Network Working Group Jari Arkko
INTERNET-DRAFT Vesa Torvinen
<draft-arkko-sip-sec-agree-01.txt> Ericsson
30 February 2002 Tao Haukka
Nokia
Sanjoy Sen
Lee Valerius
Nortel Networks
Security Mechanism Agreement for SIP Sessions
1. Status of this Memo
This document is an Internet-Draft and is in full conformance with all
provisions of Section 10 of RFC2026. Internet-Drafts are working docu¡
ments of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), its areas, and
its working groups. Note that other groups may also distribute work¡
ing documents as Internet-Drafts.
Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months
and may be updated, replaced, or made obsolete by other documents at
any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference
material or to cite them other than as work in progress.
The list of current Internet-Drafts may be found at
http://www.ietf.org/ietf/1id-abstracts.txt
The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories may be found at
http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html.
The distribution of this memo is unlimited. It is filed as <draft-
arkko-sip-sec-agree-01.txt>, and expires August 30, 2002. Please
send comments to the author or to SIPPING or SIP working group.
2. Abstract
SIP has a number of security mechanisms for hop-by-hop and end-to-end
protection. Some of the security mechanisms have been built in to the
SIP protocol, such as HTTP authentication or secure attachments. In
these mechanisms there are even alternative algorithms and parameters.
Currently, HTTP authentication is known to be vulnerable to so called
Bidding-Down attacks where a Man-In-The-Middle attacker simply modi¡
fies messages in a way that leads parties to believe the other side
only supports weaker algorithms than they actually do. Also, currently
it isn't possible to select which security mechanisms to use over a
connection. In particular, even if some mechanisms such as OPTIONS
were used to make this selection, the selection would be again vulner¡
able against the Bidding-Down attack. On small networks configuration
and software update methods are sufficient to deal with this type of
attacks, but on large networks that evolve over time, the security
implications are serious: either you deny connections from large
amounts of older equipment, or risk losing all value of new algorithms
through attacks that are trivial to the attackers.
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3. Contents
1. Status of this Memo..................................1
2. Abstract.............................................1
3. Contents.............................................2
4. Introduction.........................................2
5. The Problem..........................................3
6. Alternative Solutions................................4
7. Proposed Solution....................................5
7.1. Design...............................................5
7.2. Header descriptions..................................6
8. Examples.............................................7
8.1. Selecting Between New and Old Mechanisms.............7
8.2. Selections Along the Path............................8
9. Security Considerations..............................10
10. Conclusions..........................................10
11. Modifications........................................10
12. Acknowledgments......................................11
13. References...........................................11
4. Introduction
Traditionally, security protocols have included facilities to agree on
the used mechanisms, algorithms, and other security parameters. The
reason for this is that experience has shown algorithm development
uncovers problems in old algorithms and produces new ones. Further¡
more, different algorithms are suitable for different situations. Typ¡
ically, protocols also select other parameters beyond algorithms at
the same time.
The purpose of this paper is to study whether similar functionality is
necessary in SIP [1]. SIP has some security functionality built-in
such as different variants of HTTP authentication [4], secure attach¡
ments such as S/MIME, and can also use underlying security protocols
such as IPSec/IKE [2], TLS [3]. Some of the built-in security func¡
tionality has also alternative algorithms and other parameters. While
some work within the SIP Working Group has been looking towards reduc¡
ing the number of recommended security solutions (e.g. recommend just
one lower layer security protocol), we can not expect to cut down the
number of items in the whole list to one. There will still be multiple
security solutions in SIP. Furthermore, given that security work
around SIP is in its early stages, it is likely that new methods will
appear in the future, to complete the methods that exist today.
Chapter 5 shows that without a secure method to choose between secu¡
rity mechanisms and/or their parameters, SIP is vulnerable to certain
attacks. As the HTTP authentication RFC [4] points out, authentication
and integrity protection using multiple alternative methods and algo¡
rithms is vulnerable to Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks. More seri¡
ously, it is hard to know if a SIP peer entity truly can't perform
e.g. auth-int QOP in Digest, TLS, or S/MIME, or if a MITM attack is in
progress. In small workstation networks these issues are not very rel¡
evant, but the deployment of hundreds of millions of small devices
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with little or no possibilities for coordinated security policies, let
alone software upgrades makes these issues much worse. This conclusion
is supported by the requirements from 3GPP [6].
Chapter 6 outlines some possible solutions to these problems, and
Chapter 7 documents our proposed solution.
5. The Problem
SIP has alternative security mechanisms such as HTTP authentication /
integrity protection, lower layer security protocol(s), S/MIME. It is
likely that their use will continue in the future. SIP security is
developing, and is likely to see also new solutions in the future, for
example along the introduction of SIP for new network access technolo¡
gies. Future services may also bring with themselves different secu¡
rity requirements and methods.
Deployment of large number of SIP-based consumer devices such as 3GPP
terminals requires all network devices to be able to accommodate both
current and future mechanisms; there is no possiblity for instanta¡
neous change since the new solutions are coming gradually in as new
standards and product releases occur. It isn't even possible to
upgrade some of the devices without getting completely new hardware.
So, the basic security problem that such a large SIP-based network
must consider, how do security mechanisms get selected? It would be
desirable to take advantage of new mechanisms as they become available
in products.
Firstly, we need to know somehow what security should be applied, and
preferably find this out without too many additional roundtrips.
Secondly, selection of security mechanisms MUST be secure. Tradition¡
ally, all security protocols use a secure form of negotiation. For
instance, after establishing mutual keys through Diffie-Hellman, IKE
sends hashes of the previously sent data -- including the offered
crypto mechanisms. This allows the peers to detect if the initial,
unprotected offers were tampered with.
The security implications of this are subtle, but do have a fundamen¡
tal importance in building large networks that change over time. Given
that the hashes are produced also using algorithms agreed in the first
unprotected messages, one could ask what the difference in security
really is. First, assuming hashing is mandatory and only secure algo¡
rithms are used, we still need to prevent MITM attackers from modify¡
ing other parameters, such as whether encryption is provided or not.
Secondly, it turns out, however, that there indeed is still a differ¡
ence even for hashes. Let us first assume two peers capable of using
both strong and weak security. If the initial offers are not protected
in any way, *any* attacker can easily "downgrade" the offers by remov¡
ing the strong options. This would force the two peers to use weak
security between them. But if the offers are protected in some way --
such as by hashing, or repeating them later when the selected security
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is really on -- the situation is different. It would not be sufficient
for the attacker to modify a single message. Instead, the attacker
would have to modify both the offer message, as well as the message
that contains the hash/repetition. More importantly, the attacker
would have to forge the weak hash / security that is present in the
second message, and would have to do so in real time between the sent
offers and the later messages. Otherwise, the peers would notice that
the hash is incorrect.
In conclusion, the security difference is making a trivial attack pos¡
sible versus demanding the attacker to break algorithms. An example of
where this has a serious consequence is when a network is first
deployed with integrity protection (such as HTTP Digest [4, 7]), and
then later new devices are added that support also encryption (such as
S/MIME [1]). In this situation, an insecure negotiation procedure
allows attackers to trivially force even new devices to use only
integrity protection.
It can be asked why the devices would be allowing both weak and strong
security in the first place. The answer lies in understanding how net¡
works are deployed, and in the logistical and economical problems in
upgrading global networks instantanously. These issues are of particu¡
larly high relevance for networks with a large number of devices, such
as the third generation mobile networks. Once millions or even hun¡
dreds of millions of devices have been sold to customers, it becomes
impossible to replace them with new devices. Therefore, network equip¡
ment such as SIP proxies must continue to accept even the older
equipement that are less capable in terms of security. Similarly,
clients wishing to stay in contact regardless of who they call or
where they are, have a need to allow both weaker and stronger mecha¡
nisms.
Therefore, we feel that in large networks it is necessary to include
some security agreement mechanisms in SIP.
6. Alternative Solutions
Basic SIP features such as OPTIONS and Require, Supported headers are
capable of informing peers about various capabilities including secu¡
rity mechanisms. However, the straightforward use of these features
does not guarantee a secured agreement. (It might be possible to add
some new behaviour rules for these headers to allow their use also in
secure manner. However, it appears that in order to introduce secu¡
rity, the headers must be repeated under the selected security protec¡
tion. In order for the repetition to be useful, either the server
would have to be stateful, or the client must repeat the server's
list. Stateful servers are not desireable and neither to the Supported
or the Require header appears suitable for the client to describe
server's capabalities. Hence, the use of these headers is not desire¡
able.)
HTTP Digest algorithm lists [4] are not secure for picking among the
digest integrity algorithms, as is described in the RFC itself.
Enhanced HTTP Digest [7] corrects this problem. More seriously,
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neither the original or Enhanced Digest has no provisions for allowing
encryption to be negotiated. Hence, it would be hard to turn on possi¡
ble future encryption schemes in a secure manner.
The SIP Security Framework [5] also allows for the agreement about the
used security mechanisms. However, it does not do this in a secure
manner.
7. Proposed Solution
In our opinion, the optimal solution to the SIP security negotiation
problem has the following properties:
(a) It allows the selection of security mechanisms, such as lower
layer security protocols or secure attachments. It also allows the
selection of individual algorithms and parameters where the security
functions are integrated in SIP (such as in the case of HTTP authenti¡
cation or secure attachments).
(b) It allows both end-to-end and hop-by-hop negotiation.
(c) It is secure, i.e. prevents bidding down attacks.
(d) It is capable of running without additional roundtrips. This is
important in the cellular environment, where an additional roundtrip
could cost 1000 to 1500 ms for the call set up delay.
(e) It does not introduce any additional state to servers and proxies.
7.1. Design
We propose a scheme - a bit like the one in the framework draft [5] -
where security features are represented as regular option tags in SIP.
If there will ever be any features that require parameters such as key
lengths, the option tags can be associated with an optional value
field. The clients MUST announce a list of supported option tags in
their first request. The servers MUST use this information in prepar¡
ing their response, such as including a challenge if the first com¡
monly supported mechanism is Enhanced Digest. It isn't necessary, how¡
ever, for the server to remember the clients preferences beyond the
response.
The servers MUST announce a list of supported option tags in their
first response. This list MUST NOT depend on the contents of the list
sent by the client in the first message. Typically, the server's list
of supported option tags is static. In the client's second request,
the client MUST return the server's list.
The client makes the selection of the used security mechanism based on
its own preferences and the server's list. The client MUST start to
use the selected security mechanism from the second request message.
The security of the agreement comes from the client's repetition of
the server's list of option tags in the second request message. The
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server can then proceed to verify that the list has not been modified.
If a modification is detected, the server returns on error or discon¡
nects. The server MUST send a positive answer if and only if the list
was not modified. The server does not need to memorize the lists it
has sent in earlier responses, provided that the set of security mech¡
anisms supported by the server is constant, which seems like a reason¡
able assumption.
Attackers could also try to modify the repeated list in the second
request from the client. However, if the selected security mechanism
uses encryption this may not be possible, and if it uses integrity
protection any modifications will be detected by the server. In order
to ensure this, all clients that implement this specification MUST
select Enhanced Digest [7], S/MIME, TLS, IPsec, or any stronger methed
for the protection of the second request.
Attackers could also try to modify the client's list of security mech¡
anisms in the first message. This would either be revealed to the par¡
ticipants, because of unexpected challenges in the server's first
response, or would have no effect because the client picks its own
security method only based on its local information and the server's
static list.
The client's first protected request can be a real request such as
INVITE, as the server MUST check the correctness of the lists before
it proceeds to execute the requested operation.
Our approch explicitly lists the recipients of the security method
agreement. This is intended to allow a negotiation of the first-hop
security mechanism while at the same time running e.g. a REGISTER with
Digest authentication to a server some hops further away.
This approach could also be trivially extended to support security
agremeent over a full path. However, since the sips: URI scheme
already solves the most pressing issue in that area we have chosen to
not support this.
7.2. Header descriptions
The Security-Method header indicates who wants security towards whom,
and what kind of security. The following ABNF describes the syntax of
this header and extends section 25.1 in [1]:
"Security-Method" HCOLON to-uri COMMA from-uri COMMA mechlist
Where
to-uri = addr-spec
from-uri = addr-spec
mechlist = mechopts *( COMMA mechopts )
mechopts = mechtag *( SEMI mechtag )
mechtag = option-tag [EQUAL token]
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The meaning of these fields is as follows:
- The "to-uri" indicates the desired receiver of the information. The
value of this field should be a SIP URI. When sent by a client, the
value would typically (but not necessarily) contain just the host and
port number parts.
- The "from-uri" indicates the sender of the security agreement infor¡
mation. The value of this is also a SIP URI. When sent by a client,
the value would typically (but not necessarily) include a username
part.
- The "mechlist" represents a list of security mechanisms, all of
which must be supported simultaneously on the same connection (such as
both Digest TLS).
- The "mechopts" represents a list of alternative security mechanisms.
Inside one "mechlist" entry we can have multiple alternative mecha¡
nisms and algorithms. For instance, the the list "org.iana.sip.edi¡
gest, org.iana.sip.smime; org.iana.sip.ike" would represent the
requirement that one must run simultaneously IPsec/IKE and either HTTP
Digest or S/MIME.
The "mechtag" represent one individual mechanism. The "option-tag"
syntax is used for these in order to facilitiate the easy addition of
new mechanisms. All option tags starting with "org.iana.sip." MUST be
documented in Internet Drafts or RFCs. The initial list of standard¡
ized option-tags is presented below:
org.iana.sip.edigest: Extended HTTP Digest authentication
org.iana.sip.tls: TLS
org.iana.sip.smime: S/MIME
org.iana.sip.ike: IPsec/IKE
The optional "token" parameter associated with an "option-tag" can be
used to assign a parameter value to certain options. This may be use¡
ful to select algorithms, key lengths, or other similar parameters in
mechanisms integrated to SIP. No such parameters are defined for the
four above mechanisms, however.
Multiple instances of the same header field can appear in SIP mes¡
sages. Typically, the client inserts its own Security-Method header
when it sends a request, and the server/proxy adds its own response.
The parameters are in all cases set in an appropriate manner to indi¡
cate in the "to-uri" paremeter the party who inserted the header. Or
rather -- since the client is copying some of the server's responses
-- whose security capabilities the header applies to.
8. Examples
8.1. Selecting Between New and Old Mechanisms
In this example we demonstrate the use of the framework for securing
the first hop using some security mechanism, without knowing
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beforehand which methods the server supports. We assume that the
client is not willing to reveal any information on what it intends to
do, so it uses OPTIONS in the first message that is sent in the clear.
The example starts by a client sending a message to the server, indi¡
cating that it is of the new variant that supports TLS in Step 1. In
Step 2, the server responds that with it own list of security mecha¡
nisms -- Enhanced Digest and TLS in this case -- and the peers start
only common security service i.e. TLS at Step 3. In Step 4, the client
resends the server's Security-Method header, which the server veri¡
fies, and responds with 200 OK.
1. Client -> Server:
OPTIONS server SIP/2.0
Security-Method: sip:client, sip:server, org.iana.sip.tls
2. Server -> Client:
200 OK
Security-Method: sip:server, sip:client, org.iana.sip.edigest,
org.iana.sip.tls
3. Security handshake at a lower layer i.e. TLS
4. Client -> Server:
INVITE server SIP/2.0
Security-Method: sip:server, sip:client, org.iana.sip.edigest,
org.iana.sip.tls
5. Server -> Client:
200 OK
In the example we have omitted the returned values of Security-Method
in replies for clarity. Typically in SIP the servers do not remove
header fields as they answer, they only add new headers.
If this example was run without Security-Method in Step 2, the client
would not know what kind of security the other one supports, and would
be forced to error-prone trials.
More seriously, if the Security-Method was omitted in Step 4, the
whole process would be prone for MITM attacks. An attacker could spoof
"ICMP Port Unreachable" message on the trials, or remove the stronger
security option from the header in Step 1, therefore substantially
reducing the security.
8.2. Selections Along the Path
This example attempts to show how selections can be made e.g. between
a client and the first-hop proxy while the actual SIP messages are
still destinated to a server further on in the network. This example
also demonstrates how we can fulfill the 3GPP requirements on being
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able to securely agree on the security mechanism between the client
and its first hop proxy, without adding roundtrips.
In 3GPP networks, the clients make REGISTER operation in their first
message, in order to inform the home network that they are at a par¡
ticular location. Due to the properties of 3GPP radio interfaces, it
is necessary to optimize the number of roundtrips needed in the whole
process. Therefore, we try to parallelize the tasks. It should be
noted that the same functionality could be achieved using additional
OPTIONS messages. We assume that 3GPP uses Enhanced HTTP Digest
authentication to protect signaling in the first hop. As Enhanced
Digest can securely negotiate the used algorithms it is not necessary
to use this method for that. However, as Enhanced Digest does not pro¡
vide confidentiality, it may be necessary to upgrade to the use of TLS
or S/MIME in future terminals.
The example starts by an old version client coming to a new area and
learning the address of the local proxy. The proxy is of a newer ver¡
sion, so it supports multiple security mechanisms. The client also
knows its home server address. We assume that some trust has already
been established between the client and the home, and between the
client and the proxy. Perhaps this trust is in the form of the nodes
belonging under the same PKI, or having distributed shared secrets
beforehand.
In Step 1 the client contacts the proxy using a REGISTER message. We
omit the details of the communications with the home server in this
discussion, but the proxy forwards the messages onwards in Step 2. In
Step 3, the proxy responds indicating that it is of the new variant
that supports Enhanced Digest, S/MIME, and TLS for the protection of
the first hop. In Step 4, the client selects the first method is sup¡
ports (enhanced digest in this case), the protection is turned on and
the client sends the next round of REGISTER messages to the server.
This includes the repetition of the original security capabilities of
the server. The server verifies this list, and in Step 6 it responds
with a 200 OK.
1. Client -> Proxy:
REGISTER server SIP/2.0
Security-Method: sip:client, sip:proxy, org.iana.sip.edigest
2. Proxy communicates with the Server.
3. Proxy -> Client:
401 Authentication Required
(Enhanced digest challenge to the client from the proxy)
Security-Method: sip:proxy, sip:client, org.iana.sip.smime,
org.iana.sip.tls, org.iana.sip.edigest
4. Client -> Proxy:
REGISTER server SIP/2.0
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(Enhanced digest response to the proxy)
Security-Method: sip:proxy, sip:client, org.iana.sip.smime,
org.iana.sip.tls, org.iana.sip.edigest
5. Proxy communicates with the Server.
6. Proxy -> Client:
200 OK
(Some enhanced digest headers from the proxy)
As in the previous example, if this was run without Security-Method in
Step 3, the client would not know what kind of algorithms the server
supports. In this example we demonstrate also the need for the client
to send its own mechanism list in Step 1. If this wasn't known to the
proxy when it responds in Step 3, it could not have provided a suit¡
able Enhanced Digest challenge because at that point the proxy would
not have known if the client supports that.
As in the previous example, removing the repetition of the Security-
Method header in Step 4 would open the system to MITM attacks.
9. Security Considerations
This draft is about making it possible to select between various SIP
security mechanisms in a secure manner. In particular, the method pre¡
sented here allow current networks using e.g. Digest later securely
upgrade to e.g. S/MIME without requiring a simultaneous modification
in all equipment.
The method presented in this draft is secure only if the weakest pro¡
posed mechanism offers at least integrity protection. Therefore, we
recommend that at leat Enhanced HTTP authentication SHOULD be used in
conjunction with our approach.
10. Conclusions
The presented methods appear to secure the selection between different
security mechanisms. This is important for deployments in large net¡
works. The authors seek comments on the proposed approach, and encour¡
age security analysis of both current SIP and the proposal.
11. Modifications
The -01 version of this draft introduced the following modifications:
- Reversed approach to make servers stateless
- Removed discussion of the use of this for Digest algorithm selec¡
tion, since Enhanced Digest already has bidding-down protection
- Renamed org.iana.sip.digest to org.iana.sip.edigest and removed the
parameters, as we can rely on Enhanced Digest to perform the algorithm
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selection.
- Removed agreements for full paths.
- Simplified syntax
12. Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Rolf Blom, James Undery, Jonathan Rosenberg,
Hugh Shieh, Gunther Horn, Krister Boman, David Castellanos-Zamora, Aki
Niemi, Miguel Garcia, Valtteri Niemi, and members of the 3GPP SA3
group for interesting discussions in this problem space.
13. References
[1] Handley, M., Schulzrinne, H, Schooler, E. and Rosenberg, J., "SIP:
Session Initiation Protocol", Work In Progress, draft-ietf-sip-
rfc2543bis-08.txt, IETF, February 2002.
[2] S. Kent, R. Atkinson, "Security Architecture for the Internet Pro¡
tocol", RFC 2401, November 1998.
[3] T. Dierks, C. Allen, "The TLS Protocol Version 1.0", RFC 2246,
January 1999.
[4] Franks, J. et al, "HTTP Authentication: Basic and Digest Access
Authentication", RFC 2617, June 1999.
[5] M. Thomas, "SIP Security Framework", draft-thomas-sip-sec-frame¡
work-00.txt. Work In Progress, IETF, July 2001.
[6] M. Garcia, D. Mills, G. Bajko, G. Mayer, F. Derome, H. Shieh, A.
Allen, S. Chotai, K. Drage, J. Bharatia, "3GPP requirements on SIP",
draft-garcia-sipping-3gpp-reqs-00.txt. Work In Progress, IETF, October
2001.
[7] J. Undery, S. Sen, V. Torvinen, "SIP Digest Authentication: Exten¡
sions to HTTP Digest Authentication", draft-undery-sip-auth-00.txt.
Work In Progress, IETF, January 2002.
14. Author's Address
Jari Arkko, Vesa Torvinen
Ericsson
02420 Jorvas
Finland
EMail: Jari.Arkko@ericsson.com, Vesa.Torvinen@ericsson.fi
Tao Haukka
Nokia
Finland
EMail: Tao.Haukka@nokia.com
Sanjoy Sen
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Nortel Networks
2735-B Glenville Drive
Richardson, TX 75082, USA
EMail: sanjoy@nortelnetworks.com
Lee Valerius
Nortel Networks
2201 Lakeside Blvd
Richards, TX 75082, USA
EMail: valerius@nortelnetworks.com
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