ipv6 threats - commtouch.com · far more ip addresses in ipv6 ... • identifying ipv6 threats

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IPv6 Threats

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Eyal OrgilMarketing DirectorCommtouch

Welcome to Part 2

IPv6 Informational Series

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Part 1: An Introduction to IPv6

www.commtouch.com/introduction-ipv6

http://www.commtouch.com/introduction-ipv6




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Part 1: An Introduction to IPv6

Part 2: IPv6 Security Threats

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Asaf GreinerVP ProductsCommtouch

Gabriel M. MizrahiVP TechnologiesCommtouch

Speakers

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Send questions to: [email protected] posted: http://blog.commtouch.com

Have a question?

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http://blog.commtouch.com/

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Is the Change to IPv6 aSignificant Security Event?

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Is IPv6 a Significant Event

Move to IPv6 a transition, not an event• Taking place for several years

• Will continue for many more years

There will be security implications• During the transition period

• After fully implemented

Many threats same as IPv4• Especially while dual-stacks are in use

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Many IPv4 threats not applicable to IPv6 Care must be taken when using dual-

networks• Many existing security solutions can protect against

IPv6 threats

• But, must be properly configured

Many threats related to transition to IPv6, not new threats

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Many IPv6 users today are experts and enthusiasts

IPv6 is not yet in widespread usage• Still see minimal usage of IPv6

Wider adoption of IPv6 depends on readiness of network infrastructures• Currently no big incentive to move to IPv6

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Hackers will utilize IPv6 when it will bring them value• Not deployed widely enough in order to invest time

• As IPv6 grows it will appear on the Hacker radar

Transition a long process, not a one day event• Advise that you learn and adjust

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The Hype About IPv6 – Is it Just Another Y2K Scare?

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Is IPv6 Another Y2K?

Don’t be scared of IPv6, but don’t take lightly IPv6 is a technology which offers:

• New opportunities

• New challenges

No date for IPv6• Will take years for IPv6 to become the main protocol

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Is IPv6 Another Y2K?

Expect many mission critical infrastructures to remain IPv4• Enough IPv4 addresses for these

Unlikely websites will be moved to be IPv6 in near future

When a large move occurs, we will know:• There is a large user IPv6 base

• End of transition period is near

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Top Security Issues with IPv6

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IPv6 Security Issues

Top three security related issues IPv6:• Tunneling of IPv6 over IPv4 (6 to 4)

• Rogue devices

• IP Reputation

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Threat: IP Tunneling

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IPv6 Tunneling Threat

IPv4 Network

IPv4 ConfiguredFirewall

InternalNetwork

Internet

IPv4 IPv4 IPv4

IPv4 Address

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IPv4 Network


InternalNetwork

Internet

IPv4 IPv4 IPv4

IPv6 Address

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IPv4 Network


InternalNetwork

Internet

GW

IPv4-to-IPv6Gateway

IPv4 IPv4 IPv4

IPv6

IPv6 Address

IPv6IPv6 over IPv4

IPv6 over IPv4 tunnel

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IPv4 Network

InternalNetwork

Internet

IPv4 IPv4 IPv4

IPv4website


FW Policy: No Angry Birds

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IPv4 Network


IPv6IPv6

InternalNetwork

Internet

GW

IPv4-to-IPv6Gateway

IPv4 IPv4 IPv4

IPv6website

IPv4website

FW Policy: No Angry Birds

IPv6 over IPv4

Bypass firewall policy

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Need to be aware that security devices are configured for IPv6• For example firewalls

Another example – IDS (Intrusion Detection System) • Can inspect IPv6, but you need to enable it

• If not, you won’t be enforcing the policy on IPv6

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Threat: Rogue Devices

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Rogue Devices

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Rogue Devices

Rogue Device

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Rogue Devices

IPv6 Prefix IPv6 Prefix

Rogue Device

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Rogue Devices

IPv4 Network

Windows 7 Windows 7Windows 7

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Rogue Devices

IPv6 Network

IPv4 Network


IPv6 enabledby default

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Rogue Devices

IPv6 Network Internet?


IPv4 Network

Internet? Internet?

IPv6 searchesfor access

to the Internet

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Rogue Devices

IPv6 Network


IPv4 Network

IPv6 Prefix IPv6 Prefix

Rogue Device

Internet? Internet? Internet?

InternetIPv6

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Rogue Devices

The difference is:• IPv4 is used daily

• If a different allocation is provided, there will be noticeable effects

• With IPv6, the insertion of a rogue device may go unnoticed

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Rogue Devices

IPv6 Network

Internet

Rogue Device

IPv6

Man in the middle

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Rogue Devices

IPv6 Network

Rogue Device

InternetIPv6

Man in the middle

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Rogue Devices

Not only a Windows problem An issue with most operating systems

• IPv6 is defined by default

• IPv6 could run in the background without anyone’s knowledge

Security risk also in IPv4 with DHCP• Make sure unauthorized devices cannot connect to

your network

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Threat: IP Reputation

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IP Reputation

Far more IP addresses in IPv6• 232 compared to 2128

Challenges• IP allocation will be different from IPv4

• Anyone can get a large IP allocation

• Any person can get a 64 bit allocation (264)

• The entire Internet today is 232

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IP Reputation

Last 64 bits define the device ID Complicate issue by using randomizer to

change 64 bit• Every spam message could be sent from different IP

Internet264 DifferentIP Addresses

From IP address: wwww

From IP address: xxxx

From IP address: yyyy

From IP address: zzzz

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IP Reputation

IP reputation on 128 bits very difficult Need other methods to build reputation

Such as subnets

Storing IP information in memory Vast amount of memory will be needed

No NAT in IPv6 Some believe a security issue

They believe NAT provides a layer of security

IPv6 provides public IPs for all devices

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Commtouch Compliancewith IPv6

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Commtouch and IPv6

Commtouch has been working on IPv6 for some time

Making changes to client side and back-end• Client side will be transparent

• Focus has been on the back-end

GlobalView Mail Reputation transparently supports more IPs addresses• Still single query of an IP address but data storage

more efficient

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Commtouch and IPv6

Monitoring the Internet • Identifying IPv6 threats

• Classifying threats

Currently seeing minor IPv6 spam activity• Believe spammers experimenting with IPv6

• Too noticeable today to send spam via IPv6 when there is very little email on this network

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Recommendations for MinimizingIPv6 threats

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Gabriel Mizrahi’s IPv6 Recommendations

1. Make sure you have mapped all devices on your network

2. Implement IPv6 step-by-step3. Have a written procedure of how you will

introduce IPv64. Plan to implement a dual stack as a first

stage

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Asaf Greiner’s IPv6 Recommendations

1. Get educated about IPv6• Everyone should go back to networking fundamentals

• Understand what’s implemented on our network today, and why

• Then look at what needs to remain or change

2. Learn from others• What mistakes and successes other have

experienced

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Asaf Greiner’s IPv6 Recommendations

3. Lockdown from IPv6 as a start

4. Then implement staged plan to roll out IPv6

5. Take care to avoid configuration errors

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Asaf GreinerCommtouch VP Products

Gabriel M. MizrahiCommtouch VP Technologies

Thank you to

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Send questions to: [email protected] posted: http://blog.commtouch.com

Have a question?


http://blog.commtouch.com/

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Please check back for future informational webcasts

ipv6 threats - commtouch.com · far more ip addresses in ipv6 ... • identifying ipv6 threats

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