NF Certificate Lifecycle Binding for SBI Deregistration Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G telecommunications networks, there is a lack of a method to bind the lifecycle of digital certificates (TLS, OAuth 2.0, CCA) with the lifecycle of network functions (NFs), leading to unauthorized access and malicious attacks when certificates remain valid after NF deregistration.
Innovation Solution
Automatically link the lifecycle of NF certificates to the NF's lifecycle by revoking digital certificates (TLS, OAuth 2.0, CCA) upon deregistration through an NF repository function (NRF) using a certificate manager or other mechanisms, ensuring certificates are revoked when NFs are deregistered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If digital certificates are not bound to NF lifecycle, then certificate management is simpler and certificates remain valid longer, but network security is compromised and unauthorized access becomes possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing certificate-NF binding relationships before deregistration occurs. The NRF maintains records linking digital certificates to their corresponding NF instances, enabling automatic revocation triggering when deregistration events occur, thus preventing the security vulnerability before it can be exploited
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the NRF continuously monitors NF registration and deregistration states, and automatically updates certificate validity status based on these changes. This closed-loop feedback ensures certificates are revoked promptly when NFs are deregistered, maintaining security without requiring manual intervention
2Object-affected harmful factors
If certificates remain valid after NF deregistration, then certificate validity period is extended and no additional management is needed, but hackers can impersonate NFs and perform malicious attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The system makes certificate validity dynamic rather than static by continuously adjusting certificate status based on NF registration state. When an NF is deregistered, the associated certificate automatically transitions from valid to revoked state, ensuring the certificate's lifespan is tightly coupled with the NF's operational lifecycle and eliminating the security window that would otherwise exist
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares protective measures in advance by establishing the binding relationship between certificates and NFs before any deregistration event occurs. This pre-configured linkage ensures that when deregistration happens, the certificate revocation is immediately triggered, cushioning the system against potential hacking attempts that might otherwise exploit the brief period before revocation
3Reliability
If automatic certificate revocation is implemented upon NF deregistration, then network security is enhanced and unauthorized access is prevented, but the system complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The NRF performs multiple functions simultaneously: it manages NF registration and deregistration, maintains certificate binding records, monitors NF lifecycle events, and triggers certificate revocation operations. By consolidating these functions into a single network function, the system achieves automated certificate management without proportionally increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the certificate management lifecycle with the NF lifecycle by binding them together through the NRF. This consolidation ensures that certificate revocation is automatically triggered as an integrated part of the NF deregistration process, eliminating the need for separate manual certificate management systems and reducing overall operational complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically binding an SBI communications digital certificate lifecycle to an NF lifecycle includes receiving, at an NRF, an NF deregister request message for deregistering an NF. The method further includes generating, by the NRF and in response to the NF deregister request message or successful completion of deregistration of the NF, a certificate revocation request message for revoking at least one digital certificate used by NF for SBI communications. The method further includes transmitting, by the NRF, the certificate revocation request message to a certificate authority. The method further includes receiving, by the NRF, an NF register request message identifying the NF. The method further includes determining, by the NRF, that the at least one digital certificate of the NF has been revoked. The method further includes, in response to determining that the at least one digital certificate of the NF has been revoked, performing, by the NRF, a network security action in response to the NF register request message.