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Why BGP-SRx is a Must-Have for Large Enterprises

March 01, 2023 ,

Why BGP-SRx is a Must-Have for Large Enterprises

Do you feel like your network is vulnerable to attack? The increasing security concerns in the Internet routing system, such as route hijacking, route leaks, and other attacks, can be scary. But never fear, BGP Secure Routing Extension (BGP-SRx) is here!

BGP SRx

BGP-SRx is an extension to the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) that provides additional security features for BGP-based routing in large-scale networks. It allows for Route Origin Validation (ROV), route filtering, path validation, and supports BGPsec, a new security protocol that provides end-to-end security for BGP routing.

What Does BGP-SRx Do?

  • Route Origin Validation (ROV)
  • BGP-SRx Route Filtering
  • BGP-SRx Path Validation
  • Secure Your Network with BGPsec

1. What is Route Origin Validation (ROV)?

ROV allows routers to verify the origin of a BGP route by checking whether the AS that claims to originate the route is authorized to do so. This prevents route hijacking and other attacks that rely on false route information.

BGP route declarations have an origin AS and AS path formation. The most widely known application of resource public key infrastructure is route origin validation (ROV). ROV is used to ensure that the autonomous system (AS) is authorized to announce specific prefixes. It does this by creating a list of the prefixes that an AS is allowed to declare, known as a Route Origin Authorization (ROA).

To execute ROV, a third-party software known as a validator is used to establish a RPKI-to-Router session with routers. The validator then verifies the data it has acquired from trust anchors. Once the data has been validated, a ROA can be used to generate route filters.

1.1 How ROV Can Help Improve Network Security

ROV is an important step in keeping networks secure. By verifying that the AS is authorized to announce a certain prefix, it helps to prevent possible malicious attacks from occurring. This is especially important for organizations that rely on BGP routing for their day-to-day operations. Organizations can use ROV to ensure that their networks are safe from malicious actors. This helps to protect the integrity of their data and can improve the overall performance of their networks.

2. Keeping Networks Secure with BGP-SRx Route Filtering

BGP-SRx allows routers to filter routes their attributes, such as the AS path, next hop, and community values. This helps to prevent route leaks and other attacks that exploit misconfigured or malicious routes.

Network security is a top priority for network operators, and one way to keep networks secure is through the use of BGP Secure Routing Extension (BGP-SRx). BGP-SRx provides route filtering mechanisms that help prevent route leaks and other attacks that can exploit misconfigured or malicious routes. Here’s a breakdown of the various route filtering mechanisms provided by BGP-SRx.

2.1 AS Path Filtering

BGP-SRx allows routers to filter routes based on their AS path. For example, a router can be configured to accept routes only from a certain AS or to reject routes with certain ASes in the path. This helps prevent route leaks and other attacks that exploit the AS path.

2.2 Next Hop Filtering

BGP-SRx also enables routers to filter routes based on their next hop. Network operators can configure routers to accept routes only from certain next hop addresses or to reject routes with certain next hop addresses. This helps that rely on false next hop information.

2.3 Community Filtering

Routers can also filter routes based on their community values, which are tags that can be attached to BGP routes to convey information to other routers. For instance, a router can be configured to accept routes only with certain community values or to reject routes with certain community values. This helps prevent malicious users from exploiting misconfigured or malicious community values.

2.4 Prefix Length Filtering

Finally, BGP-SRx allows routers to filter routes based on their prefix length. For example, a router can be configured to accept only more specific routes (i.e., routes with longer prefix lengths) or to reject routes with very long or very short prefix lengths. This helps prevent attackers from exploiting misconfigured or malicious prefixes.

Route filtering is an important security mechanism, but it needs to be implemented carefully. Network operators should consider the tradeoffs between security and connectivity when configuring their routing policies. It's also important to regularly monitor these policies to ensure they are up to date and effective.

3. BGP-SRx Path Validation

Keeping Up with BGP Secure Routing Extension (BGP-SRx) Path Validation provides mechanisms for validating the entire BGP path of a route, including intermediate ASes. This helps to prevent attacks that modify the AS path or inject false routes.

When it comes to keeping your network safe and secure, BGP Secure Routing Extension (BGP-SRx) is here to lend a helping hand. BGP-SRx provides mechanisms for validating the entire BGP path of a route, including intermediate ASes, which helps to protect against attacks that modify the AS path or inject false routes into the BGP routing system.

3.1 Let’s Take a Closer Look at Path Validation

Path validation is achieved through three distinct mechanisms: Route Origin Validation (ROV), Path Segment Protection (PSP), and Autonomous System Provider Authorization (ASPA). Let’s briefly explore what each of these have to offer.

Route Origin Validation (ROV): ROV prevents route hijacking and other attacks by verifying the origin of a BGP route and ensuring that the AS that claims to originate the route is, in fact, authorized to do so.

Path Segment Protection (PSP): PSP adds digital signatures to BGP updates as they traverse the network and validates each AS in the path. PSP also provides protection against “man-in-the-middle” attacks.

Autonomous System Provider Authorization (ASPA): ASPA helps prevent attacks that exploit misconfigured or malicious ASes by providing a way for ASes to authorize their upstream and downstream neighbors to advertise their routes.

BGPsec: BGPsec is a security protocol that provides end-to-end security for BGP routing by adding digital signatures to BGP updates. It is designed to be backwards-compatible with existing BGP implementations, and it provides more robust security than PSP.

Path validation is an essential security measure, but it requires network operators to take a proactive approach to ensure its success. Network operators should be aware of the tradeoffs between security and connectivity when implementing path validation and should collaborate with their upstream and downstream neighbors to ensure their policies are consistent and effective.

4. Secure Your Network with BGPsec

Are you looking for a way to secure your network and protect it from malicious attacks? Look no further than BGPsec, a new security protocol that provides end-to-end security for BGP routing. Part of the BGP Secure Routing Extension (BGP-SRx), BGPsec adds digital signatures to BGP updates to ensure their authenticity and integrity.

4.1 How BGPsec Works

BGPsec works by adding digital signatures to BGP updates as they traverse the network. These signatures are generated using a public-key infrastructure (PKI) that ensures the authenticity of the signatures and the keys used to generate them. BGPsec signatures provide end-to-end security for BGP routing, meaning that they are verified by each router in the path of the BGP update.

4.2 Benefits of BGPsec

End-to-end Security: BGPsec provides end-to-end security for BGP routing, meaning that each router in the path of the BGP update verifies the digital signatures. This ensures that the update has not been modified in transit and that its origin is authentic.

Stronger Security: BGPsec provides stronger security guarantees than other BGP-SRx mechanisms, such as Route Origin Validation (ROV) and Path Segment Protection (PSP). BGPsec provides protection against a wider range of attacks, including attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in BGP implementations.

Backwards Compatibility: BGPsec is designed to be backwards-compatible with existing BGP implementations, meaning that it can be deployed incrementally without requiring a complete overhaul of the BGP infrastructure.

Securing your network with BGPsec is an important step towards protecting yourself and your business from malicious actors. However, it requires the collaboration and participation of network operators, service providers, and equipment vendors to be fully effective. 

Network operators should carefully consider the tradeoffs between security and connectivity when implementing BGPsec, and they should work closely with their upstream and downstream neighbors to ensure that their BGPsec policies are consistent and effective.

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