Network Working Group                                      M. Kuehlewind
Internet-Draft                                                ETH Zurich
Intended status: Informational                         February 28, 2019
Expires: September 1, 2019


                  Security is a function, not a layer
              draft-kuehlewind-security-is-not-a-layer-00

Abstract

   This document argues that security functions should be implemented on
   each layer as needed.  Especially security functions should not be
   separated in its own layer.  Having security scoped to the needs of
   each layer makes it possible to separate different functions
   correctly without the risk of impacting security on another layer.
   Note that this does not mean that each layer needs to maintain and
   negotiate it's on security context.

Status of This Memo

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   This Internet-Draft will expire on September 1, 2019.

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   Copyright (c) 2019 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
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   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

1.  Introduction

   Today, encryption and (server) authentication in the web is mostly
   provided by TLS.  TLS is a security protocol on top of (usually) TCP.
   However, a TLS session might possible not be end-to-end, where an
   end-point is associated with the actual user at the application
   level, but could be interrupted by an immediate device that e.g.
   terminates the TCP connection, so-called TCP proxies.  Further,
   intermediate devices might block TLS negotiation, as a side effect
   when higher layer in-network functions are preformed.  This effect
   has been often observed in e.g.  mobile network which a connection
   failure rate of up to 20% when TLS is used [CROWD].

   [More information to follow... this 00-draft is a place-holder only.]

2.  Definitions

3.  Discussion

4.  Informative References

   [CROWD]    Mandalari, A., Bagnulo, M., and A. Lutu, "Informing
              Protocol Design Through Crowdsourcing: The Case of
              Pervasive Encryption", 2015.

Author's Address

   Mirja Kuehlewind
   ETH Zurich
   Gloriastrasse 35
   8092 Zurich
   Switzerland

   Email: mirja.kuehlewind@tik.ee.ethz.ch














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