Re: Kathleen Moriarty's Discuss on draft-ietf-httpbis-rfc7238bis-02: (with DISCUSS)

On 2015-02-04 15:26, Barry Leiba wrote:
>>> We *could* point out the problem, but then, there are so many other similar
>>> problems applicable to non-encrypted HTTP that I really don't see why this
>>> one deserves to be called specifically.
>>
>> The reason is that this draft is just about that feature.  Since it's
>> a risk not covered in the pointer, it should be in this draft.  If we
>> don't point these things out, stuff won't ever get better.   I'm not
>> asking for MUSTs, although I'd like it, I don't think it's practical.
>
> For what it's worth, my view as responsible AD:
>
> - Julian is right that this belongs in the HTTP spec, not in this
> document, but...
>
> - This document is an available and reasonable place to make the
> point, as an informative thing.
>
> I would not object, and I think it would be a good idea, to include a
> very short paragraph that goes something like this:
>
> << Unsecured http is always subject to redirect attacks, in that a
> "man in the middle" can replace any http response with a redirect
> (such as to a malicious site or one benefiting the attacker).  Such an
> attack can use "permanent" redirect codes (301 or 308) to convince
> clients or proxies to cache the malicious information.  Secured https
> is not subject to these sorts of attacks. >>
>
> I can't imagine that there'd be any controversy about text such as
> that... and it only informs, and does not give any new requirements.
>
> Julian, Mark, others: what do you think?
>
> Barry

LGTM.

Best regards, Julian

Received on Wednesday, 4 February 2015 14:29:04 UTC