Network Working Group M. StJohns
Request for Comments: 5570 Consultant
Category: Informational R. Atkinson
Extreme Networks
G. Thomas
US Department of Defense
July 2009
Common Architecture Label IPv6 Security Option (CALIPSO)
Abstract
This document describes an optional method for encoding explicit
packet Sensitivity Labels on IPv6 packets. It is intended for use
only within Multi-Level Secure (MLS) networking environments that are
both trusted and trustworthy.
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.
IESG Note
This RFC specifies the use of an IPv6 hop-by-hop option. The IESG
notes that general deployment of protocols with hop-by-hop options
are problematic, and the development of such protocols is
consequently discouraged. After careful review, the IETF has
determined that a hop-by-hop option is an appropriate solution for
this specific limited environment and use case. Furthermore, the
mechanism specified in this RFC is only applicable to closed IP
networks. It is unsuitable for use and ineffective on the global
public Internet.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2009 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
document authors. All rights reserved.
This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
Provisions Relating to IETF Documents in effect on the date of
publication of this document (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info).
Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights
and restrictions with respect to this document.
StJohns, et al. Informational [Page 1]
RFC 5570 CALIPSO July 2009
This document may contain material from IETF Documents or IETF
Contributions published or made publicly available before November
10, 2008. The person(s) controlling the copyright in some of this
material may not have granted the IETF Trust the right to allow
modifications of such material outside the IETF Standards Process.
Without obtaining an adequate license from the person(s) controlling
the copyright in such materials, this document may not be modified
outside the IETF Standards Process, and derivative works of it may
not be created outside the IETF Standards Process, except to format
it for publication as an RFC or to translate it into languages other
than English.
StJohns, et al. Informational [Page 2]
RFC 5570 CALIPSO July 2009
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................4
1.1. History ....................................................4
1.2. Intent and Applicability ...................................6
1.3. Deployment Examples ........................................7
2. Definitions .....................................................9
2.1. Domain of Interpretation ...................................9
2.2. Sensitivity Level .........................................10
2.3. Compartment ...............................................10
2.4. Releasability .............................................11
2.5. Sensitivity Label .........................................16
2.6. Import ....................................................17
2.7. Export ....................................................17
2.8. End System ................................................18
2.9. Intermediate System .......................................18
2.10. System Security Policy ...................................19
3. Architecture ...................................................19
4. Defaults .......................................................24
5. Format .........................................................26
5.1. Option Format .............................................27
5.2. Packet Word Alignment Considerations ......................30
6. Usage ..........................................................31
6.1. Sensitivity Label Comparisons .............................31
6.2. End System Processing .....................................34
6.3. Intermediate System Processing ............................37
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