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A wrapper for the Cloudflare API that allows you to add, update or delete your domain's DNS records from the command line.

www.tech-otaku.com/web-development/using-cloudflare-api-manage-dns-records/

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cloudflare-dns

Purpose

Add, update or delete your domain's DNS records from the command line using the Cloudflare API.

Background

I initially wrote this script as a quick way of repeatedly adding or updating DNS records for several domains from the command line when I was building and testing my mail server. If you're thinking of using it, it's important you read the Limitations section first and check your domain's DNS records on Cloudflare afterwards.

The script is based upon examples of using the Cloudflare API at Using the Cloudflare API to Manage DNS Records.

To view an existing domain's current DNS records see Get an Existing Domain's Current DNS Records

Usage

Help

./cf-dns.sh -h

Add or Update

./cf-dns.sh -d DOMAIN -n NAME -t TYPE -c CONTENT [-p PRIORITY] [-x PROXIED] [-l TTL] [-C COMMENT] [-k] [-S] [-A]

Delete

./cf-dns.sh -d DOMAIN -n NAME -t TYPE -c CONTENT -Z [-a] [-k] [-S]

Options

Use ./cf-dns.sh -h to see an explanation of the options and their usage.

In addition, please note the following:

  • The scipt always requires the options domain (-d DOMAIN ), type (-t TYPE), name (-n NAME) and content (-c CONTENT).

  • For new MX records, priority (-p PRIORITY) is required, but will be defaulted to 10 by the script if omitted.

  • When updating existing records the script now uses the PATCH method of the Cloudflare API instead of PUT meaning that, in addition to the mandatory options, only the data being updated need be passed to the script.

  • Proxy status (-x PROXIED) is not required for MX or TXT records as these DNS record types can not be proxied through Cloudflare. When creating A, AAAA or CNAME records, the Cloudflare API defaults the proxy status to false if omitted.

  • TTL (-l TTL) can only be set to one of the following values:

    -l TTL TTL
    1 Auto
    60 1 minute
    120 2 minutes
    300 5 minutes
    600 10 minutes
    900 15 minutes
    1800 30 minutes
    3600 1 hour
    7200 2 hours
    18000 5 hours
    43200 12 hours
    86400 1 day

    If a DNS record's Proxy status (-x PROXIED) is Proxied (true), its TTL will be set to 1 automtically by the Cloudflare API regardless of the value passed to the script. This is due to Cloudflare only allowing TTL values other than 1 for DNS records that are not proxied.

  • The script checks if the domain name (-d DOMAIN) and DNS record name (-n NAME) are the same. If not, the domain name is appended to the DNS record name as per the table below (think dig TXT example.com and dig TXT dkim._domainkey.example.com).

    TYPE DOMAIN NAME REFERENCED AS
    A example.com example.com example.com
    AAAA example.com example.com example.com
    A example.com demo demo.example.com
    CNAME example.com www www.example.com
    MX example.com example.com example.com
    TXT example.com dkim._domainkey dkim._domainkey.example.com
    TXT example.com _dmarc _dmarc.example.com
    TXT example.com example.com example.com

  • Strings containing spaces must be enclosed in single ' or double " quotes. Strings containing a variable must only be enclosed in double " quotes to ensure the variable is expanded. For example:

    MAILTO=postmaster@mail.example.net

    ./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t TXT -n _dmarc -c "v=DMARC1; p=none; pct=100; rua=mailto:$MAILTO; sp=none; aspf=r;" -l 1

  • A double " quote contained in a Comment [-C COMMENT] is replaced with a single ' quote by the script to avoid the error {"code":9207,"message":"Request body is invalid."}.

  • As Cloudflare only allows a maximum Comment [-C COMMENT] length of 100 characters, the script truncates them to 97 characters and appends ... .

Authentication

Your Cloudflare credentials are read from a file. Rename auth.json.template as auth.json and enter your Cloudflare credentials:

{
    "cloudflare": {
        "email": "your-cloudflare-email",
        "key": "your-cloudflare-api-key",
        "token": "your-cloudflare-api-token"
    }
}

email and key are required if you use a legacy API key to authenticate. token is required if you authenticate using the preferred API token. By default, the script uses your API token. If you want it to use your API key instead you must use the -k option.

How the Script Works

A domain or site on your Cloudflare account is known as a zone and is assigned a unique 32-character ID by Cloudflare when it's created. A zone contains various DNS records each of which is also assigned its own unique 32-character ID by Cloudflare. A DNS record consists of data identifying its type, name and content amongst other information.

To add a new DNS record the domain's zone ID has to be passed to the Cloudflare API. To update or delete an existing DNS record both the domain's zone ID and the DNS record ID must be passed to the Cloudflare API. The zone ID can be found on the domain's Overview page on the Cloudflare dashboard or by using the Cloudflare API to list zones on your Cloudflare account. DNS record IDs can only be found by using the Cloudflare API to list a zone's DNS records. These API calls produce a lot of output and the (correct) IDs can be difficult to find.

The script helps streamline this process by not needing to know the zone ID and DNS record ID beforehand.

Consider the following DNS records for the example.com domain:

# Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy TTL
1 A 'A' Record example.com 203.0.113.50 N/A DNS Only Auto
2 AAAA 'AAAA' Record example.com 2001:db8:c010:46d6::1 N/A Proxied Auto
3 CNAME 'CNAME' Record www example.com N/A Proxied Auto
4 MX 1st 'MX' Record example.com alt2.aspmx.l.google.com 10 DNS only Auto
5 MX 2nd 'MX' Record example.com aspmx.l.google.com 10 DNS only Auto
6 MX 3rd 'MX' Record example.com mail.example.com 20 DNS only 1hr
7 TXT 'DKIM' Record dkim._domainkey v=DKIM1; p=MFswDQYJKoZIhvc... N/A DNS only Auto
8 TXT 'DMARC' Record _dmarc v=DMARC1; p=none; pct=100; r... N/A DNS only Auto
9 TXT 'SPF' Record example.com v=spf1 mx ~all N/A DNS only Auto

To demonstrate how the script works, let's assume that neither the AAAA record (#2) nor the MX record pointing to mail.example.com (#6) exist.

To attempt to add the AAAA record with the script I use:

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t AAAA -n example.com -c 2001:db8:c010:46d6::1 -x y -l 1 -C "'AAAA' Record"

The script executes these steps:

  1. It attempts to get the zone ID of the domain (-d DOMAIN).
  2. If successful, it then tries to find a single DNS record for that zone that matches a combination of type (-t TYPE), name (-n NAME) and content (-c CONTENT).
  3. If no matching DNS record is found, it further looks for all DNS records for the zone using only type (-t TYPE) and name (-n NAME).
  4. If still no matches are found, a new DNS record is created.

To attempt to add the MX record with the script I use:

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c mail.example.com -p 20 -x N -l 3600 -C "3rd 'MX' Record"

As with the previous example, the script executes steps 1 to 2. However, on executing step 3 it finds two existing records (#4 and #5) that match type (-t TYPE) and name (-n NAME) and so displays the following interactive prompt:

Found 2 existing DNS record(s) whose type is 'MX' named 'example.com'
[1] ID:s5stc17nr83o0szd9rsn9cx56tybwuo0, TYPE:MX, NAME:example.com, CONTENT:aspmx.l.google.com
[2] ID:a38q5zlhnhpycw05xld4gvlpb8ucelfd, TYPE:MX, NAME:example.com, CONTENT:alt2.aspmx.l.google.com
[A] Add New DNS Record
[Q] Quit

Type '1' or '2' to update an existing record, 'A' to add a new record or 'Q' to quit without changes and then press enter:

As I want to add a new DNS record, I type A and press enter and a new DNS record is created.

Having created this new MX record, I decide to change the Priority from 20 to 15 using:

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c mail.example.com -p 15

On this occasion, when executing step 2, the script finds the single existing record that matches type (-t TYPE), name (-n NAME) and content (-c CONTENT) and simply changes its priority to 15.

Later I realise I've made a mistake. This new MX record should point to mail.example.net and not mail.example.com. To change its Content I use:

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c mail.example.net

On executing step 3 the script now finds three existing records (#4, #5 and #6) that match type (-t TYPE) and name (-n NAME) and so displays the following interactive prompt:

Found 3 existing DNS record(s) whose type is 'MX' named 'example.com'
[1] ID:s5stc17nr83o0szd9rsn9cx56tybwuo0, TYPE:MX, NAME:example.com, CONTENT:aspmx.l.google.com
[2] ID:a38q5zlhnhpycw05xld4gvlpb8ucelfd, TYPE:MX, NAME:example.com, CONTENT:alt2.aspmx.l.google.com
[3] ID:ge8m5b52vjm4uv22kbk7ba506obuknnn, TYPE:MX, NAME:example.com, CONTENT:mail.example.com
[A] Add New DNS Record
[Q] Quit

Type '1', '2' or '3' to update an existing record, 'A' to add a new record or 'Q' to quit without changes and then press enter:

Rather than add a new record, I want to update an existing record and so type 3 and press enter to update the appropriate record.

When deleting a record, the script only ever performs steps 1 and 2. If it can't find a record matching type (-t TYPE), name (-n NAME) and content (-c CONTENT), it exits.

To delete the MX record now pointing to mail.example.net use:

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c mail.example.net -Z

Examples

Add New DNS Records

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t A -n example.com -c 203.0.113.50 -x N -l 1 -C "'A' Record"

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
A 'A' Record example.com 203.0.113.50 N/A DNS Only Auto

👉 As Cloudflare defaults Proxy status to DNS Only (false) and TTL to Auto (1), the following are functionally equivalent:

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t A -n example.com -c 203.0.113.50 -x N -C "'A' Record"

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t A -n example.com -c 203.0.113.50 -l 1 -C "'A' Record"

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t A -n example.com -c 203.0.113.50 -C "'A' Record"

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t AAAA -n example.com -c 2001:db8:c010:46d6::1 -x y -l 1 -C "'AAAA' Record"

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
AAAA 'AAAA' Record example.com 2001:db8:c010:46d6::1 N/A Proxied Auto

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t CNAME -n www -c example.com -x Y -l 120 -C "'CNAME' Record"

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
CNAME 'CNAME' Record www example.com N/A Proxied Auto

👉 Despite attempting to set the TTL to 2 min (120), the script forces a TTL of Auto (1) as Cloudflare only allows records with a Proxy status of DNS Only (false) to have a TTL other than Auto (1). 

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c alt2.aspmx.l.google.com -p 10 -l 1 -C "1st 'MX' Record"

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
MX 1st 'MX' Record example.com alt2.aspmx.l.google.com 10 DNS Only Auto

👉 As the script defaults Priority to 10 and Cloudflare defaults TTL to Auto (1), the following are functionally equivalent:

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c alt2.aspmx.l.google.com -p 10 -C "1st 'MX' Record"

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c alt2.aspmx.l.google.com -l 1 -C "1st 'MX' Record"

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c alt2.aspmx.l.google.com -C "1st 'MX' Record"

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c aspmx.l.google.com -C "2nd 'MX' Record"

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
MX 1st 'MX' Record example.com aspmx.l.google.com 10 DNS Only Auto

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t TXT -n dkim._domainkey -c 'v=DKIM1; p=MFswDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEBBQADSgAwRwJAXemJxxGR7kgbyS2FK8FOtCxAgPHW9mA7SCcHK77dWM2wBTZyKRxd7eJARaaWHS1B4CxDdWh02Eqy7mygwUwZSwIDAQAB' -l 1 -C "'DKIM' Record"

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
TXT 'DKIM' Record dkim._domainkey v=DKIM1; p=MFswDQYJKoZIhvc... N/A DNS only Auto

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t TXT -n _dmarc -c 'v=DMARC1; p=none; pct=100; rua=mailto:postmaster@mail.example.net; sp=none; aspf=r;' -l 1 -C "'DMARC' Record" -k

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
TXT 'DMARC' Record _dmarc v=DMARC1; p=none; pct=100; r... N/A DNS only Auto

👉 This example uses the legacy API key (-k) to authenticate.

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t TXT -n example.com -c "v=spf1 mx ~all" -x Y -l 1 -C "'SPF' Record"

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
TXT 'SPF' Record example.com v=spf1 mx ~all N/A DNS Only Auto

👉 Despite attempting to set the Proxy status to Proxied (true), the script does not include this in the payload as MX and TXT records are not proxiable on Cloudflare which forces Proxy status to DNS Only (false) for these record types.

Update Existing DNS Records

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t A -n example.com -c 198.51.100.54

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
A 'A' Record example.com 198.51.100.54 N/A DNS Only Auto

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t AAAA -n example.com -c 2001:db8:c010:46d6::1 -x n

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
AAAA 'AAAA' Record example.com 2001:db8:c010:46d6::1 N/A DNS only Auto

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t CNAME -n www -c example.com -C "Cloudflare truncates comments longer than 100 characters, and doesn't support record tags on its free plan."

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
CNAME Cloudflare truncates comments longer than 100 characters, and doesn't support record tags on its ... www example.com N/A Proxied Auto

👉 As Cloudflare only allows comments upto a maximum of 100 characters, the script truncates comments longer than 97 characters and appends ....

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c mail.example.com -p 15 -l 3600

Type Comment Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
MX First 'MX' Record example.com mail.example.com 15 DNS Only 1 hr

./cf-dns.sh -d veward.com -t TXT -n dkim._domainkey -c 'v=DKIM1; p=MFswDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEBBQADSgAwRwJAYWXi4K8r0xVWXeY5b7nXrdO24E1Yd7bv /mNIGcR0FlHdf2Ng3gO1fzAq/x/ae2PIhG1TEj2+mh1BVK1u2oc7/wIDAQAB' -l 1

Type Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
TXT dkim._domainkey v=DKIM1; p=MFswDQYJKoZIhvc... N/A DNS only Auto

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t TXT -n _dmarc -c 'v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; pct=75; rua=mailto:postmaster@mail.example.net; sp=reject; aspf=r;' -l 1

Type Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
TXT _dmarc v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; pct=75; r... N/A DNS only Auto

Delete Existing DNS Records

./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t A -n example.com -c 203.0.113.50 -Z -a

Type Name Content Priority Proxy status TTL
A example.com 203.0.113.50 N/A Proxied Auto

👉 This example uses the -a option which suppresses the prompt asking to confirm deletion.

A DNS record to be deleted is only matched using the combined values of type (-t TYPE), name (-n NAME) and content (-c CONTENT). If no match is found, a second attempt using only type (-t TYPE), and name (-n NAME) is not made as it is when adding or updating a DNS record.


Limitations

  • Requires an existing zone record for the domain being updated.

  • Only A, AAAA, CNAME, MX and TXT type DNS records can be added, updated or deleted.

  • Does not support record tags as these are not available on Cloudflare's Free plan.

  • The script is unable to match a record using a combination of type (-t TYPE), name (-n NAME) and content (-c CONTENT) if the content contains a comma (,). While this appears to be an issue with the Cloudflare API, the script cannot currently delete DNS records whose content contains a comma (,) and may require user interaction to update such records.

Get an Existing Domain's Current DNS Records

get-dns.py is a script that gets all of an existing domain's current DNS records. For each DNS record it displays a sub-Set of the data returned from the API call together with the arguments required to delete that record and create it using the cf-dns.sh script. It can optionally include all of the record's data as raw JSON. Output can be directed to a file or to the user's screen.

Usage

./get-dns.py -h/--help

./get-dns.py -d/--domain DOMAIN [-k/--key] [-p/--pretty] [-r/--raw] [-s/--screen]

Example

./get-dns.py --domain=example.com --raw --screen

Sample Output

...

Record: 4/7 

{"comment": "2nd 'MX' Record", "content": "aspmx.l.google.com", "created_on": "2020-09-17T11:18:19.583054Z", "id": "7bdb2e46037df332e5abdd45f8f981f5",
 "locked": false, "meta": {"auto_added": false, "managed_by_apps": false, "managed_by_argo_tunnel": false, "source": 
 "primary"}, "modified_on": "2020-09-17T11:18:19.583054Z", "name": "example.com", "priority": 5, "proxiable": false, 
 "proxied": false, "ttl": 3600, "type": "MX", "zone_id": "8b717207bcee4047af2e9dff95832996", "zone_name": "example.com"} 

Domain: example.com
Type: MX
Name: example.com
Content: aspmx.l.google.com
Priority: 5
Proxiable: False
Proxied: False
TTL: 3600
Comment: 2nd 'MX' Record
Modified: 2020-09-17T11:18:19.583054Z
./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c aspmx.l.google.com -p 5 -l 3600 -C "2nd 'MX' Record" [-k] [-S] [-A]
./cf-dns.sh -d example.com -t MX -n example.com -c aspmx.l.google.com -Z [-a] [-k] [-S]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Record: 5/7

...

About

A wrapper for the Cloudflare API that allows you to add, update or delete your domain's DNS records from the command line.

www.tech-otaku.com/web-development/using-cloudflare-api-manage-dns-records/

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