enforcement May 2025](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-office-365/email-authentication-dmarc-configure) (2025)
- [PCI DSS v4.0 - DMARC Requirement](https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/) (2025)
- [RFC 7489 - Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC)](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7489)
## Topics
[ dkim ](/tags/dkim/)[ DMARC ](/tags/dmarc/)[ dmarc record ](/tags/dmarc-record/)[ email security ](/tags/email-security/)[ SPF ](/tags/spf/)
[ Adam Lundrigan ](/authors/adam-lundrigan/)
CTO
CTO of DuoCircle. Leads engineering for DMARC Report and DuoCircle's email security product portfolio.
[LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlundrigan/)
## Take control of your DMARC reports
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[Start Free Trial](https://app.dmarcreport.com/) [Check Your DMARC Record](/tools/dmarc-checker/)
## Related Articles
[ Foundational 7m 4 sectors that need email authentication the most and why Oct 15, 2024 ](/blog/4-sectors-that-need-email-authentication-the-most-and-why/)[ Foundational 4m 8 Misconceptions About DMARC and its Deployment for Businesses Dec 4, 2023 ](/blog/8-misconceptions-about-dmarc-and-its-deployment-for-businesses/)[ Foundational 8m 9 technologies to protect your emails from cyber actors Dec 10, 2024 ](/blog/9-technologies-to-protect-your-emails-from-cyber-actors/)[ Foundational 14m Add TXT Record on Namecheap (SPF, DKIM & DMARC) - 2026 Mar 5, 2025 ](/blog/add-txt-record-on-namecheap-a-complete-dns-guide/)
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