Secure IP access protocol framework and supporting network architecture

Abstract

A protocol framework for a Secure IP Access (SIA) method, and supporting components deployed on IP hosts and IP networks. Using this method, an IP host can establish a secure data channel within an IP network over an insecure shared link while requesting IP address and networking configuration parameters from the IP network. A system administrator can implement strong access control against various attacks that an edge IP network may have to face, such as a denial-of-service attack that exhausts assignable IP addresses. This is a lightweight, scalable, and backward-compatible solution that can improve security performance for public and corporate LANs having open access such as wireless access points and Ethernet jacks.

Description

[0001] This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 317,694, filed Dec. 12, 2002, which claims priority to Provisional U.S. Appl. Ser. No. 60 / 339,956, filed Dec. 12, 2001, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to network access, and more particularly, to a method and architecture for enabling an IP host to establish a secure data channel with a secure DHCP server on an IP network over an insecure shared link, while the IP host requests an IP address and networking configuration parameters from the secure DHCP server the IP network, and, consequently, to establish a secure data channel with any other IP host on the IP network while the IP host explores the MAC address of the other IP host. BACKGROUND [0003] Currently there are several methods for an IP host to initialize IP networking with an IP network over a shared link, but they either lack security functions or suffer a routing...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a protocol framework for a Secure IP Access (SIA) method, and supporting components deployed on IP hosts and IP networks. Using this method, an IP host can establish a secure data channel within an IP network over an insecure shared link while requesting IP address and networking configuration parameters from the IP network. A system administrator can implement strong access control against various attacks that an edge IP network may have to face, such as a denial-of-service attack that exhausts assignable IP addresses. This is a lightweight, scalable, and backward-compatible solution that can improve security performance for public and corporate LANs having open access such as wireless access points and Ethernet jacks.

[0009] The SIA protocol framework in accordance with the invention, when augmented with the proper cryptography algorithms, is designed to address the above problems at the network layer. It is based on new security options attached to DHCP and ARP messages, and involves deploying SIA clients and servers on IP hosts and networks, respectively. The SIA client is preferably implemented as an intermediate driver that can control all network interface cards for an IP host. The SIA server is a combination of an enhanced DHCP server, an authentication proxy, and a localized VPN server. Using DHCP security options, a SIA client can accomplish mutual authentication and key exchange with a SIA server while it requests IP address and networking configuration parameters for the IP host. As soon as the configuration phase finishes, the IP host can receive / send encrypted IP packets from / to the IP network via the SIA server using the exchanged key. If an IP host wants to communicate with another IP host on the same subnet, the SIA client on this IP host can use ARP security options to accomplish mutual authentication and key exchange with the SIA client on the other IP host while it resolves the MAC address of that IP host, and encrypted host-to-host communications can follow immediately. Security protection is established at the very beginning of the DHCP handshake, so that an IP host is well protected from potential network-based attacks that could come from the insecure link. In addition, these security protections are established without generating extra packets between IP hosts and networks.

Problems solved by technology

Currently there are several methods for an IP host to initialize IP networking with an IP network over a shared link, but they either lack security functions or suffer a routing efficiency problem.

This method by itself does not offer any security solutions.

This method by itself does not offer any security functions.

This method offers good security protection when encryption is used, but it suffers a routing efficiency problem if the majority of communications are between IP hosts on the shared link.

In this case, all host-to-host communications have to go through the gateway router for decryption and re-encryption, and thus the gateway router can be easily overloaded.

This method offers good security protection (assuming the WEP security flaws are fixed by 802.11i), but suffers the same routing efficiency problem if the majority of communications occur between IP hosts associated with the same access point.

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