Network Security First-Step, Second Edition

Routing Protocol Security

Any WAN these days runs a dynamic routing protocol; the most common and secure of which is Open Shortest Path First (OSPF). Although an in-depth discussion of how dynamic routing with OSPF works is outside the scope of this book, a brief overview is in order. Dynamic routing provides a means for routers to share knowledge of the networks of which they are aware. OSPF is one of the protocols that can be used for this exchange of information. If attackers were to isolate or inject bogus routing updates into your dynamic routing protocol, they could cause all sorts of issues within your network, resulting in critical data not getting across the network.

To safeguard your network’s routing information within your WAN, you ...