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Security Considerations with Diameter |
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Security Considerations with Diameter This memo does not describe a stand-alone protocol, but a particular application for the Diameter protocol [RFC3588]. Consequently, all the security considerations applicable to Diameter automatically apply to this memo. In particular, Section 13 of RFC 3588 applies to this memo.
This Diameter SIP application allows a Diameter client to use the properties of HTTP Digest authentication [RFC2617] by evaluating or sending to the Diameter server the credentials supplied by a user. The discussion of HTTP Digest authentication in Section 4 of RFC 2617 [RFC2617] is also applicable to this memo.
This Diameter SIP application also allows a Diameter client to use the properties of HTTP Digest authentication using AKA [RFC3310] by evaluating or sending to the Diameter server the credentials supplied by a user. Section 5 of RFC 3310 is also applicable to this memo.
14.1. Final Authentication Check in the Diameter Client/SIP Server The Diameter SIP application can be configured to operate in a scenario where the final authentication check is performed in the Diameter client (SIP server). There are a number of security considerations associated to it; all of them are consequences of the requirement to transfer H(A1) from the Diameter server to the Diameter client:
o Both Diameter client and server must trust each other, such as when both client and server belong to the same administrative domain.
o To avoid eavesdroppers, the transport protocol between the Diameter client and server MUST be secured. RFC 3588 specifies TLS [RFC4346] and IPsec as possible transport protection mechanisms for Diameter.
Due to these security considerations, it is RECOMMENDED to configure the Diameter SIP application to operate in the mode where the final authentication check is performed in the Diameter server.
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