Question

OpenBSD IPsec AES-256 encryption problem

Asked by: radar264

OpenBSD IPsec AES 256 encryption problem

I am having problems using Manual Configuration of SAs on OpenBSD IPsec when i try to use AES encryption with a key of greater than 128.

The OpenBSD ipsec.conf man pages specify the following encryption ciphers.

Cipher              Key Length
           des                 56 bits
           3des                168 bits
           aes                 128 bits
           aes-128             128 bits
           aes-192             192 bits
           aes-256             256 bits
           aesctr              160 bits      [phase 2 only]
           blowfish            160 bits
           cast                128 bits
           skipjack            80 bits
           null                (none)        [phase 2 only]

I cannot get it to work with aes-128, aes-192 or aes-256. All the others work fine.

Example of WORKING ipsec.conf
{
esp tunnel from 1.2.3.4 to 4.3.2.1 spi 0x4242:0x4243 enc aes authkey file "authfile:authfile" enckey file "keyfile:keyfile"

flow esp from 1.2.3.4 to 4.3.2.1
}


Example of NOT-WORKING ipsec.conf
{
esp tunnel from 1.2.3.4 to 4.3.2.1 spi 0x4242:0x4243 enc aes-256 authkey file "authfile:authfile" enckey file "keyfile:keyfile"

flow esp from 1.2.3.4 to 4.3.2.1
}

The Error message when I use the aes-256 is:-

ipsecctl: unsupported encryption algorithm 7




Using OpenBSD versions 4.4 and 4.5, both have the same problem.


Anyone got any ideas what the issue is ?


Please NOTE. I DO NOT want to use ISAKMP and PKI, I must use Manual SAs

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Asked On
2009-05-20 at 05:27:42ID24424157
Topics

OpenBSD

,

IPSec Security Protocol

Participating Experts
2
Points
500
Comments
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Answers

 

by: gheistPosted on 2009-05-20 at 06:36:11ID: 24431693

Key size too small.

 

by: radar264Posted on 2009-05-20 at 14:02:36ID: 24436282

Thanks but No.   Key size is correct. Have tried aes-128, 192, 256 all with correct keys and all fail.

And to illustrate.  enc  aes     with a 128 bit key works Fine.

esp tunnel from 1.2.3.4 to 4.3.2.1 spi 0x4242:0x4243 enc aes authkey file "authfile:authfile" enckey file "keyfile:keyfile"


But     enc aes-128   with a 128 bit key  Fails. [both the above aes (the default) and aes-128 use the same size 128 key

esp tunnel from 1.2.3.4 to 4.3.2.1 spi 0x4242:0x4243 enc aes-128 authkey file "authfile:authfile" enckey file "keyfile:keyfile"

ipsecctl: unsupported encryption algorithm 5

 

by: svsPosted on 2009-05-20 at 14:33:24ID: 24436523

AES-256 support is apparently missing from ipsecctl:

http://archive.openbsd.nu/?ml=openbsd-misc&a=2008-02&t=6344221

 

by: radar264Posted on 2009-05-21 at 06:13:07ID: 24440973

RE "AES-256 support is apparently missing from ipsecctl:"


Thats an interesting point. The author of the comment in the URL mentions that there is info in the man pages for ipsecctl and ipsec.conf for setting up
ipsec tunnels using AES with 256bit key.

The current man pages (both for releases 4.4 and 4.5) for ipsec.conf do include all the information for setting up ipsec tunnels using AES with 128, 192, & 256bit keys.

But even though it tells you how to do it, it still doesn't work .

I'll go do more digging.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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