nanog mailing list archives

Re: BGP security in practice


From: Eric Anderson <anderson () cs uoregon edu>
Date: Mon, 4 Nov 2002 10:59:18 -0800


Yes, but...  A protocol in which principal A's misconfiguration can
seriously harm principle B is more broken than one in which it
cannot.   That's why the protocol for crossing a busy street includes
"In addition to the light status, look for actual moving vehicles."
That way, you don't get run over by someone else's misconfiguration.  

Time for a new metaphor, methinks.

-
Eric Anderson

Thus spake alex () yuriev com (alex () yuriev com):


Every protocol is vulnerable if the principals are mis-configured (i.e. do not
follow the protocol).

The protocol for crossing a busy street at the light involves checking for
the green light before crossing the street. A mis-configured principal checks
the light, ignores red or yellow, and immediately crosses. Does it mean that
the protocol is broken or does it mean that a principal is broken?

P.S. In this specific case I am strictly looking at "misconfiguration causes
problems" implies brokenness of the protocol.


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