torspec/proposals/149-using-netinfo-data.txt
2011-05-09 10:04:35 -04:00

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Filename: 149-using-netinfo-data.txt
Title: Using data from NETINFO cells
Author: Nick Mathewson
Created: 2-Jul-2008
Status: Superseded
Target: 0.2.1.x
[Partially done: we do the anti-MITM part. Not entirely done: we don't do
the time part.]
Overview
Current Tor versions send signed IP and timestamp information in
NETINFO cells, but don't use them to their fullest. This proposal
describes how they should start using this info in 0.2.1.x.
Motivation
Our directory system relies on clients and routers having
reasonably accurate clocks to detect replayed directory info, and
to set accurate timestamps on directory info they publish
themselves. NETINFO cells contain timestamps.
Also, the directory system relies on routers having a reasonable
idea of their own IP addresses, so they can publish correct
descriptors. This is also in NETINFO cells.
Learning the time and IP address
We need to think about attackers here. Just because a router tells
us that we have a given IP or a given clock skew doesn't mean that
it's true. We believe this information only if we've heard it from
a majority of the routers we've connected to recently, including at
least 3 routers. Routers only believe this information if the
majority includes at least one authority.
Avoiding MITM attacks
Current Tors use the IP addresses published in the other router's
NETINFO cells to see whether the connection is "canonical". Right
now, we prefer to extend circuits over "canonical" connections. In
0.2.1.x, we should refuse to extend circuits over non-canonical
connections without first trying to build a canonical one.