On 11/16/2016 9:08 AM, Kepeng Li wrote:

Hello all,

We had a long discussion about group communication security topic since the previous F2F meeting.

Hannes and I have tried to make a summary about the discussion as follows:

· The solution needs to define both, symmetric and an asymmetric group key solution.


There is no case (absent hardware mitigation) in which a symmetric group key solution can be made secure/safe and no one has made an offer of proof that they can make it secure. I've asked repeatedly - no one has come forward with more than "oh we can lock the symmetric key stuff in a corner and make sure it isn't used for anything important".


Given the recent attacks on the internet by IOT botnets, there is a further consideration that should be undertaken - whether the symmetric group key solution applied to 10s of 1000s of IOT devices is an active threat to the rest of the internet (e.g. enabling DDOS, cyber physical issues, etc)?

The multiparty (group) symmetric key solution is only wanted for a single corner of the solution space - low latency, no cost systems. E.g. lightbulbs. Given there is a worked example of the insecurity of multiparty symmetric key systems (e.g. the attack on the symmetric signing key of the HUE lights), I'm unclear why anyone at all would think that pursuing a known bad solution in the IETF is a good idea.

· The security consideration section needs to explain under what circumstances what solution is appropriate.


Security consideration sections generally only address the threat *to* the system from security choices. In this case, symmetric key group comms reduces down to the same security analysis you would use with shared default passwords across 1000s of devices. An IOT security consideration section in the future probably needs to address the threat *FROM* the IOT solution to the broader internet.

Mike


If this is not accurate, please let us know.

Kind Regards
Kepeng & Hannes

BTW: it is a pity that I can't attend this meeting due to personal reasons, and hope you all have a nice meeting in Seoul!



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