- db-wg - mailman.ripe.net

X.509 authentication in the RIPE Database, take II
by Shane Kerr 18 Aug '03

18 Aug '03

All, [Apologies for duplicate e-mails] Attached please find a proposal for X.509 authentication in the RIPE Database. From the Database point of view (that is, syntax and semantics), it is the same as the one sent 3 July 2003. The difference is that it contains only the specific details of the change, in a straightforward fashion. I hope that we have addressed questions about the use of X.509 that arose in earlier discussions. -- Shane Kerr RIPE NCC Addition of X.509 authentication to the Database Proposal: To add an X509 authentication type to the "auth:" attribute. Attributes with this type will use the Distinguished Name (DN) of the certificate to identify it. Motivation: X.509 allows a single authentication method to work for both e-mail and the web. LIRs can receive an X.509 certificate through the LIR Portal, and should be able to use this to update records they control in the Database. X.509 is "strong", like PGP, although a different trust model is used. Details: The "auth:" attribute of the mntner class will have a new authentication scheme, X509. The DN, as defined in RFC 2253, will be used to identify the specific certificate used. Note that there is no key-cert object for the X509 scheme. Instead, the certificate must be signed by a trusted authority. The trusted authority will be the RIPE NCC Certificate Authority (CA) that is currently only available to LIRs. It is possible to configure additional CAs in future, should this become desirable. For instance, existing commercial CAs could be allowed, or the RIPE NCC could create a CA to issue certificates to non-LIRs for this purpose only. Below is an example of a maintainer with X.509 authentication: mntner: EXAMPLE-MNT descr: Sample maintainer for example. admin-c: SWK1-RIPE tech-c: RD132-RIPE tech-c: HOHO-RIPE upd-to: ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net mnt-nfy: ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net auth: X509 C=NL, O=RIPE NCC, OU=Members, CN=zz.example.user1 auth: X509 C=NL, O=RIPE NCC, OU=Members, CN=zz.example.user2 notify: ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net mnt-by: EXAMPLE-MNT referral-by: RIPE-DBM-MNT changed: ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net 20030813 source: RIPE Usage: E-mail updates for objects maintained by a maintainer with X509 authentication must be sent in S/MIME format and signed (not encrypted) using the private key associated with the issued certificate. Synchronous updates for objects maintained by a maintainer with X509 authentication must use an SSL connection using the private key from the issued certificate on the client side. Web updates for objects maintained by a maintainer with X509 authentication can use a browser with the certificate loaded. The web updates screens will allow users to specify that they want to identify themselves using the client-side private key, over an SSL connection.

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Draft: "status:" re-evaluation
by Shane Kerr 15 Aug '03

15 Aug '03

All, We recently proposed changes to the "status:" attribute values in the RIPE Database: http://www.ripe.net/ripe/draft-documents/status-attributes.html We have received input from APNIC on the subject. They proposed a simpler layout, and we think their suggestion makes sense. However, we would like to go forward with a slightly modified version that incorporates the "organisation" object we are working on. In the meantime, we do not want to delay the implementation of the Sub-Allocation policy. For that reason we'd like to have an interim status attribute value for that. Proposal: Add "SUB-ALLOCATED PA" to the allowed "status:" values. "SUB-ALLOCATED PA" inetnum object may have an "ALLOCATED PA" or an "LIR-PARTITIONED PA" less specific inetnum object. A range of IP's can only have a single "SUB-ALLOCATED PA" in it. That is, you cannot sub-allocate twice. -- Shane Kerr RIPE NCC

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RIPE Whois Server version 3.2.0
by DB-News 14 Aug '03

14 Aug '03

Dear Colleagues, [ Apologies for multiple messages. ] The RIPE NCC is pleased to announce the release of version 3.2.0 of the RIPE Whois server. This software is compliant with both RPSL (RFC-2622) and RPS-Security (RFC-2725). This release adds several user-visible improvements: - dbupdate has been rewritten almost from scratch - the server now limits the number of concurrent connections per IP - transaction support is added on MySQL side - query parsing is revised Detailed release notes can be found at the following URL: ftp://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/dbase/software/RELEASE-NOTES-3.2.0 You can download this release by anonymous FTP from the following URL: ftp://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/dbase/software/ripe-dbase-3.2.0.tar.gz If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact <ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net>. Best regards, Engin Gunduz RIPE NCC Database Group

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Announcement Routing Registry Training Course
by RIPE NCC Training 13 Aug '03

13 Aug '03

------- Apologies for the previous mail as there was an error in mentioned dates. Please find the correct dates in this mail. **** Dear Colleagues, [apologies for duplicate postings] As a service to its members the RIPE NCC offers the "Routing Registry Training Course". The main objective of the "Routing Registry Training Course" is to familiarise the LIRs with the features of the Routing Registry, while introducing the relevant tools and services of the RIPE NCC. The course also offers practical exercises. OVERVIEW OF TOPICS COVERED IN THE COURSE: - Routing Registry as a part of the RIPE Whois Database and the Internet Routing Registry (IRR) - Specifying routing policies using (RPSL) Routing Policy Specification Language and the RtConfig tool - IRRToolSet - Routing Information Service (RIS) - Routing Registry Consistency Check Project Please note that this is an advanced course. It will: - NOT teach the basics of routing - NOT teach the basics of RIPE Database operations, - NOT describe how to receive Internet resources from the RIPE NCC - NOT describe how to operate a Local Internet Registry (LIR) The target audience of the course are technical staff of LIRs: e.g. network operators, engineers etc. This course is not intended for administrative or management staff (e.g. Hostmasters) . It is assumed that all attendees will be familiar with Border Gateway Protocol routing and with the RIPE Database (i.e. creating/modifying objects). This course is based on interactive exercises in a local network set-up. Please bring your laptops equipped with the following: - A working Ethernet card, - Three meters of Ethernet cable, - A secure connection client, - A web browser. Please be prepared to share your laptop (or at least allow another attendee to "look over your shoulder") if necessary. The Routing Registry Training Course is conducted in the English language and is free of charge, since it is covered by the membership fee. More information about the Routing Registry Training Course can be found at: http://www.ripe.net/training/rr/ REGISTRATION: You can register for a Routing Registry Training Course at the following URL: http://www.ripe.net/cgi-bin/trainingform.pl.cgi Or by completing the registration form at the end of this e-mail and replying to <training(a)ripe.net> . In order to register for a Routing Registry Training Course you must be an employee of an LIR and either: - be an LIR contact - be confirmed by an LIR contact LIR contacts are those employees of an LIR who are registered with RIPE NCC as authoritative contact persons. It is expected that most of those interested in the Routing Registry Training Course will not be an authoritative contact person for their LIR, and therefore will be, refused by the course registration "robot". In order to be admitted to the course, a confirmation e-mail must be sent to <training(a)ripe.net>. Please approach the LIR contacts from your organisation personally, since the identity of LIR contacts is confidential, and the RIPE NCC is unable to divulge contact persons for any given LIR. Kind Regards, The RIPE NCC Training Team ************************************************************************* COURSE DATES AND VENUES ======================== Date: Friday 29 Augustus 2003 Time: 0900 - 1700 Location: Helsinki, Finland AND: Date: Monday 8 September 2003 Time: 0930 - 1700 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands AND: Date: Tuesday 21 October 2003 Time: 0900 - 1700 Location: Geneva, Switzerland AND: Date: Friday 14 November 2003 Time: 0900 - 1700 Location: Paris, France AND: Date: Friday 28 November 2003 Time: 0900 - 1700 Location: Moscow, Russia AND: Date: Friday 12 December 2003 Time: 0900 - 1700 Location: Lisbon, Portugal ************************************************************************* REGISTRATION FORM ================= %START PART 1 - Registration 1) Your name Enter First name, Last name in full e.g. John Doe Mary-Beth Walton # NAME [ ] 2) Your Registry ID (format: country-code.<name of registry>) # REG [ ] 3) Your e-mail address # EMAIL [ ] 4) Your NIC handle (optional) # NICHANDLE [ ] 5) The course you plan to attend (date and location) # COURSE [ ] %END

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mnt-routes attribute in aut-num objects
by Frank Bohnsack 07 Aug '03

07 Aug '03

Dear Colleagues, how exactly is this meaning of MNT-ROUTES in AUT-NUM objects in case of routes object creation/modification ? RFC2725 is not realy detailed here. Means the existance of an MNT-ROUTES attribute in an AUT-NUM object that ONLY this/these referenced maintainer(s) will be able to authorized route creation/modification and the referenced MNT-BY maintainer(s) will not be used? Or should not the MNT-BY maintainer(s) checked if all MNT-ROUTES maintainer(s) authorisation fails? The current RIPE software checks MNT-ROUTES maintainers only. Thanks Frank > > From: "Frank Bohnsack" <Frank.Bohnsack(a)deu.mci.com> > > Subject: LONGACK > > Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 23:42:06 +0200 > > Reply-To: Frank.Bohnsack(a)deu.mci.com > > Message-ID: <FAEKJBKGENGFILMMECELOEHICAAA.Frank.Bohnsack(a)deu.mci.com> > > ... > > DETAILED EXPLANATION: > > > ***Warning: Invalid keyword(s) found: LONGACK > ***Warning: All keywords were ignored > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > The following object(s) were found to have ERRORS: > > > --- > Create FAILED: [route] 139.8.32.0/24AS702 > ***Error: Authorisation failed > ***Info: Syntax check passed > > route: 139.8.32.0/24 > descr: DE PI route > origin: AS702 > member-of: AS702:RS-DE, > AS702:RS-DE-PI, > AS702:RS-DE-PULLUP > mnt-by: WCOM-EMEA-RICE-MNT > changed: rice(a)lists.mci.com 20030804 > source: RIPE > > ***Info: Authorisation for parent [route] 139.8.0.0/16AS702 > using mnt-by: > authenticated by: WCOM-EMEA-RICE-MNT > > ***Info: Authorisation for origin [aut-num] AS702 > using mnt-routes: > not authenticated by: UUNETDK-MNT, AS1270-MNT, AS1849-MNT, > AS1890-MNT, IWAY-NOC, AS702-MNT, SE-UUNET-MNT, UUNETDE-I > > ***Info: Authorisation for [route] 139.8.32.0/24AS702 > using mnt-by: > authenticated by: WCOM-EMEA-RICE-MNT > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > For assistance or clarification please contact: > RIPE Database Administration <ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net> > > > >

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Announcement on parent notifications
by Denis Walker 05 Aug '03

05 Aug '03

Colleagues, Notification on more-specific object creation authorisation ----------------------------------------------------------- The latest dbupdate binary to be put into production has implemented the change regarding parent notifications that was proposed to the Database Working Group in March 2003. This will cause some users to receive additional notifications. A summary of the change is outlined below. When the creation of an object requires authorisation by a less-specific object, normal notification rules apply to the mntner(s) in the less-specific object. In other words, "upd-to:" is notified of failure, and "mnt-nfy:" is notified of success. Where there are multiple maintainers, only one is needed to successfully authorise the creation, but all the maintainers in the list will be notified. For example: inetnum: 192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255 . . . mnt-by: EXAMPLE-MNT mnt-lower: ANOTHER-MNT mnt-lower: YET-ANOTHER-MNT If the successful creation of the more specific inetnum: inetnum: 192.168.201.0 - 192.168.201.255 . . . mnt-by: SOME-MNT Is authorised by YET-ANOTHER-MNT in the less specific inetnum, notifications will be sent to the "mnt-nfy:" listed in both ANOTHER-MNT and YET-ANOTHER-MNT in addition to the "mnt-nfy:" listed in SOME-MNT. In the case of route creation, the parent may be a route or an inetnum, and it may also be an exact match. Also notifications will also be sent to the mntner(s) listed in the origin aut-num of the route object being created. The original proposal can be found here: http://www.ripe.net/ripe/mail-archives/db-wg/2003/msg00034.html Regards Denis Walker Database Engineer RIPE NCC

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Re: mnt-routes attribute in aut-num objects
by RIPE Database Administration 05 Aug '03

05 Aug '03

Dear Frank, As RFC2725 says on page 18: Having found the AS and either a route object or inetnum, the authorization is taken from these two objects. The applicable maintainer object is any referenced by the mnt-routes attributes. If one or more mnt-routes attributes are present in an object, the mnt- by attributes are not considered. In the absence of a mnt-routes attribute in a given object, the mnt-by attributes are used for that object. The authentication must match one of the authorizations in each of the two objects. I.e. if "mnt-routes" attribute is present, then at least one of mainatiners from "mnt-routes" should pass the authorisation. If none of them passes, the creation is refused - no further check is done with "mnt-by" attribute in case of "mnt-routes" failure. "mnt-by" attribute is used only if "mnt-routes" is not present. This applies only to route object creation. For route object modification only "mnt-by" of the object itself is used to check the authorisation. If you have any more questions, please contact <ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net>. Regards, Katie Petrusha ____________________________ RIPE Database Administration. Original message follows: ------------------------ Dear Colleagues, how exactly is this meaning of MNT-ROUTES in AUT-NUM objects in case of routes object creation/modification ? RFC2725 is not realy detailed here. Means the existance of an MNT-ROUTES attribute in an AUT-NUM object that ONLY this/these referenced maintainer(s) will be able to authorized route creation/modification and the referenced MNT-BY maintainer(s) will not be used? Or should not the MNT-BY maintainer(s) checked if all MNT-ROUTES maintainer(s) authorisation fails? The current RIPE software checks MNT-ROUTES maintainers only. Thanks Frank > > From: "Frank Bohnsack" <Frank.Bohnsack(a)deu.mci.com> > > Subject: LONGACK > > Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 23:42:06 +0200 > > Reply-To: Frank.Bohnsack(a)deu.mci.com > > Message-ID: <FAEKJBKGENGFILMMECELOEHICAAA.Frank.Bohnsack(a)deu.mci.com> > > ... > > DETAILED EXPLANATION: > > > ***Warning: Invalid keyword(s) found: LONGACK > ***Warning: All keywords were ignored > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > The following object(s) were found to have ERRORS: > > > --- > Create FAILED: [route] 139.8.32.0/24AS702 > ***Error: Authorisation failed > ***Info: Syntax check passed > > route: 139.8.32.0/24 > descr: DE PI route > origin: AS702 > member-of: AS702:RS-DE, > AS702:RS-DE-PI, > AS702:RS-DE-PULLUP > mnt-by: WCOM-EMEA-RICE-MNT > changed: rice(a)lists.mci.com 20030804 > source: RIPE > > ***Info: Authorisation for parent [route] 139.8.0.0/16AS702 > using mnt-by: > authenticated by: WCOM-EMEA-RICE-MNT > > ***Info: Authorisation for origin [aut-num] AS702 > using mnt-routes: > not authenticated by: UUNETDK-MNT, AS1270-MNT, AS1849-MNT, > AS1890-MNT, IWAY-NOC, AS702-MNT, SE-UUNET-MNT, UUNETDE-I > > ***Info: Authorisation for [route] 139.8.32.0/24AS702 > using mnt-by: > authenticated by: WCOM-EMEA-RICE-MNT > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > For assistance or clarification please contact: > RIPE Database Administration <ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net> > > > >

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Release of prototypes of RPSLng IRRToolSet and Whois Server
by DB-News 30 Jul '03

30 Jul '03

[ Apologies for multiple messages ] Dear Colleagues, The RIPE NCC is pleased to announce version 4.8.0 prototype release of IRRToolSet, and version 0.1 prototype release of RIPE Whois Server Software containing RPSLng extensions. RPSLng is an effort to extend RPSL language, enabling the language to document routing policies for the IPv6 and multicast address families currently used on the Internet. The prototype of IRRToolSet implements the Internet Draf Document draft-blunk-rpslng-01 (http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-blunk-rpslng-01.txt) The prototype release contains peval and rpslcheck that already work with a new dictionary (you can also try the Web prototype for peval). Currently work is in progess to make other tools RPSLng compatible. More details can be found at: http://www.ripe.net/db/irrtoolset The source code of version 0.1 prototype release of RIPE Whois Server Software can be found at ftp://ftp.ripe.net/ripe/dbase/software/ripe-dbase-RPSLNG.0.1.tar.gz More details can be found at http://www.ripe.net/db/rpslng . Please contact dbtools(a)ripe.net for any comments. -- Best regards, Engin Gunduz Katie Petrusha RIPE NCC

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X.509 authentication in the RIPE Database
by Tiago Antao 22 Jul '03

22 Jul '03

Dear Colleagues, [Apologies for duplicate e-mails] As previously discussed in RIPE 44 and 45, please find below the proposal to add X.509 authentication to the RIPE Database. ******************************************************************** X.509 Certificate Authentication in the RIPE Database 0. Objective To make a new method of authentication available using X.509 certificates. 1. Motivation The RIPE Database currently has 5 methods of authentication, none of these are completely satisfactory with regard to security, standards support (de facto and de jure), pervasiveness and integration. The X.509 authentication mechanism would satisfy all of these factors: 1. Security: X.509 allows for the use of digital signatures, making it unnecessary to send clear passwords via e-mail. The current PGP authentication also provides this feature. 2. Standards support: X.509 is an ISO standard and is the only mechanism supported by mailers and clients used in more than 90% of communications with the RIPE NCC. 3. Pervasiveness: X.509 can be utilised with several communication mechanisms, not only mail. A common example is SSL/HTTPS. No other authentication mechanism is as strong and easily available with the web. 4. Integration: This authentication method will integrate seamlessly with the general framework of security in use at the RIPE NCC. It is also important to note that, the general trend among the other Regional Internet Registries (RIRs) is the use of X.509 as a main authentication method. 2. User visible changes a. Requirements To be able to the X.509 authentication method the user requires a certificate issued through the RIPE NCC LIR portal. Information on how to obtain a certificate can be found at: http://lirportal.ripe.net/lirportal/faq/pki.html Therefore the X.509 method would only be available to LIRs. This can be changed if the community so desires. b. Maintainers The auth: attribute of the mntner object will have a new authentication scheme, X509. The parameter will be a Distinguished Name (DN) according to RFC 2253. There is an important fundamental difference between PGP authentication and X.509; the database does not need a key-cert object for X.509 certificates, the DN has to be trusted. This means the certificate must be signed by a trusted authority and that self-signed certificates will not be accepted. The trusted authority will be the RIPE NCC Certificate Authority that is currently only available to LIRs. Following is an example of a maintainer with X.509 authentication: mntner: RIPE-DBM-MNT descr: Mntner for RIPE DBM objects. admin-c: AMR68-RIPE tech-c: RD132-RIPE upd-to: ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net mnt-nfy: ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net auth: X509 C=NL, O=RIPE NCC, OU=Members, CN=eu.ripe.dbm notify: ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net mnt-by: RIPE-DBM-MNT referral-by: RIPE-DBM-MNT changed: ripe-dbm(a)ripe.net 20030617 source: RIPE For users the only variable part within the new auth: attribute is the CN (Common Name). c. Submitting updates via e-mail Updates for objects maintained by a maintainer with X509 authentication must be sent in S/MIME format and signed (not encrypted) using the private key associated with the issued certificate. This key must also be made available to the mailer. Users that have a mail user agent that does not support S/MIME might consider using OpenSSL S/MIME facilities to prepare their mails. d. Submitting updates via webupdates Webupdates will accept client-side certificates. This means that the strongest type of authentication possible will be easily available for users using the web. For this to be possible the certificate and private key have to be loaded in the user browser.

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New Draft Documents for review: IPv4 Policy & Status Attribute in Inetnum objects
by leo vegoda 21 Jul '03

21 Jul '03

Dear Colleagues, The RIPE NCC is pleased to announce the publication of a draft of the updated RIPE IPv4 policy document, “IPv4 Address Allocation and Assignment Policies for the RIPE NCC Service Region” (currently ripe-234). We have also published a draft document detailing proposed changes to the “status:" attribute in inetnum objects. Both documents can be downloaded from the "Drafts" section in the RIPE Document Store, found at: <http://www.ripe.net/ripe/draft-documents/> The major updates to the draft IPv4 policy document include the following: - Recent policy changes have been incorporated, including the policy allowing assignments for Internet experiments and the sub-allocation policy. - Wording has been improved to make it easier to read. - The explanation of how to use the database has been removed as a separate "RIPE Database User Manual: Getting Started" was published in September last year. - The document now incorporates the text from "Provider Independent vs Provider Aggregatable Address Space" (ripe-127). - The document now specifies database registration requirements. If the community accepts this document it will replace the existing IPv4 Policy document (ripe-234) and the "Provider Independent vs Provider Aggregatable Address Space" document (ripe-127). The draft document on “status:" attributes proposes changes to the values of “status:" attributes. There is a new “status:" attribute value to support the sub-allocation policy, approved by the RIPE LIR Working Group. New wording is suggested, too. This should make the meaning of “status:" attributes more clear to the majority of Whois users. Feedback on both documents should be sent to the <address-policy-wg(a)ripe.net> mailing list for a period of five weeks. This review period will end on 28 August 2003. Kind regards, -- leo vegoda RIPE NCC Registration Services Manager

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