Security aspects of OSPF as a MANET routing protocol

Abstract

OSPF, Open Shortest Path First, is an Intra-gateway routing protocol first developed as an IETF effort. It is widely adopted in large enterprise-scale networks, being well regarded for its fast convergence and loop-free routing. It is versatile in terms of which interface types it supports, such as point-to-point links or broadcast networks. It also offers scalability through hierarchical routing and by using centralization to reduce the amount of overhead on networks which have broadcast or broadcast-similar properties. An interface type missing from the standard so far is that of a wireless network, characterized by non-guaranteed bidirectional links combined with unreliable broadcasting, and existing interface types generally perform poorly under these networks. The IETF has therefore instituted a Working Group to standardize such an interface type extension to the latest version, OSPF version 3. This interface type will permit mobility and multi-hop characteristics in addition to those of wireless links in general. Such networks are usually referred to as Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET). MANET routing protocols are subject to more severe security issues than ordinary, wireline-oriented protocols are. This thesis aims to indentify key security aspects of OSPF as a MANET routing protocol