RPKI management
Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) is a framework used to secure the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), which is responsible for routing internet traffic between autonomous systems (ASes). RPKI helps prevent route hijacking and other BGP-related security issues by allowing network operators to cryptographically verify the legitimacy of routing announcements. This is achieved by using digital certificates to associate IP address prefixes with specific ASes, thereby enhancing the trustworthiness of BGP route advertisements.
RPKI management involves several key aspects:
Route Origin Validation (ROV)
RPKI provides a mechanism to verify whether a BGP route announcement is authorized by the legitimate owner of the IP address space. This is done by using signed Route Origin Authorizations (ROAs) that specify which AS is allowed to announce routes for a given IP prefix.
Certificate Authority (CA) Infrastructure
RPKI relies on a hierarchical structure of Certificate Authorities. These CAs issue certificates and sign ROAs. The CA hierarchy starts with a root CA, which signs subordinate CA certificates. These subordinate CAs, in turn, issue certificates and ROAs to individual ASes or networks.
Repository System
RPKI uses a repository system to store and distribute the cryptographic material, including certificates and signed ROAs. Network operators can query these repositories to retrieve the necessary data for ROV.
RPKI Validator
Network operators deploy RPKI validators that use the cryptographic information from the repositories to validate BGP route announcements. The validator checks if the origin AS matches a valid ROA for the announced prefix. If there's a valid ROA, the route is considered legitimate; otherwise, it's flagged as potentially unauthorized.
ROA Management
Network operators need to create and manage ROAs to specify which ASes are allowed to originate routes for their IP prefixes. They also need to periodically update and revoke ROAs as network configurations change.
Key Rollover
Just like any cryptographic system, RPKI requires key rollover to maintain security. This involves replacing old keys and certificates with new ones while ensuring the continuity of secure operations.
Deployment and Configuration
Implementing RPKI involves configuring the RPKI validators, connecting to the appropriate repositories, and integrating RPKI data into the BGP routing process.
Monitoring and Reporting
Network operators should regularly monitor the status of RPKI validation and receive notifications about invalid or potentially hijacked routes.