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author | Thomas Voss <mail@thomasvoss.com> | 2024-11-27 20:54:24 +0100 |
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committer | Thomas Voss <mail@thomasvoss.com> | 2024-11-27 20:54:24 +0100 |
commit | 4bfd864f10b68b71482b35c818559068ef8d5797 (patch) | |
tree | e3989f47a7994642eb325063d46e8f08ffa681dc /doc/rfc/rfc2267.txt | |
parent | ea76e11061bda059ae9f9ad130a9895cc85607db (diff) |
doc: Add RFC documents
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diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc2267.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc2267.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..585b4b3 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc2267.txt @@ -0,0 +1,563 @@ + + + + + + +Network Working Group P. Ferguson +Request for Comments: 2267 Cisco Systems, Inc. +Category: Informational D. Senie + BlazeNet, Inc. + January 1998 + + + Network Ingress Filtering: + Defeating Denial of Service Attacks which employ + IP Source Address Spoofing + +Status of this Memo + + This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does + not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this + memo is unlimited. + +Copyright Notice + + Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved. + +Abstract + + Recent occurrences of various Denial of Service (DoS) attacks which + have employed forged source addresses have proven to be a troublesome + issue for Internet Service Providers and the Internet community + overall. This paper discusses a simple, effective, and + straightforward method for using ingress traffic filtering to + prohibit DoS attacks which use forged IP addresses to be propagated + from 'behind' an Internet Service Provider's (ISP) aggregation point. + +Table of Contents + + 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 + 2. Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 + 3. Restricting forged traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 + 4. Further capabilities for networking equipment. . . . . . . 6 + 5. Liabilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 + 6. Summary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 + 7. Security Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 + 8. Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 + 9. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 + 10. Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 + 11. Full Copyright Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 + + + + + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 1] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + +1. Introduction + + A resurgence of Denial of Service Attacks [1] aimed at various + targets in the Internet have produced new challenges within the + Internet Service Provider (ISP) and network security communities to + find new and innovative methods to mitigate these types of attacks. + The difficulties in reaching this goal are numerous; some simple + tools already exist to limit the effectiveness and scope of these + attacks, but they have not been widely implemented. + + This method of attack has been known for some time. Defending against + it, however, has been an ongoing concern. Bill Cheswick is quoted in + [2] as saying that he pulled a chapter from his book, "Firewalls and + Internet Security" [3], at the last minute because there was no way + for an administrator of the system under attack to effectively defend + the system. By mentioning the method, he was concerned about + encouraging it's use. + + While the filtering method discussed in this document does + absolutely nothing to protect against flooding attacks which + originate from valid prefixes (IP addresses), it will prohibit an + attacker within the originating network from launching an attack of + this nature using forged source addresses that do not conform to + ingress filtering rules. All providers of Internet connectivity are + urged to implement filtering described in this document to prohibit + attackers from using forged source addresses which do not reside + within a range of legitimately advertised prefixes. In other words, + if an ISP is aggregating routing announcements for multiple + downstream networks, strict traffic filtering should be used to + prohibit traffic which claims to have originated from outside of + these aggregated announcements. + + An additional benefit of implementing this type of filtering is that + it enables the originator to be easily traced to it's true source, + since the attacker would have to use a valid, and legitimately + reachable, source address. + +2. Background + + A simplified diagram of the TCP SYN flooding problem is depicted + below: + + 9.0.0.0/8 + host <----- router <--- Internet <----- router <-- attacker + + TCP/SYN + <--------------------------------------------- + Source: 192.168.0.4/32 + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 2] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + + SYN/ACK + no route + TCP/SYN + <--------------------------------------------- + Source: 10.0.0.13/32 + SYN/ACK + no route + TCP/SYN + <--------------------------------------------- + Source: 172.16.0.2/32 + SYN/ACK + no route + + [etc.] + + Assume: + + o The "host" is the targeted machine. + + o The attacker resides within the "valid" prefix, 9.0.0.0/8. + + o The attacker launches the attack using randomly changing source + addresses; in this example, the source addresses are depicted as + from within [4], which are not generally present in the global + Internet routing tables, and therefore, unreachable. However, any + unreachable prefix could be used to perpetrate this attack + method. + + Also worthy of mention is a case wherein the source address is forged + to appear to have originated from within another legitimate network + which appears in the global routing table(s). For example, an + attacker using a valid network address could wreak havoc by making + the attack appear to come from an organization which did not, in + fact, originate the attack and was completely innocent. In such + cases, the administrator of a system under attack may be inclined to + filter all traffic coming from the apparent attack source. Adding + such a filter would then result in a denial of service to + legitimate, non-hostile end-systems. In this case, the administrator + of the system under attack unwittingly becomes an accomplice of the + attacker. + + Further complicating matters, TCP SYN flood attacks will result in + SYN-ACK packets being sent to one or many hosts which have no + involvement in the attack, but which become secondary victims. This + allows the attacker to abuse two or more systems at once. + + + + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 3] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + + Similar attacks have been attempted using UDP and ICMP flooding. + The former attack (UDP flooding) uses forged packets to try and + connect the chargen UDP service to the echo UDP service at another + site. Systems administrators should NEVER allow UDP packets destined + for system diagnostic ports from outside of their administrative + domain to reach their systems. The latter attack (ICMP flooding), + uses an insidious feature in IP subnet broadcast replication + mechanics. This attack relies on a router serving a large multi- + access broadcast network to frame an IP broadcast address (such as + one destined for 10.255.255.255) into a Layer 2 broadcast frame (for + ethernet, FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF). Ethernet NIC hardware (MAC-layer + hardware, specifically) will only listen to a select number of + addresses in normal operation. The one MAC address that all devices + share in common in normal operation is the media broadcast, or + FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF. In this case, a device will take the packet and + send an interrupt for processing. Thus, a flood of these broadcast + frames will consume all available resources on an end-system [9]. It + is perhaps prudent that system administrators should consider + ensuring that their border routers do not allow directed broadcast + packets to be forwarded through their routers as a default. + + When an TCP SYN attack is launched using unreachable source address, + the target host attempts to reserve resources waiting for a + response. The attacker repeatedly changes the bogus source address + on each new packet sent, thus exhausting additional host resources. + + Alternatively, if the attacker uses someone else's valid host + address as the source address, the system under attack will send a + large number of SYN/ACK packets to what it believes is the originator + of the connection establishment sequence. In this fashion, the + attacker does damage to two systems: the destination target system, + as well as the system which is actually using the spoofed address in + the global routing system. + + The result of both attack methods is extremely degraded performance, + or worse, a system crash. + + In response to this threat, most operating system vendors have + modified their software to allow the targeted servers to sustain + attacks with very high connection attempt rates. This is a welcome + and necessary part of the solution to the problem. Ingress filtering + will take time to be implemented pervasively and be fully effective, + but the extensions to the operating systems can be implemented + quickly. This combination should prove effective against source + address spoofing. See [1] for vendor and platform software upgrade + information. + + + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 4] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + +3. Restricting forged traffic + + The problems encountered with this type of attack are numerous, and + involve shortcomings in host software implementations, routing + methodologies, and the TCP/IP protocols themselves. However, by + restricting transit traffic which originates from a downstream + network to known, and intentionally advertised, prefix(es), the + problem of source address spoofing can be virtually eliminated in + this attack scenario. + + 11.0.0.0/8 + / + router 1 + / + / + / 9.0.0.0/8 + ISP <----- ISP <---- ISP <--- ISP <-- router <-- attacker + A B C D 2 + / + / + / + router 3 + / + 12.0.0.0/8 + + + In the example above, the attacker resides within 9.0.0.0/8, which is + provided Internet connectivity by ISP D. An input traffic filter on + the ingress (input) link of "router 2", which provides connectivity + to the attacker's network, restricts traffic to allow only traffic + originating from source addresses within the 9.0.0.0/8 prefix, and + prohibits an attacker from using "invalid" source addresses which + reside outside of this prefix range. + + In other words, the ingress filter on "router 2" above would check: + + IF packet's source address from within 9.0.0.0/8 + THEN forward as appropriate + + IF packet's source address is anything else + THEN deny packet + + Network administrators should log information on packets which are + dropped. This then provides a basis for monitoring any suspicious + activity. + + + + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 5] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + +4. Further possible capabilities for networking equipment + + Additional functions should be considered for future platform + implementations. The following one is worth noting: + + o Implementation of automatic filtering on remote access servers. + In most cases, a user dialing into an access server is an + individual user on a single PC. The ONLY valid source IP address + for packets originating from that PC is the one assigned by the + ISP (whether statically or dynamically assigned). The remote + access server could check every packet on ingress to ensure the + user is not spoofing the source address on the packets which he + is originating. Obviously, provisions also need to be made for + cases where the customer legitimately is attaching a net or + subnet via a remote router, but this could certainly be + implemented as an optional parameter. We have received reports + that some vendors and some ISPs are already starting to + implement this capability. + + We considered suggesting routers also validate the source IP address + of the sender as suggested in [8], but that methodology will not + operate well in the real networks out there today. The method + suggested is to look up source addresses to see that the return path + to that address would flow out the same interface as the packet + arrived upon. With the number of asymmetric routes in the Internet, + this would clearly be problematic. + +5. Liabilities + + Filtering of this nature has the potential to break some types of + "special" services. It is in the best interest of the ISP offering + these types of special services, however, to consider alternate + methods of implementing these services to avoid being affected by + ingress traffic filtering. + + Mobile IP, as defined in [6], is specifically affected by ingress + traffic filtering. As specified, traffic to the mobile node is + tunneled, but traffic from the mobile node is not tunneled. This + results in packets from the mobile node(s) which have source + addresses that do not match with the network where the station is + attached. The Mobile IP Working Group is addressing this problem by + specifying "reverse tunnels" in [7]. This work in progress provides + a method for the data transmitted from the mobile node to be tunneled + to the home agent before transmission to the Internet. There are + additional benefits to the reverse tunneling scheme, including better + handling of multicast traffic. Those implementing mobile IP systems + are encouraged to implement this method of reverse tunneling. + + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 6] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + + As mentioned previously, while ingress traffic filtering drastically + reduces the success of source address spoofing, it does not preclude + an attacker using a forged source address of another host within the + permitted prefix filter range. It does, however, ensure that when an + attack of this nature does indeed occur, a network administrator can + be sure that the attack is actually originating from within the known + prefixes that are being advertised. This simplifies tracking down the + culprit, and at worst, the administrator can block a range of source + addresses until the problem is resolved. + + If ingress filtering is used in an environment where DHCP or BOOTP is + used, the network administrator would be well advised to ensure that + packets with a source address of 0.0.0.0 and a destination of + 255.255.255.255 are allowed to reach the relay agent in routers when + appropriate. The scope of directed broadcast replication should be + controlled, however, and not arbitrarily forwarded. + +6. Summary + + Ingress traffic filtering at the periphery of Internet connected + networks will reduce the effectiveness of source address spoofing + denial of service attacks. Network service providers and + administrators have already begun implementing this type of filtering + on periphery routers, and it is recommended that all service + providers do so as soon as possible. In addition to aiding the + Internet community as a whole to defeat this attack method, it can + also assist service providers in locating the source of the attack if + service providers can categorically demonstrate that their network + already has ingress filtering in place on customer links. + + Corporate network administrators should implement filtering to ensure + their corporate networks are not the source of such problems. Indeed, + filtering could be used within an organization to ensure users do not + cause problems by improperly attaching systems to the wrong networks. + The filtering could also, in practice, block a disgruntled employee + from anonymous attacks. + + It is the responsibility of all network administrators to ensure they + do not become the unwitting source of an attack of this nature. + +7. Security Considerations + + The primary intent of this document is to inherently increase + security practices and awareness for the Internet community as a + whole; as more Internet Providers and corporate network + administrators implement ingress filtering, the opportunity for an + attacker to use forged source addresses as an attack methodology will + significantly lessen. Tracking the source of an attack is simplified + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 7] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + + when the source is more likely to be "valid." By reducing the number + and frequency of attacks in the Internet as a whole, there will be + more resources for tracking the attacks which ultimately do occur. + +8. Acknowledgments + + The North American Network Operators Group (NANOG) [5] group as a + whole deserves special credit for openly discussing these issues and + actively seeking possible solutions. Also, thanks to Justin Newton + [Priori Networks] and Steve Bielagus [OpenROUTE Networks, Inc.] for + their comments and contributions. + +9. References + + [1] CERT Advisory CA-96.21; TCP SYN Flooding and IP Spoofing + Attacks; September 24, 1996. + + [2] B. Ziegler, "Hacker Tangles Panix Web Site", Wall Street + Journal, 12 September 1996. + + [3] "Firewalls and Internet Security: Repelling the Wily Hacker"; + William R. Cheswick and Steven M. Bellovin, Addison-Wesley + Publishing Company, 1994; ISBN 0-201-63357-4. + + [4] Rekhter, Y., Moskowitz, R., Karrenberg, D., de Groot, G., and + E. Lear, "Address Allocation for Private Internets", RFC 1918, + February 1996. + + [5] The North American Network Operators Group; + http://www.nanog.org. + + [6] Perkins, C., "IP Mobility Support", RFC 2002, October 1996. + + [7] Montenegro, G., "Reverse Tunneling Mobile IP", + Work in Progress. + + [8] Baker, F., "Requirements for IP Version 4 Routers", RFC 1812, + June 1995. + + [9] Thanks to: Craig Huegen; + See: http://www.quadrunner.com/~chuegen/smurf.txt. + + + + + + + + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 8] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + +10. Authors' Addresses + + Paul Ferguson + cisco Systems, Inc. + 400 Herndon Parkway + Herndon, VA USA 20170 + + EMail: ferguson@cisco.com + + + Daniel Senie + BlazeNet, Inc. + 4 Mechanic Street + Natick, MA USA 01760 + + EMail: dts@senie.com + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 9] + +RFC 2267 Network Ingress Filtering January 1998 + + +11. Full Copyright Statement + + Copyright (C) The Internet Society (1998). All Rights Reserved. + + This document and translations of it may be copied and furnished to + others, and derivative works that comment on or otherwise explain it + or assist in its implementation may be prepared, copied, published + and distributed, in whole or in part, without restriction of any + kind, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are + included on all such copies and derivative works. However, this + document itself may not be modified in any way, such as by removing + the copyright notice or references to the Internet Society or other + Internet organizations, except as needed for the purpose of + developing Internet standards in which case the procedures for + copyrights defined in the Internet Standards process must be + followed, or as required to translate it into languages other than + English. + + The limited permissions granted above are perpetual and will not be + revoked by the Internet Society or its successors or assigns. + + This document and the information contained herein is provided on an + "AS IS" basis and THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE INTERNET ENGINEERING + TASK FORCE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING + BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE INFORMATION + HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF + MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Ferguson & Senie Informational [Page 10] + |