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ISAKMP commit and notify usage




I am trying to understand the usage of the ISAKMP commit bit flag and
notify messages.

The ISAKMP header contains a flags field which contains a commit bit. When
set by the sender this tells the peer ISAKMP not to use the (ISAKMP or
IPSEC ?) SA until the sender transmits an informational exchange.
Subsection 4.8 of the ISAKMP spec - Informational Exchange - states that
once an ISAKMP SA has been established, the Informational Exchange MUST be
transmitted under the protection provided by the ISAKMP SA.

 - Does this prevent use of the encryption key/SA by ISAKMP or only IPSEC?
As an example which of the following Identity Protection Exchanges is
correct?

1. No ISAKMP Encryption Until Notified

  Initiator           direction        Responder            Note
   (1) HDR: SA              ==>                          Begin ISAKMP - SA
   (2)                <==              HDR; SA

   (3) HDR; KE; Nonce       ==>                          Commit flag set
   (4)                <==              HDR; KE; Nonce
                                                         Key generated

   (5) HDR; Notify          ==>                          Information Exchange
                                                         is not protected by
                                                         the SA
   (6) HDR*; IDii; AUTH     ==>                          ID is encrypted
   (7)                 <==            HDR*; IDir; AUTH


2. No IPSEC Encryption Until Notified

  Initiator           direction        Responder            Note
   (1) HDR: SA              ==>                          Begin ISAKMP - SA
   (2)                <==              HDR; SA

   (3) HDR; KE; Nonce       ==>                          Commit flag set
   (4)                <==              HDR; KE; Nonce
                                                         Key generated

   (5) HDR*; IDii; AUTH     ==>                          ID is encrypted
   (6)                 <==            HDR*; IDir; AUTH

   (7) HDR; Notify          ==>                          Information Exchange
                                                         is protected by
                                                         the SA


 - What notify message type payload is used to commit/tell the peer ISAKMP
that it is time to start using the encryption key/SA?

 - Is there an integrity check on the Notification Payload? Does each piece
of notification data define its own integrity mechanism? The OAKLEY error
payload appends a Sig/prf Payload.

Thanks,


Tom Markham                         markham@securecomputing.com
Secure Computing Corporation        Phone (612) 628-2754
2675 Long Lake Road                 Fax: (612) 628-2701
Roseville, MN 55113                 www.securecomputing.com




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