Security of Messages Exchanged between Servers and Relay Agents
RFC 8213
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) B. Volz
Request for Comments: 8213 Y. Pal
Category: Standards Track Cisco Systems
ISSN: 2070-1721 August 2017
Security of Messages Exchanged between Servers and Relay Agents
Abstract
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv4 (DHCPv4) has no
guidance for how to secure messages exchanged between servers and
relay agents. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6
(DHCPv6) states that IPsec should be used to secure messages
exchanged between servers and relay agents but does not require
encryption. With recent concerns about pervasive monitoring and
other attacks, it is appropriate to require securing relay-to-relay
and relay-to-server communication for DHCPv6 and relay-to-server
communication for DHCPv4.
Status of This Memo
This is an Internet Standards Track document.
This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has
received public review and has been approved for publication by the
Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Further information on
Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 7841.
Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8213.
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Volz & Pal Standards Track [Page 1]
RFC 8213 DHCP Relay/Server Security August 2017
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................2
2. Requirements Language and Terminology ...........................3
3. Security of Messages Exchanged between Servers and Relay
Agents ..........................................................3
4. Security Considerations .........................................5
5. IANA Considerations .............................................5
6. References ......................................................6
6.1. Normative References .......................................6
6.2. Informative References .....................................6
Acknowledgments ....................................................8
Authors' Addresses .................................................8
1. Introduction
The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv4 (DHCPv4) [RFC2131]
and the Bootstrap Protocol [RFC1542] have no guidance for how to
secure messages exchanged between servers and relay agents. The
Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for IPv6 (DHCPv6) [RFC3315]
states that IPsec should be used to secure messages exchanged between
servers and relay agents but does not recommend encryption. With
recent concerns about pervasive monitoring [RFC7258], it is
appropriate to require use of IPsec with encryption for relay-to-
server communication for DHCPv4 and require use of IPsec with
encryption for relay-to-relay and relay-to-server communication for
DHCPv6.
This document specifies the optional requirements for relay agent and
server implementations to support IPsec authentication and encryption
and recommends that operators enable this IPsec support.
Volz & Pal Standards Track [Page 2]
RFC 8213 DHCP Relay/Server Security August 2017
2. Requirements Language and Terminology
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