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Securing Model-C Inter-Provider VPNs with Label Hopping and TicToc
draft-mjsraman-l3vpn-tictoc-label-hop-00

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This is an older version of an Internet-Draft whose latest revision state is "Expired".
Authors Shankar Raman , Balaji Venkat Venkataswami , Gaurav Raina
Last updated 2012-03-25
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draft-mjsraman-l3vpn-tictoc-label-hop-00
L3VPN Working Group                                        Shankar Raman
Internet-Draft                                Balaji Venkat Venkataswami
Intended Status: Experimental RFC                           Gaurav Raina
Expires: September 2012                                    I.I.T, Madras
                                                          March 26, 2012

   Securing Model-C Inter-Provider VPNs with Label Hopping and TicToc
                draft-mjsraman-l3vpn-tictoc-label-hop-00

Abstract

   In certain models of inter-provider Multi- Protocol Label Switching
   (MPLS) based Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) spoofing attack against
   VPN sites is a key concern. For example, MPLS-based VPN inter-
   provider model "C" is not favoured, owing to security concerns in the
   dataplane, even though it can scale with respect to maintenance of
   routing state. Since the inner labels associated with VPN sites are
   not encrypted during transmission, a man-in-themiddle attacker can
   spoof packets to a specific VPN site. In this paper, we propose a
   label-hopping technique which uses a set of randomized labels and a
   method for hopping amongst these labels using the time instant the
   packet leaves the port from a sending Provider Edge Router. To
   prevent the attacker from identifying the labels in polynomial time,
   we also use an additional label. The proposed technique can be
   applied to other variants of inter-provider MPLS based VPNs where
   Multi-Protocol exterior-BGP (MP-eBGP) multi-hop is used. As we
   address a key security concern, we can make a case for the deployment
   of MPLS based VPN inter-provider model "C". Specifically we use the
   TicToc based Precision Time Protocol LSP to provide the timing for
   determining the time instant at which the packet is sent from the
   remote end Provider Edge Router and for calculating when it must have
   left the that peer at the Provider Edge Router at the near end /
   receiving end.

Status of this Memo

   This Internet-Draft is submitted to IETF in full conformance with the
   provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

   Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering
   Task Force (IETF), its areas, and its working groups.  Note that
   other groups may also distribute working documents as
   Internet-Drafts.

   Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
   and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any
 

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   time.  It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
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   The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at
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Copyright and License Notice

   Copyright (c) 2012 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
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   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
     1.1  Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
   2.  Methodology of the proposal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
     2.1 PRE-REQUISITES FOR THE LABEL-HOPPING SCHEME  . . . . . . . .  5
       2.1.1 MPLS VPN model "C" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
       2.1.2 PE configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
       2.1.3 Control and data-plane flow  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6
     2.2 LABEL-HOPPING TECHNIQUE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7
       2.2.1 Algorithm 1 Control-plane PEne algorithm . . . . . . . .  7
       2.2.2 Algorithm 2 Control-plane PEfa algorithm . . . . . . . .  9
       2.2.3 Algorithm 3 Data-plane PEfa algorithm  . . . . . . . . . 10
       2.2.4 Algorithm 4 Data-plane PEne algorithm  . . . . . . . . . 11
       2.2.1 Illustration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
     2.3 SIMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
       2.3.1 Simulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
       2.3.2 Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
     2.4 CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
     2.5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
   3  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
 

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   4  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
   5  References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
     5.1  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
     5.2  Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
   Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

 

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1  Introduction

   Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) [6] technology uses fixed size
   labels to forward data packets between routers. By stacking labels,
   specific customer services such as Layer 3 Virtual Private Networks
   (L3-VPNs) based on Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) extensions are
   widely deployed in the Internet. BGP-based MPLS L3-VPN services are
   provided either on a single Internet Service Provider (ISP) core or
   across multiple ISP cores. The latter cases are known as inter-
   provider MPLS VPNs which are broadly categorized and referred to as
   models: "A", "B" and "C" [10].

   Model "A" uses back-to-back VPN Routing and Forwarding (VRF)
   connections between Autonomous System Border Routers (ASBRs). Model
   "B" uses eBGP redistribution of labelled VPN-IPv4 routes from
   Autonomous Systems (AS) to neighbouring AS. Model "C" uses multi-hop
   MP-eBGP redistribution of labelled VPN-IPv4 routes and eBGP
   redistribution of IPv4 routes from an AS to a neighbouring AS. Model
   "C" is more scalable for maintaining routing states and hence
   preferred for deployment in the Internet; refer to [2] for more
   details. Security issues in MPLS, especially MPLS-based VPNs has
   attracted attention [1]. The security of model "A" matches the
   single-AS standard proposed in [9]. Model "B" can be secured well on
   the control-plane, but on the data-plane the validity of the outer-
   most label (Label Distribution or Resource Reservation Protocol
   label) is not checked. This weakness could be exploited to inject
   crafted packets from inside an MPLS network core. A solution for this
   problem is proposed in [2]. Model "C" can be secured on the control-
   plane but has a security weakness on the data-plane. The Autonomous
   System Border Routers (ASBRs) do not have any VPN information and
   hence the inner-most label cannot be validated. In this case, the
   solution used for Model "B" cannot be applied. An attacker can
   exploit this weakness to send unidirectional packets into the VPN
   sites connected to the other AS. Therefore, ISPs using model "C" must
   either trust each other or not deploy it [4].

   Control plane security issue in model "C" can be resolved by using
   IPSec. If IPSec is used in the data-plane then configuring and
   maintaining key associations could be extremely cumbersome. Even
   though model "C" is highly scalable for carrying VPN Routing and
   Forwarding (VRF) routes, the vulnerability of the data-plane renders
   it unusable. The current recommendation is that model "C" must not be
   used. A simple solution to this problem is to filter all IP traffic
   with the exception of the required eBGP peering between the ASBRs,
   thereby preventing a large number of potential IP traffic-related
   attacks. However, controlling labelled packets is difficult. In model
   "C", there are at least two labels for each packet: the Provider Edge
   (PE) label, which defines the Label Switched Path (LSP) to the egress
 

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   PE, and the VPN label, which defines the VPN associated with the
   packet on the PE.

   In [5], the authors propose encryption techniques, such as IPSec, for
   securing the provider edge (PE) of the network. The authors also
   highlight that the processing capacity could be over-burdened.
   Further, if an attacker is located at the core of the network, or in
   the network between the providers that constitute an inter-provider
   MPLS VPN, then spoofing attacks are possible. The vulnerability of
   MPLS against spoofing attacks and performance impact of IPSec has
   been discussed in [3]. If the inner labels that identify packets
   going towards a L3 VPN site are spoofed, then sensitive information
   related to services available within the organizational servers can
   be compromised. As far as we know, there is no scheme available for
   installing an antispoofing mechanism for these VPN service labels.

   This paper outlines a label-hopping technique that helps to alleviate
   the data-plane security problem in model "C". We propose a scheme
   that changes the inner VPN labels dynamically based on the time
   instant the packet is sent from the remote-end PE router. By using a
   mix of algorithms and randomized labels, we can guard against
   spoofing and related attacks. The advantage of our scheme is that it
   can be used wherever Multiprotocol-external BGP (MP-eBGP) multi-hop
   scenarios arise.

1.1  Terminology

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
   document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119].

2.  Methodology of the proposal

2.1 PRE-REQUISITES FOR THE LABEL-HOPPING SCHEME

   In this section, we briefly review the network topology for model
   "C", the PE configuration and the control-plane exchanges needed for
   our proposed scheme.

2.1.1 MPLS VPN model "C"

   The reference MPLS-eBGP based VPN network for model "C" as described
   in [11] is shown in Figure 1, which also shows the control plane
   exchanges. The near-end PE (PEne) and far-end PE (PEfa) are connected
   through the inter-provider MPLS core. The VPN connectivity is
   established through a set of routers from different Autonomous
   Systems (AS) and their ASBRs. In the VPN, MP-eBGP updates are
 

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   exchanged for a set of Forward Equivalence Classes (FECs). These
   FECs, which have to be protected, originate from the prefixes behind
   PEne in a VPN site or a set of VPN sites.

2.1.2 PE configuration

   Various configurations are needed on the PEs to implement the label
   hopping scheme. A set of "m" algorithms that generate collision-free
   labels (universal hashing algorithms) are initially implemented in
   the PEs. Each algorithm is mapped to an index A = (a1; a2; . . . am)
   where m >= 1. The bit-selection pattern used by the PEs for
   generating the additional label is also configured. PEne must be
   configured for a FEC or a set of FECs represented by an aggregate
   label (per VRF label) which will use the label-hopping scheme. For
   each FEC or a set of FECs, a set of valid labels used for hopping, K
   = (k1; k2; k3; . . . kn) where n >= 1 and, ki != kj if i != j, is
   configured in PEne. For the set of labels K time slices TS = (TS1;
   TS2; TS3 . . . TSn) are also exchanged. These time slices can be
   periodically changed and a new set of TS ranging from TS1 to TSn can
   be exchanged after a time duration TS_Exchange_Interval which itself
   can be randomized from time to time.In the case of bi-directional
   security, the roles of the PEs can be reversed.

2.1.3 Control and data-plane flow

   Initially, set K, set TS and the bit-selection pattern used by the
   PEs are exchanged securely over the control-plane. Optionally an
   index from A, representing a hash-algorithm, could also be exchanged.
   We propose that only the index is exchanged between the PEs, as it
   enhances the security, for two reasons. First, the algorithm itself
   is masked from the attacker. Second, the algorithm can be changed
   frequently, and it would be difficult for the attacker to identify
   the final mapping that generates the label to be used for a packet.
   Figure 1 depicts this unidirectional exchange from PEne to PEfa.

   The control plane exchanges also involve a-priori constructing a
   Precision Time Protocol (PTP) LSP for deriving the clock at the PEne
   and PEfa for a forwarding direction. For the reverse direction
   another PTP LSP can be constructed as well. In the example that we
   illustrate we discuss about only a single forwarding direction. The
   PTP LSP port assigned for a forwarding direction is tied in with the
   configuration that goes into the inter-PEne-PEfa exchanges to setup
   the labelling control plane. So each pair of PEne and PEfa knows
   which PTP port and corresponding PTP LSP as per [12] to be used for
   the traffic. The PTP LSP is intended for providing the clocking
   between a pair of PEne and PEfa. The clock / timestamp derived from
   this PTP LSP is used in the data plane operation to determine which
   label is valid at that time instant as will be seen in the Algorithms
 

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   provided below.

   Once the secure control-plane exchanges are completed, we apply the
   label-hopping technique, and PEfa forwards the labelled traffic
   towards PEne through the intermediate routers using the label-
   stacking technique (Figure 2). The stacked labels along with the
   payload are transferred between the AS and ASBRs before they reach
   PEne. Using the label-hopping algorithm PEne verifies the integrity
   of labels. Upon validation, PEne uses the label information to
   forward the packets to the appropriate VPN service instance or site.
   This data-plane exchange from PEfa and PEne is depicted in Figure 3.
   We now present the label-hopping scheme.

2.2 LABEL-HOPPING TECHNIQUE

   In this section, we describe the label-hopping technique and discuss
   some implementation aspects.  Once a data packet destined to the PEne
   arrives at the PEfa (a) a first-label is chosen using set K and set
   TS.  and a first-label selected. Next (b) a selected number of bytes
   from the payload is chosen as input to the hashing algorithm. The
   hash-digest obtained as a result is used to obtain the additional
   label for the packet. The agreed bit-selection pattern is then
   applied on the hash-digest to obtain an additional label, which is
   then concatenated with the first label. Once PEne receives these
   packets it verifies both the labels.

   The implementation steps for the control-plane at the PEne and PEfa
   are given by Algorithms 1 and 2. The implementation steps for the
   data-plane at the PEfa and PEne are given by Algorithms 3 and 4.  

2.2.1 Algorithm 1 Control-plane PEne algorithm

   Require: 

   * FEC[] Forward Equivalence Classes, 
   * K[] valid labels, 
   * TS[] valid time slices, 
   * A[i] hash algorithm instance, 
   * I[] the bit-selection pattern chosen for the inner label.
   * PTP port and PTP LSP information

   Begin
   packet = makepacket(FEC,K, TS, A[i], I);
   CP-SendPacket(PEfa, MP-eBGP, packet);
   End

   Note: The values in K need not be contiguous and can be randomly
 

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   chosen from a pool of labels to remove coherence in the label space.
   Also the algorithms used could be either vendor dependent or a set of
   standard algorithms mapped the same way by the PEne and PEfa. If the
   two PEs involved are from different vendors we assume that a set of
   standard algorithms are used. 

   Note: Also the values in set TS should be of a coarse granularity of
   seconds recommended to be higher than 2 seconds.

    _______[AB1]________________         ___________[AB2]___________
   (       /  |                 )        (           /             )
   (      /   +-----------+      )       (          /              )
   ( Net:PE_ne        Net:PE_ne   )      (     Net:PE_ne  Net:PE_ne )
   ( LDP Label:POP    LDP Label:L1 )     (LDP Label:L3  LDP Label:L4)
   (        |                 |    )     (  |                |      )
   (        |                 |    )     (  |                |      )
   [CE1]<-[PE_ne]__________[ASBR1]<---->[ASBR2]__________[PE_fa]-->[CE2]
     |      ^                                                      ^  |
     |      +-------------- MP-eBGP IP-VPNV4 session --------------+  | 
     |                                                                |
      172.18.10.0/24                                      172.18.20.0/24
                                  NH: PE_ne                      
    <(FEC[] Forward Equivalence Classes), (K[] valid labels), 
     (TS[] valid time slices), (A[i] hash algorithm instance), 
     (I[] the bit-selection pattern chosen for the inner label),
     (PTP port and PTP LSP information)>.

         Exchange all details as per Algorithm 1.

        Figure 1: Control-plane exchanges for model C [11]

                <------- Label Stack ------>
   +----------+---------+---------+---------+--------+---------+
   | Frame L2 | Label 1 | Label 2 | Label 3 | L3     | Payload |
   | Header   |         |         |         | Header |         |
   +----------+---------+---------+---------+--------+---------+
                 S = 0     S = 0     S = 1
   Figure 2: Label stack using scheme outlined for Model "C"

 

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    _______[AB1]________________         ___________[AB2]___________
   (       /  |                 )        (         /                )
   (      /   +-----------+      )       (        /                 )
   (IL1:SL:172.18.10.1    L1:IL1:SL:172.18.10.1  /                  )
   (        |           L3:IL1:SL:172.18.10.1 <-+ L4:IL1:SL:172.18.10.1)
   (        |                 |    )     (  |                 |      )
   (        |                 |    )     (  |                 |      )
   [CE1]<-[PE_ne]__________[ASBR1]<---->[ASBR2]__________[PE_fa]-->[CE2]
     |                                                              |
   172.18.10.0/24        L2:IL1:SL:172.18.10.1            172.18.20.0/24

   Figure 3: Data-plane flow for model C [11]

2.2.2 Algorithm 2 Control-plane PEfa algorithm

   Require: None
   Begin
   packet = CP-ReceivePacket(PEne); // from PEne
   FEC[] = ExtractFEC(packet); // extract FECs
   K[] = ExtractLabels(packet); // extract the labels
   TS[] = ExtractTimeSlices(packet); // extract the time slices
   selectHashAlgorithm(A[i]); // hash algorithm to use
   RecordValues(FEC); // information for PEfa
   RecordValues(K);
   RecordValues(TS);
   RecordValues(I); // bit-selection pattern to be used
   End

 

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2.2.3 Algorithm 3 Data-plane PEfa algorithm

   Require: None

   Begin
   Initialization : 

   One Time Init :

   BeginInit

   CurrentTimeSliceIndex = 0;

   CurrentMasterClock = PTP LSP Master Clock Timestamp;

   CurrentTimeInstant = CurrentMasterClock;

   NextTimeInstant = CurrentMasterClock + TS[CurrentTimeSliceIndex];

   EndInit

   packet = DP-ReceivePacket(Interface);
   match = CheckFEC(packet); // Is the algorithm enabled?
   if match == 0 then
        return; // no match
   end if
   hash-digest = calculateHash(A[i],packet);
   if (CurrentTimeInstant <= NextTimeInstant ((+ or -) configured
   seconds)) then
        // do nothing;
   else
        CurrentTimeSliceIndex++;
        if CurrentTimeSliceIndex == n then // check to wrap around
                CurrentTimeSliceIndex = 0;
        end if
        CurrentTimeInstant = NextTimeInstant;
        NextTimeInstant = CurrentTimeInstant + TS[CurrentTimeSliceIndex];
   end if
   first-label = K[CurrentTimeSliceIndex];
   end if
   additional-label = process(hash-digest,I)
   DP-SendPacket(PEne, first-label, additional-label, packet);
   End

 

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2.2.4 Algorithm 4 Data-plane PEne algorithm

   Require: None
   Initialization : 
   One Time Init :

   BeginInit
   CurrentTimeSliceIndex = 0;
   CurrentMasterClock = PTP LSP Clock Timestamp;
   CurrentTimeInstant = CurrentMasterClock;
   NextTimeInstant = CurrentMasterClock + TS[CurrentTimeSliceIndex];
   EndInit

   Begin
   packet = DP-ReceivePacket(Interface);
   match = CheckFEC(packet);
   if match == 0 then
        return; //no match
   end if

   label-in-packet=extractPacket(packet, LABEL);
   inner-label=extractPacket(packet, INNER-LABEL);
   hash-digest=calculateHash(A[i],packet);
   if (CurrentTimeInstant <= NextTimeInstant ((+ or -) configured
   seconds)) then
        // do nothing;
   else
        CurrentTimeSliceIndex++;
           if CurrentTimeSliceIndex == n then // check to wrap around
                CurrentTimeSliceIndex = 0;
        end if
        CurrentTimeInstant = NextTimeInstant;
        NextTimeInstant = CurrentTimeInstant + TS[CurrentTimeSliceIndex];
   end if
   first-label-range = K[CurrentTimeSliceIndex (+or- 1)];
   additional-label = process(hash-digest,I)
   if label-in-packet ! in first-label-range then
        error(); return;
   end if
   if inner-label != additional-label then
        error(); return;
   end if
   DP-SendPacket(CE1, NULL, NULL, packet);
   End

   Here configured seconds could be a fraction as well. 

   In order to avoid too many processing cycles in the line cards of
 

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   PEne and PEfa, the hash- digest is calculated over a predefined size
   of the payload. An additional inner label is further added to enhance
   protection against spoofing attacks. With an increased label size, an
   attacker spends more than polynomial time to guess the VPN instance
   label for the site behind PEne. There could be two hash-digests that
   generate the same label. In this case, the two hash-digests is
   differentiated using the additional label. Collisions can be avoided
   by re-hashing or any other suitable techniques that are proposed in
   the literature [8]. If collisions exceed a certain number, then
   Algorithms 1 and 2 can be executed with a set of new labels.

2.2.1 Illustration 

   We now briefly illustrate the label-hopping scheme. In Figure 1,
   using Algorithms 1 and 2, a set of labels are forwarded from PEne to
   PEfa. The roles of PEne and PEfa are interchanged for reverse
   traffic. Figure 2 shows a packet from the data-plane for model "C",
   with the proposed scheme. In the figure, "Label 1" refers to the
   outermost label, while "Label 2" refers to the label generated from
   the set K and set TS and "Label 3" refers to an additional label
   generated as in Algorithm 3. This additional label has bottom of
   stack bit (denoted by S in Figure 2) set. These labels are stacked
   immediately onto the packet and the path labels for routing the
   packets to appropriate intermediary PEs are added. Figure 3 also
   shows these path labels used by the data packet to reach PEne. When
   the packet passes through the core of an intermediary AS involved in
   model "C", or through the network connecting the intermediary AS, the
   intruder or the attacker has the capability to inspect the labels and
   the payload. However, the proposed scheme prevents the attacker from
   guessing the right combination of the labels. We can increase the
   size of the additional inner-labels thereby reducing threats from
   polynomial time attacks.

2.3 SIMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

   In this section, we present the preliminary simulation results on
   performance, comparing the label-hopping technique with deep packet
   inspection where we encrypt and decrypt the complete packet. We also
   briefly highlight some implementation issues.

2.3.1 Simulation

   Implementing the label-hopping scheme for all set of FECs belonging
   to any or all VPN service instances may cause throughput degradation.
   This is because the hashdigest computation and derivation of the
   inner-label / additional inner label calculation can be computation
   intensive. We therefore compared our technique by choosing a part of
   the payload as input to our hashing algorithm. We simulated our
 

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   algorithm on a 2.5 GHz processor Intel dual processor quad core
   machine. We compared the performance of the label-hopping technique
   with a deep packet inspection technique where the complete packet was
   encrypted before transmission and decrypted on reception. These
   simulation figures indicate that we were able to process 10 million
   packets per second when we used 64-byte for hashing on a payload of
   size 1024 bytes. For a hash using 128-byte, we were able to process
   about 6.3 million packets per second. However with a deep packet
   inspection where we encrypted and decrypted the complete packet, we
   were able to process only about 1 million packets per second. In
   cases where performance becomes a bottleneck, this label-hopping
   scheme can be applied to specific traffic which are mission-critical,
   sensitive and most likely need to be protected as they travel from
   the PEfa to the PEne. Selective application of this service which
   could be offered as a premium for a selected set of FECs is a
   suitable option, there by protecting the traffic of organizations
   that are paranoid about the integrity of the switched traffic into
   their VPN sites.

2.3.2 Implementation

   We are modifying the open source Quagga router software on Linux to
   implement our scheme. One of the concerns in the scheme is the use of
   payload for generating the random inner label / additonal label. If
   the payload does not vary between two packets then the control-plane
   exchanges have to be renegotiated with a different algorithm to be
   used for the hashing for the subsequent packets. The other concern in
   the scheme is to tackle the problem of fragmentation that can occur
   along the path from PEfa to PEne. We can fragment the packet at PEfa
   and ensure that the size of the packet is fixed before transmission.
   We could also employ the Path Maximum Transfer Unit (Path-MTU)
   discovery process so that packets do not get split into multiple
   fragments. If packets are fragmented this scheme fails. However,
   networks usually employ the Path-MTU discovery process to prevent
   fragmentation and hence this problem may not occur.

2.4 CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK

   In this paper, we proposed a label-hopping scheme for inter-provider
   BGP-based MPLS VPNs that employ MPe-BGP multi-hop control-plane
   exchanges. In such an environment, without label-hopping, the data-
   plane is subject to spoofing attacks.

   The technique proposed uses a time-based label hopping scheme in
   addition to the use of the payload to generate an inner label to
   prevent attackers from easily deciphering labels and their respective
   VPNs. The scheme is less computationally intensive than encryption-
   based methods. It prevents the spoofed packets from getting into a
 

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   VPN site even if the attacker is in the core or at an intervening
   link between ISPs. In our scheme, we chose the time instant that the
   packet leaves the first Provider Edge on the far end and this time
   instant serves as the variable component that the attacker cannot
   decipher.  This requires the use of time synchronization mechanism.
   This is provided by the PTP LSP constructed for this purpose.

2.5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

   The authors would like to acknowledge the UK EP-SRC Digital Economy
   Programme and the Government of India Department of Science and
   Technology (DST) for funding given to the IU-ATC.

 

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3  Security Considerations

   The main objective of this proposal is to secure the Inter-Provider
   MPLS VPN Model-C data plane by preventing spoofing attacks and other
   unidirectional attacks against the customer site in this model. The
   suggestions and algorithms provided will mitigate these attacks to a
   large extent. The attacker will have many barriers to break through
   before he/she can successfully mount an attack against the customer
   site in this model with these algorithms implemented. The
   availability of TicToc as a method of clocking helps a great deal in
   this direction.

4  IANA Considerations

   Appropriate IANA indicators would have to be provided to exchange the
   set of values that Algorithm 1 outlines in order to implement this
   scheme.

5  References

5.1  Normative References

   [KEYWORDS] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.

   [RFC1776]  Crocker, S., "The Address is the Message", RFC 1776, April
              1 1995.

   [TRUTHS]   Callon, R., "The Twelve Networking Truths", RFC 1925,
              April 1 1996.

5.2  Informative References

              [1] S. Alouneh, A. En-Nouaary and A. Agarwal, "MPLS
              security: an approach for unicast and multicast
              environments", Annals of Telecommunications, Springer,
              vol. 64, no. 5, June 2009, pp. 391-400,
              doi:10.1007/s12243-009-0089-y.

              [2] M. H. Behringer and M. J. Morrow, "MPLS VPN security",
              Cisco Press, June 2005, ISBN-10: 1587051834.  

              [3] B. Daugherty and C. Metz, "Multiprotocol Label
              Switching and IP, Part 1, MPLS VPNS over IP Tunnels", IEEE
              Internet Computing, May-June 2005, pp. 68-72, doi:
 

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INTERNET DRAFT MPLS-VPNs using Label Hopping with TicToc      March 2012

              10.1109/MIC.2005.61.

              [4] L. Fang, N. Bita, J. L. Le Roux and J. Miles,
              "Interprovider IP-MPLS services: requirements,
              implementations, and challenges", IEEE Communications
              Magazine, vol. 43, no. 6, June 2005, pp. 119-128, doi:
              10.1109/MCOM.2005.1452840.

              [5] C. Lin and W. Guowei, "Security research of VPN
              technology based on MPLS", Proceedings of the Third
              International Symposium on Computer Science and
              Computational Technology (ISCSCT 10), August 2010, pp.
              168-170, ISBN- 13:9789525726107.

              [6] Y. Rekhter, B. Davie, E. Rosen, G. Swallow, D.
              Farinacci and D. Katz, "Tag switching architecture
              overview", Proceedings of the IEEE, vol. 85, no. 12,
              December 1997, pp. 1973-1983, doi:10.1109/5.650179.

              [7] E. Rosen and Y. Rekhter, "BGP/MPLS IP Virtual Private
              Networks (VPNs)", RFC 4364, Standard Track, February,
              2006.

              [8] T. H. Cormen, C. E. Leiserson, R. L. Rivest and C.
              Stein, "Introduction to algorithms", 3rd edition, MIT
              Press, September 2009, ISBN-10:0262033844.

              [9] C. Semeria, "RFC 2547bis: BGP/MPLS VPN fundamentals",
              Juniper Networks white paper, March 2001.

              [10] Advance MPLS VPN Security Tutorials [Online],
              Available:
              "http://etutorials.org/Networking/MPLS+VPN+security/
              Part+II+Advanced+MPLS+VPN+Security+Issues/", [Accessed:
              10th December 2011]

              [11] Inter-provider MPLS VPN models [Online], Available:
              "http://mpls-configuration-on-cisco-iossoftware. 
              org.ua/1587051990/ ch07lev1sec4.html", [Accessed 10th
              December 2011] 

              [12] Davari.S et.al, Transporting PTP messages (1588) over
              MPLS networks, "http://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-
              ietf-tictoc-1588overmpls/?include_text=1", Work in
              Progress, October 2011.

   [EVILBIT]  Bellovin, S., "The Security Flag in the IPv4 Header",
 

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              RFC 3514, April 1 2003.

   [RFC5513]  Farrel, A., "IANA Considerations for Three Letter
              Acronyms", RFC 5513, April 1 2009.

   [RFC5514]  Vyncke, E., "IPv6 over Social Networks", RFC 5514, April 1
              2009.

Authors' Addresses

   Shankar Raman
   Department of Computer Science and Engineering
   I.I.T Madras,
   Chennai - 600036
   TamilNadu,
   India.

   EMail: mjsraman@cse.iitm.ac.in

   Balaji Venkat Venkataswami
   Department of Electrical Engineering,
   I.I.T Madras,
   Chennai - 600036,
   TamilNadu,
   India.

   EMail: balajivenkat299@gmail.com

   Prof.Gaurav Raina
   Department of Electrical Engineering,
   I.I.T Madras,
   Chennai - 600036,
   TamilNadu,
   India.

   EMail: gaurav@ee.iitm.ac.in

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