What is 0.0.0.0 IP address and what are its uses>
Threat Brief
In Internet lingo 0.0.0.0 is called wildcard address or unspecified address. IETF defines it as âsource address for this host on this network.â A wildcard address acts similarly like a joker in a pack of cards, i.e. fulfilling duties when the server canât find original host address. Google search reveals that 0.0.0.0 IP address doesnât have an originating IP address or itâs the default route. Your PC will pop up a 0.0.0.0 address when it is not connected to any TCP/IP network because it has to resolve the IP address. By default, if you see a 0.0.0.0 IP address, your PC/laptop is offline. Similarly, if the host PC is unable to resolve IP failure, it may be automatically assigned by DHCP. Once your DHCP is assigned 0.0.0.0, it canât communicate with any other device over IP. In simple language, it means no internet or intranet access. Rest assured 0.0.0.0 is not evil or malware lurking around to steal your credentials when you surf online, it is just a fail-safe syntax that your PC or laptop resolves in case of IP failure. In some cases, PC/laptops may use just 0. In IPv6 protocol, IP address 0.0.0.0 is represented by ::0 or just ::.
Link: http://threatbrief.com/0-0-0-0-ip-address-uses/