DNSTwist▌
by burtthecoder
DNSTwist automates DNS fuzzing to detect typosquatting, phishing, and espionage threats, keeping your domains secure.
Integrates with dnstwist to automate DNS fuzzing for detecting typosquatting, phishing, and corporate espionage threats.
Both formats append explainx.ai attribution and the canonical URL for this MCP server listing.
best for
- / Security researchers investigating domain abuse
- / Brand protection teams monitoring trademark infringement
- / IT security teams assessing phishing risks
- / Companies protecting against corporate espionage
capabilities
- / Generate domain permutations using various fuzzing techniques
- / Check registration status of suspicious domains
- / Detect typosquatting attempts
- / Identify phishing domains
- / Analyze domains for corporate espionage threats
- / Export domain analysis results
what it does
Analyzes domains for typosquatting and phishing threats by generating domain permutations and checking their registration status. Uses Docker-based dnstwist tool to identify potentially malicious domains.
about
DNSTwist is a community-built MCP server published by burtthecoder that provides AI assistants with tools and capabilities via the Model Context Protocol. DNSTwist automates DNS fuzzing to detect typosquatting, phishing, and espionage threats, keeping your domains secure. It is categorized under auth security.
how to install
You can install DNSTwist in your AI client of choice. Use the install panel on this page to get one-click setup for Cursor, Claude Desktop, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible clients. This server runs locally on your machine via the stdio transport.
license
MIT
DNSTwist is released under the MIT license. This is a permissive open-source license, meaning you can freely use, modify, and distribute the software.
readme
DNStwist MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for dnstwist, a powerful DNS fuzzing tool that helps detect typosquatting, phishing, and corporate espionage. This server provides tools for analyzing domain permutations and identifying potentially malicious domains. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with MCP-compatible applications like Claude Desktop.
<a href="https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/it7izu3ufb"><img width="380" height="200" src="https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/it7izu3ufb/badge" alt="mcp-dnstwist MCP server" /></a>
⚠️ Warning
This tool is designed for legitimate security research purposes. Please:
- Only analyze domains you own or have permission to test
- Respect rate limits and DNS server policies
- Use responsibly and ethically
- Be aware that some DNS servers may rate-limit or block automated queries
- Consider the impact on DNS infrastructure when running large scans
Requirements
- Node.js (v18 or later)
- Docker
- macOS, Linux, or Windows with Docker Desktop installed
Quick Start
Installing via Smithery
To install DNStwist for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:
npx -y @smithery/cli install @burtthecoder/mcp-dnstwist --client claude
Installing Manually
-
Install Docker:
- macOS: Install Docker Desktop
- Linux: Follow the Docker Engine installation guide
-
Install the server globally via npm:
npm install -g mcp-dnstwist
- Add to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"dnstwist": {
"command": "mcp-dnstwist"
}
}
}
Configuration file location:
- macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json - Windows:
%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
- Restart Claude Desktop
Alternative Setup (From Source)
If you prefer to run from source or need to modify the code:
- Clone and build:
git clone <repository_url>
cd mcp-dnstwist
npm install
npm run build
- Add to your Claude Desktop configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"dnstwist": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/mcp-dnstwist/build/index.js"]
}
}
}
Features
- Domain Fuzzing: Generate domain permutations using various algorithms
- Registration Check: Verify if permutated domains are registered
- DNS Analysis: Check A, AAAA, MX, and NS records
- Web Presence: Capture HTTP banner information
- WHOIS Data: Retrieve registration dates and registrar information
- Phishing Detection: Generate fuzzy hashes of web pages
- Configurable: Custom DNS servers and parallel processing
- Multiple Formats: Support for json, csv, and list output formats
Tools
Domain Fuzzing Tool
- Name:
fuzz_domain - Description: Generate and analyze domain permutations to detect potential typosquatting, phishing, and brand impersonation
- Parameters:
domain(required): Domain name to analyze (e.g., example.com)nameservers(optional, default: "1.1.1.1"): Comma-separated list of DNS serversthreads(optional, default: 50): Number of threads for parallel processingformat(optional, default: "json"): Output format (json, csv, list)registered_only(optional, default: true): Show only registered domainsmxcheck(optional, default: true): Check for MX recordsssdeep(optional, default: false): Generate fuzzy hashes of web pagesbanners(optional, default: true): Capture HTTP banner information
Example:
{
"domain": "example.com",
"nameservers": "1.1.1.1,8.8.8.8",
"threads": 50,
"format": "json",
"registered_only": true,
"mxcheck": true,
"banners": true
}
Troubleshooting
Docker Issues
- Verify Docker is installed and running:
docker --version
docker ps
- Check Docker permissions:
- Ensure your user has permissions to run Docker commands
- On Linux, add your user to the docker group:
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
Common Issues
-
DNS resolution problems:
- Verify DNS servers are accessible
- Try alternative DNS servers (e.g., 8.8.8.8)
- Check for rate limiting or blocking
-
Performance issues:
- Adjust thread count based on system capabilities
- Consider network bandwidth and latency
- Monitor DNS server response times
-
After fixing any issues:
- Save the configuration file
- Restart Claude Desktop
Error Messages
- "Docker is not installed or not running": Install Docker and start the Docker daemon
- "Failed to parse dnstwist output": Check if the domain is valid and the format is correct
- "Error executing dnstwist": Check Docker logs and ensure proper permissions
- "DNS server not responding": Verify DNS server accessibility and try alternative servers
Contributing
- Fork the repository
- Create a feature branch (
git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature) - Commit your changes (
git commit -m 'Add amazing feature') - Push to the branch (
git push origin feature/amazing-feature) - Open a Pull Request
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
FAQ
- What is the DNSTwist MCP server?
- DNSTwist is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server profile on explainx.ai. MCP lets AI hosts (e.g. Claude Desktop, Cursor) call tools and resources through a standard interface; this page summarizes categories, install hints, and community ratings.
- How do MCP servers relate to agent skills?
- Skills are reusable instruction packages (often SKILL.md); MCP servers expose live capabilities. Teams frequently combine both—skills for workflows, MCP for APIs and data. See explainx.ai/skills and explainx.ai/mcp-servers for parallel directories.
- How are reviews shown for DNSTwist?
- This profile displays 26 aggregated ratings (sample rows for discoverability plus signed-in user reviews). Average score is about 4.6 out of 5—verify behavior in your own environment before production use.
Use Cases▌
Extended AI Capabilities
Add new capabilities to Claude beyond text generation
Example
Access external data sources, execute code, interact with tools and services
Transform Claude from chatbot to action-taking agent
Context Enhancement
Provide Claude with access to relevant context and data
Example
Load project documentation, access knowledge bases, query databases
Get more accurate, context-aware responses
Workflow Automation
Automate multi-step workflows combining AI and external tools
Example
Research → Summarize → Create document → Send notification
Complete complex tasks end-to-end without manual steps
Implementation Guide▌
Prerequisites
- ›Claude Desktop 0.7.0+ or Cursor IDE with MCP support
- ›Basic understanding of MCP architecture and capabilities
- ›Access credentials for integrated services (if required)
- ›Willingness to experiment and iterate on configuration
Time Estimate
15-60 minutes depending on server complexity
Installation Steps
- 1.Install MCP server: npm install -g [package-name] or via GitHub
- 2.Add server configuration to ~/.claude/mcp.json
- 3.Provide required credentials and configuration
- 4.Restart Claude Desktop to load new server
- 5.Test basic functionality with simple prompts
- 6.Explore capabilities and experiment with use cases
- 7.Document successful patterns for reuse
Troubleshooting
- ⚠MCP server not loading: Check config syntax, verify installation
- ⚠Connection errors: Check network, firewall, credentials
- ⚠Feature not working: Read server docs, check required parameters
- ⚠Performance issues: Monitor resource usage, check for network latency
- ⚠Conflicts with other servers: Check port assignments, namespace collisions
Best Practices▌
✓ Do
- +Read server documentation thoroughly before setup
- +Start with simple use cases to validate functionality
- +Test in non-production environment first
- +Monitor resource usage and performance
- +Keep servers updated for bug fixes and new features
- +Document configuration for team members
- +Use environment variables for sensitive configuration
✗ Don't
- −Don't grant overly permissive access to MCP servers
- −Don't skip reading security considerations in docs
- −Don't expose sensitive data without proper controls
- −Don't run untrusted MCP servers without code review
- −Don't ignore error messages—investigate root cause
💡 Pro Tips
- ★Combine multiple MCP servers for powerful workflows
- ★Create custom MCP servers for your specific needs
- ★Share successful configurations with team
- ★Use MCP inspector for debugging
- ★Join MCP community for tips and troubleshooting
Technical Details▌
Architecture
Model Context Protocol standardizes how AI hosts (Claude, Cursor) communicate with external tools and data sources through server implementations.
Protocols
- Model Context Protocol (MCP)
- JSON-RPC 2.0
- stdio or HTTP transport
Compatibility
- Claude Desktop
- Cursor IDE
- Custom MCP clients
When to Use This▌
✓ Use When
Use when you need Claude to access external data, execute actions, or integrate with tools. Best for extending AI capabilities beyond conversation.
✗ Avoid When
Avoid when native integrations exist (use official APIs directly), for real-time critical systems, or when security/compliance requires zero external dependencies.
Integration▌
- →Tool composition: Chain multiple MCP tools in workflows
- →Context augmentation: Provide AI with relevant external data
- →Action delegation: Let AI execute tasks on external systems
- →Bidirectional sync: Keep AI context and external systems in sync
Discussion
Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)- No comments yet — start the thread.
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Ratings
4.6★★★★★26 reviews- ★★★★★Chaitanya Patil· Dec 28, 2024
We evaluated DNSTwist against two servers with overlapping tools; this profile had the clearer scope statement.
- ★★★★★Diya Mehta· Dec 4, 2024
DNSTwist is among the better-indexed MCP projects we tried; the explainx.ai summary tracks the official description.
- ★★★★★Meera Yang· Dec 4, 2024
Strong directory entry: DNSTwist surfaces stars and publisher context so we could sanity-check maintenance before adopting.
- ★★★★★Xiao Gonzalez· Nov 23, 2024
DNSTwist reduced integration guesswork — categories and install configs on the listing matched the upstream repo.
- ★★★★★Naina Johnson· Nov 23, 2024
DNSTwist has been reliable for tool-calling workflows; the MCP profile page is a good permalink for internal docs.
- ★★★★★Piyush G· Nov 19, 2024
Useful MCP listing: DNSTwist is the kind of server we cite when onboarding engineers to host + tool permissions.
- ★★★★★Kaira Martinez· Nov 15, 2024
DNSTwist is a well-scoped MCP server in the explainx.ai directory — install snippets and categories matched our Claude Code setup.
- ★★★★★Min Bhatia· Oct 14, 2024
Useful MCP listing: DNSTwist is the kind of server we cite when onboarding engineers to host + tool permissions.
- ★★★★★Soo Rahman· Oct 14, 2024
According to our notes, DNSTwist benefits from clear Model Context Protocol framing — fewer ambiguous “AI plugin” claims.
- ★★★★★Shikha Mishra· Oct 10, 2024
DNSTwist reduced integration guesswork — categories and install configs on the listing matched the upstream repo.
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