Re: iSCSI and secure boot

[julian_satran@il.ibm.com]

Bernard,

As iSCSI is transporting SCSI and SCSI has a different boot paradigm than
Netboot can you please elaborate on what exactly should be an authenticated
boot image in this (SCSI) context.

Please take into consideration that unlike netboot - the SCSI boot is not a
clearly bounded process (not even in PXE - an "open" proprietary scheme).

Julo

Bernard Aboba <aboba@internaut.com> on 27-05-2001 19:22:47

Please respond to Bernard Aboba <aboba@internaut.com>

To:   Douglas Otis <dotis@sanlight.net>
cc:   David Robinson <David.Robinson@EBay.Sun.COM>, ips@ece.cmu.edu,
      narten@raleigh.ibm.com
Subject:  iSCSI and secure boot




> Security is actively being worked on the the DHCP community so that
> is something that iSCSI can leverage.
> (draft-ietf-dhc-authentication-16.txt)

Unfortunately, it's not clear to me that
draft-ietf-dhc-authentication-16.txt is viable for use in securing the
boot process without some additional work. As written, the draft assumes
that the adapter has been seeded with a DHCP authentication key
tied to the DHCP client identifier (e.g. htype/MAC address), computed
from the master key. As I understand it, PXE/BIS also assumes the ability
to store a public key validating the boot image. Neither spec really
provides much insight on how one might obtain proper keying/authentication
material to secure the iSCSI boot process.

While it might be reasonable to assume that a manufacturer could supply a
set of machines programmed with the correct public key to validate the
boot image, it seems somewhat of a stretch that the adapters could be
programmed on a large scale according to the technique described in
-16.

Also, in both cases, it would appear that revocation/key change is a huge
headache. Note that the master secret described in -16 is not be provided
to the individual stations; this is held in confidence by the DHCP server.

The upshot is that I would not necessarily assume that we in the
IETF really have a good handle on secure boot at this point.