Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) now enables DNS Tunneling, providing a more stable, but vulnerable Internet connection

Microsoft has enabled DNS Tunneling in Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), and with it, the Redmond-based tech giant is providing a more stable Internet connection to a platform that has been plagued with various Internet connection issues: from users not being able to access the Internet, to the Windows host being blocked due to a variety of issues, such as firewall settings, VPNs, or others.

Even more, the Redmond-based tech giant is also integrating DNS Tunneling with Windows Subsystem for Linux native Docker, making it even better and more suitable for the platform.

The entire changelog can be seen on GitHub, but we’ll add it here, as well, since it’s quite short:

• Enable DNS tunneling by default
• Integrate DNS tunneling with Linux native Docker
• Change the default reclamation mode to drop cache
• Fix hang when the guest crashes during distro initialization
• Retry when hitting errors that could indicate that an installation is in progress (solves #11282)
• Remove the MSIX package before ‘CreateShortcuts’ runs during MSI installation (solves #11252,#10872)
• Update Microsoft.WSL.Kernel to version 5.15.150.1-2
  • Enables CONFIG_HIDRAW and CONFIG_USB_HIDDEV
• Update WIL to 1.0.240308.1

It’s also worth mentioning that DNS tunneling is used by hackers to embed malicious code or programs into messages that could seem to be DNS requests. They do so by exploiting all sorts of Trojan horses that allow them to easily override certain networks.

This could potentially leave the platform in a vulnerable state, in which networks could be compromised. Even though DNS tunneling, per se, is not part of the malicious strategy, it can be used as a tool to spread malicious software into the platform.

The Windows Subsystem for Linus will soon be integrated into the Dev Home platform, as well, according to the latest reports, and the WSL is known for helping Linux gain its largest market share in history, although it’s still far behind Microsoft’s Windows.

The latest 2.21 update for WSL can be downloaded from GitHub.