Re: [802SEC] +++ SEC EMAIL BLLOT +++ MOTION: Authorize the Link Security Exec SG to become an 802.1 SG
Ken -
I think it is high time to inject a bit of reality into this discussion.
Firstly, it is not at all clear to me what you mean when you describe 802.1
as a MAC-oriented working group. Our charter is 802's architecture,
interworking, and higher (than MAC) layer issues. I would certainly agree
that the link security activity should not be buried within one of the
MAC-specific groups (.3, .11, ...etc.), but I see nothing about the
existing charter of 802.1 that doesn't make it a good fit for us.
Secondly, you talk about 802.10 and its charter being the best fit for this
activity. If 802.10 existed in any meaningful way right now, I would
perhaps agree with you; however, as you have acknowledged, active
participation by 802.10 members is a problem for them in these
funding-challenged times, and they have been conspicuous by their absence
at meetings of the link sec study group to date. Having said that, the
meetings we have held do not seem to have suffered from a lack of security
expertise - just not expertise that used to be in 802.10.
Thirdly, 802.1 is not without its own track record, however small, in
developing security standards. In fact, it is arguably the case that 802.1
is, to date, the only 802 working group that has developed a successful
security standard for LANs; unlike the 802.10 standards, 802.1X has been
implemented, and found to be useful, by a significant number of vendors. As
a consequence, we now have participants in 802.1 that are there
specifically to work on security issues; this is, in fact, one of the
reasons that 802.1 made the offer to host the link sec SG, as these
particular experts wanted to avoid the potential for conflicting meeting
times if the two activities were kept separate.
A final point. Strictly speaking, as 802.10 is a hibernating group, the
charter of 802.10 is restricted to exactly one thing right now; performing
any maintenance that is required for the standards that they developed when
they were an active WG. It has no charter with regard to any new work. That
being the case, whatever new work comes out of this activity will, of
necessity, result in the creation of a new charter, either by extending the
charter of an existing (active) working group, or re-chartering hibernating
group, or chartering a new working group altogether. When making that
decision, it would make absolutely no sense to me to place the work within
802 in a way that conflicts with existing non MAC-specific activity in the
security area, all of which currently resides in 802.1.
Regards,
Tony
At 23:14 20/02/2003 -0500, Ken Alonge wrote:
>Dolors-
>
>I was copied on a few e-mails from you last fall, but then they stopped -- I
>assume that is when you switched to the reflector. I guess I missed the
>notification that a reflector was established for the study group
>discussions. The last thing that I heard was that Russ Housley was
>participating in some conference calls regarding the EPON security issues,
>until I was notified this week of the current ballot. So, unfortunately, I
>am not up to speed as to what has been discussed over the past few months.
>
>I'm glad to see that there is representation from multiple working groups in
>the study group, but as you point out the majority of the people are from
>.1, which (as you also pointed out) is the 802 architecture group. While
>the security matters on the table have some architectural component, they
>are by far technical security issues that I feel should be addressed by the
>802 security working group (which is the charter of .10). I can certainly
>appreciate and applaud the effort that you and the other the participants
>have put into the study group thus far, security can be a daunting task,
>both from a technical and political perspective.
>
>My point about the MAC-oriented WG was to delineate between the technical
>protocol and hardware engineering issues that each MAC group deals with (the
>things they are good at) versus the serious technical security issues that
>the security working group deals with (the things that we are good at). I
>guess what I'm trying to say is that security engineers wouldn't do nearly
>as good a job designing a MAC interface, as engineers trained to build
>hardware, and vice versa (evidence .11 WEP).
>
>At this point there are no guarantees that any of the .10 WG members will
>get funding to bring .10 out of hibernation, which is an unfortunate
>situation that leaves 802 and the study group hanging. I would like to be
>able to tell you definitely that one or more of our members will participate
>in the study group, but I can't make any commitment for us at this point,
>even though I believe that .10 is the working group into which the SEC
>should direct the resultant PAR. We're pretty much in a Catch 22 situation
>and all we can do is hope that a government sponsor will come through for
>us. As you stated, there are deadlines that the SG is trying to meet and we
>certainly don't want to stand in the way of progress, but to be sure any
>resultant security solution has got to be absolutely correct, in order to
>avoid another 802 black eye.
>
>By the way, I attempted to join the LinkSec reflector, but was informed by
>the majordomo that "linksec" was not a recognized group. Can you tell me
>the correct group name to put on the "subscribe" line?
>
>We can have further discussions of the technical security issues via the
>reflector, but I think the political wranglings should be in full view of
>the SEC.
>
>Respectfully,
>
>Ken
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Dolors Sala" <dolors@ieee.org>
>To: "Paul Nikolich" <p.nikolich@ieee.org>; "Ken Alonge"
><kenneth.alonge@verizon.net>; "Geoff Thompson"
><gthompso@nortelnetworks.com>; "IEEE802" <stds-802-sec@ieee.org>
>Cc: "Russ Housley" <housley@vigilsec.com>
>Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 4:11 PM
>Subject: Re: [802SEC] +++ SEC EMAIL BLLOT +++ MOTION: Authorize the Link
>Security Exec SG to become an 802.1 SG
>
>
> >
> > Dear Ken,
> >
> > I am glad to hear that the 802.10 members may finally get their personal
> > funding issues resolved to participate in this effort soon. The current
> > economical environment makes funding a challenge for a lot of individuals
> > and companies. And we are making everything possible to make participation
> > accessible to everyone.
> >
> > As you know, I have personally updated you as chairman of 802.10WG since
> > this effort started early September 2002 until the formation of the SG.
> > After that I have posted all the information to the reflector. No concerns
> > have been voiced in there and currently there are members from at least
> > 802.1, 802.3, 802.11, 802.15 and even 802.10.
> >
> > To give you an update of the first official SG meeting, we had up to 70
> > participants in the meeting. It is true we have very strong participation
> > from 802.1 but also from 802.3, and some participation from 802.11. This
> > includes security experts, bridging experts and MAC experts. Thanks to
>this
> > participation we have been able to agree on a placement of the project but
> > also on a work plan and make progress towards consensus, and more
> > importantly a critical mass with the right expertise to take the job.
> > (Obviously, we will get more participants as the process move forward.) So
> > from my point of view, all 802.1 members, as well as all other
>participants,
> > deserve my full respect for taking their time and resources to attend the
> > meetings and work on this project.
> >
> > At the same time, your opinion is also respected. I personally was not
>aware
> > of it. I would like to ask you to elaborate more on your proposal,
>although
> > it would have been useful to bring it to the group first. Do you plan to
> > post this to the SG reflector?
> >
> > Can you please elaborate on the advantages of being part of 802.10 and
> > outline the disadvantages of being part of 802.1? If you review the
>minutes
> > of the SG, I personally asked 802.1 officers to elaborate on the technical
> > constraints due to being part of 802.1. The answer was none. 802.1 is the
> > group "owning" the architecture issues of 802 and it is not restricted to
> > the traditional layer location they have been working so far. 802.1 is
> > focused on the global view of 802 networks instead of specific MACs. This
>in
> > fact was the reason for not doing it in 802.3. Therefore, this combined
>with
> > the attraction of security experts to the group meets the initial
>motivation
> > of this effort. If you think it doesn't, can you please elaborate on this?
> > what do you mean with the following statement: "This SG will wind up in a
> > MAC-oriented working group rather than in a non-biased security-oriented
> > working group".
> >
> > I would like to remind that we are not approving an standard with this
> > decision. We are just letting it start. The EPON people is trying to get
> > this process running since EFM started early 2001. There is a real market
> > need with real deadlines, specially in Asia, waiting for this solution.
> >
> > Ken, can you please explain how you want to proceed? do you want time in
>the
> > SG agenda to present your proposal? or in the opening or closing SEC
> > meeting? You are saying there is no guarantees yet that any of you can
> > attend the meeting. With the due respect, I am not sure what you are
> > requesting. Should we take this to the SG reflector over email?
> >
> > Respectfully,
> >
> > Dolors
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Paul Nikolich" <paul.nikolich@att.net>
> > To: "Ken Alonge" <kenneth.alonge@verizon.net>; "Geoff Thompson"
> > <gthompso@nortelnetworks.com>; "Paul Nikolich" <p.nikolich@ieee.org>;
> > "IEEE802" <stds-802-sec@ieee.org>
> > Cc: "Russ Housley" <housley@vigilsec.com>; "Dolors Sala (E-mail)"
> > <dolors@ieee.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 9:01 PM
> > Subject: Re: [802SEC] +++ SEC EMAIL BLLOT +++ MOTION: Authorize the Link
> > Security Exec SG to become an 802.1 SG
> >
> >
> > > Dear SEC,
> > >
> > > Attached is a message from Ken Alonge, the Chairman of the hibernating
> > > 802.10 Security WG, on the ECSG Motion.
> > >
> > > (Bob O'Hara, please add Ken to the SEC reflector list.)
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > --Paul Nikolich
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Ken Alonge" <kenneth.alonge@verizon.net>
> > > To: "Geoff Thompson" <gthompso@nortelnetworks.com>; "Paul Nikolich"
> > > <p.nikolich@ieee.org>
> > > Cc: "Russ Housley" <housley@vigilsec.com>; "Dolors Sala (E-mail)"
> > > <dolors@ieee.org>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 4:46 PM
> > > Subject: Re: [802SEC] +++ SEC EMAIL BLLOT +++ MOTION: Authorize the Link
> > > Security Exec SG to become an 802.1 SG
> > >
> > >
> > > > Paul and Geoff-
> > > >
> > > > I couldn't agree with Geoff's position more. I think it is a grave
> > > mistake
> > > > to vote (at this point) to put the study group into 802.1.
> > > >
> > > > It seems to me (and was voiced to you by Russ Housley) that the deck
>was
> > > > stacked by the fact that the LinkSec study group meeting was held in
> > > > conjunction with an 802.1 interim meeting. Some of the other working
> > > groups
> > > > that have an interest in the SG had conflicting meetings during or
>near
> > > the
> > > > time of the SG meeting and therefore could not attend. It's obvious
>that
> > > the
> > > > recommendation coming out of that meeting would be to move the SG into
> > .1
> > > > since most of the attendees were from .1, and it seems that members of
> > .1
> > > > are the ones driving this e-mail ballot.
> > > >
> > > > The other problem that I have with this is that it appears that this
>SG,
> > > > which is focused on critical 802 security issues, will wind up in a
> > > > MAC-oriented working group rather than in a non-biased
>security-oriented
> > > > working group, such as .10. We clearly see, and the industry is still
> > > > feeling, the result of the .11 security fiasco. Can 802 afford
>another
> > > > oops?
> > > >
> > > > Russ is pursuing funding from Government sponsors for both himself and
> > me
> > > so
> > > > that we can unhibernate .10, if need be, in order to deal with the 802
> > > > security issues. My guess is that we will be successful in getting
>the
> > > > required funding if 802 decides that .10 is where these issues should
>be
> > > > handled. It is also a possibility that the other two key .10 members
> > > (Dick
> > > > McAllister and Joe Maley) could get funding to participate, if .10
>comes
> > > out
> > > > of hibernation.
> > > >
> > > > There is a possibility that I might be able to attend the March
>plenary
> > to
> > > > discuss this further in person, but that depends on contractual issues
> > > that
> > > > are currently in the works and which probably won't get resolved until
> > > late
> > > > this week or early next week.
> > > >
> > > > Ken Alonge
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "Geoff Thompson" <gthompso@nortelnetworks.com>
> > > > To: "Paul Nikolich" <p.nikolich@ieee.org>
> > > > Cc: "IEEE802" <stds-802-sec@ieee.org>; "Dolors Sala (E-mail)"
> > > > <dolors@ieee.org>
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 11:36 AM
> > > > Subject: Re: [802SEC] +++ SEC EMAIL BLLOT +++ MOTION: Authorize the
>Link
> > > > Security Exec SG to become an 802.1 SG
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Colleagues-
> > > > >
> > > > > I vote DISAPPROVE
> > > > > Further, were this vote to come up on the agenda for Monday morning,
>I
> > > > > would move to defer the decision until Friday.
> > > > >
> > > > > By conducting this as an e-mail ballot we are taking a vote of the
> > SEC.
> > > By
> > > > > conducting this vote at the closing plenary as I consider proper, we
> > > would
> > > > > (hopefully) have the input of the body of the Working Groups.
> > > > >
> > > > > It is my opinion that this sort of 802 structural decision will have
> > far
> > > > > reaching consequences for each/all of the Working Groups and should
> > not
> > > be
> > > > > taken lightly.
> > > > >
> > > > > Respectfully,
> > > > >
> > > > > Geoff
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > At 02:04 PM 2/12/2003 -0500, Paul Nikolich wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > >Dear SEC,
> > > > > >
> > > > > >This is a 10 day SEC email ballot to make a determination on the
> > below
> > > > SEC
> > > > > >motion to authorize the Link Security Executive Study Group to
>become
> > > an
> > > > > >802.1 Study Group. Moved by Tony Jeffree, seconded by Bob Grow.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >The email ballot opens on Wednesday February 11 2PM EST and closes
> > > Friday
> > > > > >February 21 2PM EST.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Please direct your responses to the SEC reflector.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Regards,
> > > > > >
> > > > > >--Paul Nikolich
> > > > > >Chairman, IEEE 802 LMSC
> > > > > >
> > > > > >MOTION: "The SEC resolves that the Link Security Study Group will
> > > become
> > > > a
> > > > > >study group of the 802.1 HiLi working group, effective from the
> > start
> > > of
> > > > > >the March 802 Plenary meeting."
> > > > > >
> > > > > >MOVER: Tony Jeffree
> > > > > >SECOND: Bob Grow
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
Regards,
Tony