Re: X#NodeArchitecture draft - next steps

[email protected] wrote:

> Dave,
>
> > New proposed text:
> >
> > 3.  Security Considerations
> >
> >    In certain environments where security is a primary concern,
> >    the use of this extension key may not be appropriate as it
> >    reveals specific details about an iSCSI node.  For these
> >    environments, nodes implementing this public extension key
> >    MUST provide a method to disable sending the key.  In
> >    addition to providing a disable mechanism, security sensitive
> >    environments SHOULD consider use of IPsec, as specified in
> >    RFC 3720 and 3723, as a means to shield the contents of this
> >    key from observers of network traffic.
>
> Good start, needs editing to something like:
>
>     This extension key transmits specific implementation details
>     about the node that sends it; such details may be considered
>     sensitive in some environments.  For example, if a certain
>     software or firmware version is known to contain security
>     weaknesses, announcing the presence of that version via this
>     key may not be desirable.  The countermeasures for this
>     security concern are:
>
How about another option:
             - sending less detailed information in the key values

Security concerns could also be lessened by sending less
detailed information, such as omitting the version numbers of
things (for example, send "Microsoft Windows, software initiator"
instead of  "Microsoft Windows 2003, software initiator version 1.2.3.4").
I will have to rework the format of the key a bit but this seems
worth doing.  Hopefully there is a reasonable level of information
that most people will find acceptable transmitting by default while
not greatly compromising security.


>         - not sending the extension key, or
>




>         - using IPsec to provide confidentiality for the iSCSI
>                 connection on  which the key is sent (see RFC 3720
>                 and RFC 3723).
>     To support the first countermeasure, all implementations of
>     this extension key MUST provide an administrative mechanism
>     to disable sending the key.
>
This sentence then becomes something like.

To support the first and second countermeasures, all implementations
of this extension key SHOULD provide a way to configure different
levels of detail in the extension key values and MUST provide an
administrative mechanism to disable sending the key.

> Reasons for the edits:
> - Focus on specific threat, not general "where security is a primary
>         concern".
> - Make the "MUST" for disabling transmission of the key globally
>         applicable, vs. possibly scoped to specific environments.
>         This is a "MUST implement" requirement, not "MUST use".
> - Avoid the "SHOULD ... use ... IPsec" phrasing, at least for now.
>
> > New proposed text:
> >
> >    The following described Public Extension Key is sent during
> >    the login phase of an iSCSI normal session.  It is important
> >    to note that the proper use of this key is to provide enhanced
> >    logging and support capabilities, and for better understanding
> >    of customer environments.  Functional behavior of the iSCSI
> >    node MUST NOT depend on the presence, absence, or content of
> >    the key.  The key MUST NOT be used by iSCSI nodes for things
> >    such as interoperability, performance, exclusion or deception
> >    of other nodes, or other uses not defined here.  To enforce
> >    proper use, iSCSI nodes MUST NOT allow user modification of
> >    the key value(s), and SHOULD set the value automatically based
> >    on standard internal interfaces.
>
> This one is close - 3 suggestions:
> - "proper" -> "intended"
> - remove "and for better understanding of customer environments" or
>         replace it with something more specific like "and to enable
>         collection of iSCSI implementation usage information"
> - The "such as ... or other uses not defined here" is not sufficiently
>         precise.
> The last one is crucial - it needs to be easy for an implementer to
> determine whether s/he's stepped over this line.
>
> I'm comfortable with not mentioning the JavaScript and browser versions
> mess, as I think we all know that it's the motivating example for this
> text.
>
> Thanks,
> --David (as individual participant, *not* as WG chair)
> ----------------------------------------------------
> David L. Black, Senior Technologist
> EMC Corporation, 176 South St., Hopkinton, MA  01748
> +1 (508) 293-7953             FAX: +1 (508) 293-7786
> [email protected]        Mobile: +1 (978) 394-7754
> ----------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Dave Wysochanski [mailto:[email protected]]
> > Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 9:35 PM
> > To: Black, David
> > Cc: [email protected]
> > Subject: Re: [Ips] X#NodeArchitecture draft - next steps
> >
> > [email protected] wrote:
> >
> > > This draft is better known as:
> > > draft-wysochanski-xkey-iscsi-support-00.txt
> > >
> > > This draft will be an official WG draft, but three things
> > > need to happen first:
> > >
> > > (1) New security text.  The existing "SHOULD" in the security
> > >         considerations text needs to be a "MUST".  In addition,
> > >         there needs to be a sentence pointing out that it may
> > >         be important to shield the contents of this key from
> > >         observers of network traffic, and that IPsec as specified
> > >         for iSCSI in RFC 3720 and 3723 (cite both of them) is an
> > >         appropriate tool for this purpose.
> > >
> > New proposed text:
> >
> > 3.  Security Considerations
> >
> >    In certain environments where security is a primary concern,
> >    the use of this extension key may not be appropriate as it
> >    reveals specific details about an iSCSI node.  For these
> >    environments, nodes implementing this public extension key
> >    MUST provide a method to disable sending the key.  In
> >    addition to providing a disable mechanism, security sensitive
> >    environments SHOULD consider use of IPsec, as specified in
> >    RFC 3720 and 3723, as a means to shield the contents of this
> >    key from observers of network traffic.
> >
> >
> >
> > Original text:     
> >
> > 3.  Security Considerations
> >
> >    In certain environments where security is a primary concern,
> >    the use of this extension key may not be appropriate as it
> >    reveals specific details about an iSCSI node. For these
> >    environments, nodes implementing this public extension key
> >    SHOULD provide a method to disable sending the key.
> >
> >      
> >
> > > (2) New "prevention of abuse" text.  The current "The key MUST NOT
> > >         be used by iSCSI nodes for things such as ..." is well-
> > >         intentioned but does not get the job done.  My recollection
> > >         of discussion in Dallas is that saying that "functional 
> behavior
> > >         of the iSCSI node MUST NOT depend on this key 
> (presence/absence
> > >         or value)"  may be closer to the mark.  The only permitted
> > >         (and intended) use of this key is to report it/log it in 
> order
> > >         to avoid the browser detection JavaScript disasters caused by
> > >         the corresponding HTTP header fields.
> > >
> >
> > I wasn't sure about deleting the original "MUST NOT" sentence so I 
> left it
> in.  Anyone
> > have a preference?  Also wasn't sure whether it's worth putting in a
> sentence or two at
> > least acknowledging what has happened in the past with User-Agent --
> intent would be
> > the working group acknowledges this historical misuse and wishes to 
> avoid
> it.
> >
> > New proposed text:
> >
> >    The following described Public Extension Key is sent during
> >    the login phase of an iSCSI normal session.  It is important
> >    to note that the proper use of this key is to provide enhanced
> >    logging and support capabilities, and for better understanding
> >    of customer environments.  Functional behavior of the iSCSI
> >    node MUST NOT depend on the presence, absence, or content of
> >    the key.  The key MUST NOT be used by iSCSI nodes for things
> >    such as interoperability, performance, exclusion or deception
> >    of other nodes, or other uses not defined here.  To enforce
> >    proper use, iSCSI nodes MUST NOT allow user modification of
> >    the key value(s), and SHOULD set the value automatically based
> >    on standard internal interfaces.
> >
> >
> >
> > Original text:
> >
> >    The following described Public Extension Key is sent during
> >    the login phase of an iSCSI normal session.  It is important
> >    to note that the proper use of this key is to provide enhanced
> >    logging and support capabilities, and for better understanding
> >    of customer environments.  The key MUST NOT be used by iSCSI
> >    nodes for things such as interoperability, performance,
> >    exclusion or deception of other nodes, or other uses not
> >    defined here.  To enforce proper use, iSCSI nodes MUST NOT
> >    allow user modification of the key value(s), and SHOULD set
> >    the value automatically based on standard internal interfaces.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > (3) The draft needs a new title and file name ("supportability" just
> > >         reeks of marketing ;-) ).  Let's try:
> > >
> > >            The iSCSI X#NodeArchitecture Key
> > >         draft-ietf-ips-iscsi-nodearch-key-00.txt
> > >
> > Sounds fine to me.
> >
> >
> > > Text for (1) and (2), or at least initial versions of it should be
> > > worked out on the list before the -00 version of the 
> draft-ietf-ips-...
> > > draft is submitted.  I've just sent the request to the secretariat 
> for
> > > an end-of-2006 completion milestone for this, but in practice, it
> > > could be done shortly after Montreal, if not before.
> > >
> > Great, thanks.
> >
> > > Thanks,
> > > --David
> > > ----------------------------------------------------
> > > David L. Black, Senior Technologist
> > > EMC Corporation, 176 South St., Hopkinton, MA  01748
> > > +1 (508) 293-7953             FAX: +1 (508) 293-7786
> > > [email protected]        Mobile: +1 (978) 394-7754
> > > ----------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Ips mailing list
> > > [email protected]
> > > https://www1.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ips
> > >
> >
>

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