When in doubt, strip the problem part to the bone. Since it seems that DNS is the likely culprit, try something simple that checks DNS and involves a minimum of other code:

#!/bin/bash

host=$(/usr/bin/host maps.google.com)
cat <<!
Content-Type: text/plain

$host
!
[download]

If you run the above as CGI and see a reasonable output for host - e.g.,

maps.google.com is an alias for maps.l.google.com.
maps.l.google.com has address 64.233.161.147
maps.l.google.com has address 64.233.161.99
maps.l.google.com has address 64.233.161.104
[download]

- then your server/browser combo is handling resolution just fine. Otherwise, you'll need to dig (erm, pun only semi-intentional :) elsewhere.

-- 
Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. -- HG Wells