3.1.2.3 Configure BGP Authentication

Information

BGP is a usually configured as a point-to-point / unicast protocol. Configuring authentication as part of the neighbor configuration adds an additional layer of security to the conversation.

Rationale:

Impact:

Configuring authentication adds an MD5 hash to the neighbor negotiation that occurs between two BGP peers. An authentication failure would indicate either a misconfiguration, or possibly an attacker mounting an impersonation attack, masquerading as the BGP peer (possibly by ARP cache poisoning attack) and attempting to then peer up with incorrect credentials.

Solution

For each BGP neighbor, add the 'password' command to the matching stanza, with a long and complex string. Note that the same password must be used on the matching peer.
Different passwords should be used for each peer.

switch(config)# router bgp 65520
switch(config-router)# neigh 10.10.10.11
switch(config-router-neighbor)# password ?
0 Specifies an UNENCRYPTED neighbor password will follow
3 Specifies an 3DES ENCRYPTED neighbor password will follow
7 Specifies a Cisco type 7 ENCRYPTED neighbor password will follow
LINE The UNENCRYPTED (cleartext) neighbor password

switch(config-router-neighbor)# password somelongcomplexstring

Default Value:

By default, BGP authentication is not enabled.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/6524

Item Details

Category: ACCESS CONTROL, CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, CONTINGENCY PLANNING, PLANNING, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION, SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|AC-18, 800-53|AC-18(1), 800-53|AC-18(3), 800-53|CM-2, 800-53|CM-6, 800-53|CM-7, 800-53|CM-7(1), 800-53|CM-9, 800-53|CP-6, 800-53|CP-7, 800-53|PL-8, 800-53|PM-7, 800-53|SA-8, 800-53|SC-7, CSCv7|5.1, CSCv7|11.1

Plugin: Cisco

Control ID: 6cf3e38fe0288471e2dba93371bc49b3233224816da3e38e800c185ea0c64d37