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IETF RFC 6941
Last modified on Wednesday, May 1st, 2013
 Permanent link to RFC 6941
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Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) L. Fang, Ed.
Request for Comments: 6941 Cisco
Category: Informational B. Niven-Jenkins, Ed.
ISSN: 2070-1721 Velocix
S. Mansfield, Ed.
Ericsson
R. Graveman, Ed.
RFG Security
April 2013
MPLS Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) Security Framework
 Abstract
This document provides a security framework for the MPLS Transport
Profile (MPLS-TP). MPLS-TP extends MPLS technologies and introduces
new Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) capabilities, a
transport-oriented path protection mechanism, and strong emphasis on
static provisioning supported by network management systems. This
document addresses the security aspects relevant in the context of
MPLS-TP specifically. It describes potential security threats as
well as mitigation procedures related to MPLS-TP networks and to
MPLS-TP interconnection to other MPLS and GMPLS networks. This
document is built on RFC 5920 ("Security Framework for MPLS and GMPLS
Networks") by providing additional security considerations that are
applicable to the MPLS-TP extensions. All the security
considerations from RFC 5920 are assumed to apply.
This document is a product of a joint Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF) / International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication
Standardization Sector (ITU-T) effort to include an MPLS Transport
Profile within the IETF MPLS and Pseudowire Emulation Edge-to-Edge
(PWE3) architectures to support the capabilities and functionality of
a packet transport network.
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 1 
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
Status of This Memo
This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is
published for informational purposes.
This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF). It represents the consensus of the IETF community. It has
received public review and has been approved for publication by the
Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG). Not all documents
approved by the IESG are a candidate for any level of Internet
Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 5741.
Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/RFC 6941.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (c) 2013 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
document authors. All rights reserved.
This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
(http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
publication of this document. Please review these documents
carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
to this document. Code Components extracted from this document must
include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
described in the Simplified BSD License.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ....................................................3
1.1. Terminology ................................................3
2. Security Reference Models .......................................4
2.1. Security Reference Model 1 .................................5
2.2. Security Reference Model 2 .................................6
3. Security Threats ................................................9
4. Defensive Techniques ...........................................10
5. Security Considerations ........................................12
6. Acknowledgements ...............................................13
7. References .....................................................13
7.1. Normative References ......................................13
7.2. Informative References ....................................13
Contributors ......................................................14
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 2
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
1. Introduction
This document provides a security framework for the MPLS Transport
Profile (MPLS-TP).
As defined in "Requirements of an MPLS Transport Profile" [RFC 5654]
and "A Framework for MPLS in Transport Networks" [RFC 5921], MPLS-TP
uses a subset of MPLS features and introduces extensions to reflect
the characteristics of the transport technology. The additional
functionality includes in-band OAM, transport-oriented path
protection and recovery mechanisms, and new OAM capabilities that
were developed for MPLS-TP but that also apply to MPLS and GMPLS.
There is strong emphasis in MPLS-TP on static provisioning support
through Network Management Systems (NMSs) or Operational Support
Systems (OSSs).
This document is built on [RFC 5920] by providing additional security
considerations that are applicable to the MPLS-TP extensions. The
security models, threats, and defense techniques previously defined
in [RFC 5920] are assumed to apply to general aspects of MPLS-TP.
This document is a product of a joint Internet Engineering Task Force
(IETF) / International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication
Standardization Sector (ITU-T) effort to include an MPLS Transport
Profile within the IETF MPLS and PWE3 architectures to support the
capabilities and functionality of a packet transport network.
Readers can refer to [RFC 5654] and [RFC 5921] for MPLS-TP
terminologies and to [RFC 5920] for security terminologies that are
relevant to MPLS and GMPLS.
1.1. Terminology
Term Definition
------ -----------------------------------------------
AC Attachment Circuit
BFD Bidirectional Forwarding Detection
CE Customer Edge
DoS Denial of Service
G-ACh Generic Associated Channel
GAL G-ACh Label
GMPLS Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching
IP Internet Protocol
LDP Label Distribution Protocol
LSP Label Switched Path
NMS Network Management System
MPLS Multiprotocol Label Switching
MPLS-TP MPLS Transport Profile
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 3
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
MS-PW Multi-Segment Pseudowire
OAM Operations, Administration, and Maintenance
PE Provider Edge
PSN Packet-Switched Network
PW Pseudowire
S-PE PW Switching Provider Edge
SP Service Provider
SS-PW Single-Segment Pseudowire
T-PE PW Terminating Provider Edge
2. Security Reference Models
This section defines reference models for security in MPLS-TP
networks.
The models are built on the architecture of MPLS-TP, as defined in
[RFC 5921]. The placement of SP boundaries plays an important role in
determining the security models for any particular deployment.
This document defines a trusted zone as being where a single SP has
total operational control over that part of the network. A primary
concern is about security aspects that relate to breaches of security
from the "outside" of a trusted zone to the "inside" of this zone.
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 4
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
2.1. Security Reference Model 1
In reference model 1, a single SP has total control of the "PE/T-PE
to PE/T-PE" part of the MPLS-TP network.
Security reference model 1(a) shows an MPLS-TP network with
Single-Segment Pseudowire (SS-PW) from PE1 to PE2. The trusted zone
is PE1 to PE2, as illustrated in Figure 1.
|<-------------- Emulated Service ---------------->|
| |
| |<------- Pseudowire ------->| |
| | | |
| | |<-- PSN Tunnel -->| | |
| v v v v |
v AC +----+ +----+ AC v
+-----+ | | PE1|==================| PE2| | +-----+
| |----------|............PW1.............|----------| |
| CE1 | | | | | | | | CE2 |
| |----------|............PW2.............|----------| |
+-----+ ^ | | |==================| | | ^ +-----+
^ | +----+ +----+ | | ^
| | Provider Edge 1 Provider Edge 2 | |
| | | |
Customer | |Customer
Edge 1 | |Edge 2
| |
Native service Native service
---Untrusted--- >|<------- Trusted Zone ----->|<---Untrusted----
Figure 1. MPLS-TP Security Model 1(a)
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 5
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
Security reference model 1(b) shows an MPLS-TP network with
Multi-Segment Pseudowire (MS-PW) from T-PE1 to T-PE2. The trusted
zone is T-PE1 to T-PE2, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Native |<-------------Pseudowire------------>| Native
Service | | Service
(AC) | |<- PSN ->| |<- PSN ->| | (AC)
| v v v v v v |
| +-----+ +-----+ +-----+ |
+----+ | |T-PE1|=========|S-PE1|=========|T-PE2| | +----+
| |------|......PW.Seg't1.......PW.Seg't3......|-------| |
| CE1| | | | | | | | | |CE2 |
| |------|......PW.Seg't2.......PW.Seg't4......|-------| |
+----+ | | |=========| |=========| | | +----+
^ +-----+ ^ +-----+ ^ +-----+ ^
| | | |
| TP LSP TP LSP |
| |
|<----------------- Emulated Service ---------------->|
-Untrusted->|<---------- Trusted Zone ----------->|<-Untrusted--
Figure 2. MPLS-TP Security Model 1(b)
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 6
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
2.2. Security Reference Model 2
In reference model 2, a single SP does not have the end-to-end
control of the segment from PE/T-PE to PE/T-PE. A given S-PE or T-PE
may be under the control of another SP, that SP's customers, or its
partners. In this case, the MPLS-TP network is not contained within
a single trusted zone.
Security reference model 2(a) shows an MPLS-TP network with
Multi-Segment Pseudowire (MS-PW) from T-PE1 to T-PE2. The trusted
zone is T-PE1 to S-PE1, as illustrated in Figure 3.
Native |<-------------Pseudowire------------>| Native
Service | | Service
(AC) | |<--PSN-->| |<--PSN-->| | (AC)
| V V V V V V |
| +-----+ +-----+ +-----+ |
+----+ | |T-PE1|=========|S-PE1|=========|T-PE2| | +----+
| |------|......PW.Seg't1.......PW.Seg't3......|------| |
| CE1| | | | | | | | | |CE2 |
| |------|......PW.Seg't2.......PW.Seg't4......|------| |
+----+ | | |=========| |=========| | | +----+
^ +-----+ ^ +-----+ ^ +-----+ ^
| | | |
| TP LSP TP LSP |
| |
|<---------------- Emulated Service --------------->|
Untrusted-->|<-- Trusted Zone---->|<---------Untrusted--------
Figure 3. MPLS-TP Security Model 2(a)
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 7
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
Security reference model 2(b) shows an MPLS-TP network with
Multi-Segment Pseudowire (MS-PW) from T-PE1 to T-PE2. The trusted
zone is the S-PE1 only, as illustrated in Figure 4.
Native |<-------------Pseudowire------------>| Native
Service | | Service
(AC) | |<--PSN-->| |<--PSN-->| | (AC)
| V V V V V V |
| +-----+ +-----+ +-----+ |
+----+ | |T-PE1|=========|S-PE1|=========|T-PE2| | +----+
| |------|......PW.Seg't1.......PW.Seg't3......|------| |
| CE1| | | | | | | | | |CE2 |
| |------|......PW.Seg't2.......PW.Seg't4......|------| |
+----+ | | |=========| |=========| | | +----+
^ +-----+ ^ +-----+ ^ +-----+ ^
| | | |
| TP LSP TP LSP |
| |
|<---------------- Emulated Service --------------->|
--------Untrusted---------->|<--->|<-------Untrusted----------
Trusted
Zone
Figure 4. MPLS-TP Security Model 2(b)
Security reference model 2(c) shows an MPLS-TP network with
Multi-Segment Pseudowire (MS-PW) from different SPs with
inter-provider PW connections. The trusted zone is T-PE1 to S-PE3,
as illustrated in Figure 5.
Native |<--------------------- PW15 ------------------>| Native
Layer | | Layer
Service | |<PSN13>| |<PSN3X>| |<PSNXZ>| | Service
(AC1) V V LSP V V LSP V V LSP V V (AC2)
| +-----+ +-+ +-----+ +-----+ +-+ +-----+ |
+---+ | |T-PE1| | | |S-PE3| |S-PEX| | | |T-PEZ| | +---+
| | | | |=======| |=======| |=======| | | | |
|CE1|----|........PW1........|..PW3..|........PW5........|---|CE2|
| | | | |=======| |=======| |=======| | | | |
+---+ | 1 | |2| | 3 | | X | |Y| | Z | +---+
+-----+ +-+ +-----+ +-----+ +-+ +-----+
|<--Subnetwork 123->| |<--Subnetwork XYZ->|
Untrusted>|<-- Trusted Zone-->|<-------------Untrusted-------------
Figure 5. MPLS-TP Security Model 2(c)
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 8
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
In general, the boundaries of a trusted zone must be carefully
defined when analyzing the security properties of each individual
network. The security boundaries determine which reference model
should be applied to a given network topology.
3. Security Threats
This section discusses various network security threats that are
unique to MPLS-TP and may endanger MPLS-TP networks.
Attacks against a GAL or G-ACh may include the following:
- GAL or BFD label manipulation, which includes insertion of false
labels and modification, deletion, or replay of messages.
- DoS attacks through in-band OAM by generating excessive G-ACh/GAL
and BFD messages that consume significant bandwidth and potentially
cause congestion.
These attacks can cause unauthorized protection switchover, inability
to restore one or more LSPs, or loss of network connectivity.
When an NMS is used for LSP setup, attacks on the NMS can cause the
above effects as well. Although this is not unique to MPLS-TP,
MPLS-TP networks can be particularly vulnerable to NMS attacks, due
to the fact that static provisioning through NMSs is a commonly used
model. In the static provisioning model, a compromised NMS can
potentially be comparable to a compromised control plane plus a
compromised management plane in the dynamic controlled network model.
Attacks on NMSs may come from either external attackers or insiders.
Outside attacks are initiated outside of the trusted zone by
unauthorized users of the MPLS-TP NMSs. Insider attacks are
initiated from inside the trusted zone by an entity that has
authorized access to the management systems but that performs
unapproved functions that are harmful to the MPLS-TP networks. These
attacks may directly target the NMS; they may also take place via the
compromised communication channels between the NMS and the network
devices that are being provisioned, or through user access to the
provisioning tools. This type of security threat may include
disclosure of information, generating false OAM messages, taking down
MPLS-TP LSPs, connecting to the wrong MPLS-TP tunnel endpoints, and
DoS attacks on the MPLS-TP networks.
There are other more generic security threats, such as unauthorized
observation of data traffic (including traffic pattern analysis),
modification or deletion of a provider's or user's data, and replay
or insertion of inauthentic data into a provider's or user's data
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 9
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
stream. These types of attacks apply to MPLS-TP traffic regardless
of how the LSP or PW is set up, in a way that is similar to how they
apply to MPLS traffic regardless of how the LSP is set up. More
details on the above-mentioned threats are documented in [RFC 5920].
Such threats may result from malicious behavior or accidental errors:
Example 1: Attacks from users: Users of the MPLS-TP network may
attack the network infrastructure or attack other users.
Example 2: Attacks from insiders: Employees of the operators may
attack the MPLS-TP network, especially through NMSs.
Example 3: Attacks from interconnecting SPs or other partners: Other
SPs may attack the MPLS-TP network, particularly through the
inter-provider connections.
Example 4: Attacks as the result of operational errors: Operations
staff may fail to follow operational procedures or may make
operational mistakes.
4. Defensive Techniques
The defensive techniques presented in this document and in [RFC 5920]
are intended to describe methods by which some security threats can
be addressed. They are not intended as requirements for all MPLS-TP
deployments. The specific operational environment determines the
security requirements for any instance of MPLS-TP. Therefore,
protocol designers should provide a full set of security capabilities
that can be selected and used where appropriate. The MPLS-TP
provider should determine the applicability of these techniques to
the provider's specific service offerings, and the end user may wish
to assess the value of these techniques to the user's service
requirements.
Authentication is the primary defense technique to mitigate the risk
of the MPLS-TP security threats discussed in Section 3 (GAL or BFD
label manipulation, and DoS attacks through in-band OAM).
Authentication refers to methods to ensure that message sources are
properly identified by the MPLS-TP devices with which they
communicate. Authentication includes the following:
- entity authentication for identity verification
- management system authentication
- peer-to-peer authentication
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 10
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
- message integrity and replay detection to ensure the validity of
message streams
- network-based access controls such as packet filtering and
firewalls
- host-based access controls
- isolation
- aggregation
- protection against denial of service
- event logging
Section 5.2 of [RFC 5920] describes these techniques where they apply
to MPLS and GMPLS in general.
In addition to authentication, the following defense should also be
considered in order to protect MPLS-TP networks:
- Use of isolated infrastructure for MPLS-TP
One way to protect the MPLS-TP infrastructure is to use dedicated
network resources to provide MPLS-TP transport services. For
example, in security model 2 (Section 2.2), the potential risk of
attacks on the S-PE1 or T-PE1 in the trusted zone may be reduced by
using non-IP-based communication paths, so that the paths in the
trusted zone cannot be reached from the outside via IP.
- Verification of connectivity
To protect against deliberate or accidental misconnection, mechanisms
can be put in place to verify both end-to-end connectivity and
segment-by-segment resources. These mechanisms can trace the routes
of LSPs in both the control plane and the data plane. Note that the
connectivity verification tools are now developed for general MPLS
networks as well.
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 11
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
The defense techniques that apply generally to MPLS/GMPLS are not
detailed here; see [RFC 5920] for details regarding these techniques.
For example:
1) Authentication, including management system authentication,
peer-to-peer authentication, and cryptographic techniques for
authenticating identity
2) Access control techniques
3) Use of aggregated infrastructure
4) Mitigation of denial-of-service attacks
5) Monitoring, detection, and reporting of security attacks
It is important to point out the following security defense
techniques, as they are particularly critical for NMSs, due to the
strong emphasis on static provisioning supported by NMSs in MPLS-TP
deployments. These techniques include the following:
- entity authentication for identity verification
- encryption for confidentiality
- message integrity and replay detection to ensure the validity of
message streams
- user access control and event logging, which must be applied for
NMSs and provisioning applications
5. Security Considerations
Security considerations constitute the sole subject of this document
and hence are discussed throughout.
This document evaluates security risks specific to MPLS-TP, as well
as mitigation mechanisms that may be used to counter potential
threats. All of the techniques presented here involve mature and
widely implemented technologies that are practical to implement. It
is meant to assist equipment vendors and service providers who must
ultimately decide what threats to protect against in any given
configuration or service offering, from a customer's perspective as
well as from a service provider's perspective.
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 12
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
6. Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the following people: Joel Halpern and
Gregory Mirsky for their review comments and contributions to this
document, Mach Chen for his review and suggestions, Adrian Farrel for
his Routing Area Director review and detailed comments, Loa Andersson
for his continued support and guidance as the MPLS WG co-chair, and
Dan Romascanu and Barry Leiba for their helpful comments during IESG
review.
7. References
7.1. Normative References
[RFC 5654] Niven-Jenkins, B., Ed., Brungard, D., Ed., Betts, M., Ed.,
Sprecher, N., and S. Ueno, "Requirements of an MPLS
Transport Profile", RFC 5654, September 2009.
[RFC 5920] Fang, L., Ed., "Security Framework for MPLS and GMPLS
Networks", RFC 5920, July 2010.
7.2. Informative References
[RFC 5921] Bocci, M., Ed., Bryant, S., Ed., Frost, D., Ed., Levrau,
L., and L. Berger, "A Framework for MPLS in Transport
Networks", RFC 5921, July 2010.
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 13
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
Contributors
Raymond Zhang
Alcatel-Lucent
750D Chai Chee Road
Singapore 469004
EMail: raymond.zhang@alcatel-lucent.com
Nabil Bitar
Verizon
40 Sylvan Road
Waltham, MA 02145
US
EMail: nabil.bitar@verizon.com
Masahiro Daikoku
KDDI Corporation
3-11-11 Iidabashi, Chiyodaku, Tokyo
Japan
EMail: ms-daikoku@kddi.com
Lei Wang
Lime Networks
Strandveien 30, 1366 Lysaker
Norway
EMail: lei.wang@limenetworks.no
Henry Yu
TW Telecom
10475 Park Meadow Drive
Littleton, CO 80124
US
EMail: henry.yu@twtelecom.com
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 14
RFC 6941 MPLS-TP Security Framework April 2013
Authors' Addresses
Luyuan Fang (editor)
Cisco Systems
111 Wood Ave. South
Iselin, NJ 08830
US
EMail: lufang@cisco.com
Ben Niven-Jenkins (editor)
Velocix
326 Cambridge Science Park
Milton Road
Cambridge CB4 0WG
UK
EMail: ben@niven-jenkins.co.uk
Scott Mansfield (editor)
Ericsson
300 Holger Way
San Jose, CA 95134
US
EMail: scott.mansfield@ericsson.com
Richard F. Graveman (editor)
RFG Security, LLC
15 Park Avenue
Morristown, NJ 07960
US
EMail: rfg@acm.org
Fang, et al. Informational PAGE 15
RFC TOTAL SIZE: 27119 bytes
PUBLICATION DATE: Wednesday, May 1st, 2013
LEGAL RIGHTS: The IETF Trust (see BCP 78)
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