System for efficiently handling cryptographic messages containing nonce values in a wireless connectionless environment without comprising security

• US 8,161,553 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Lagimonier, Todd, Voris, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): PYZOCHA, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/926,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20110088094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 726/22, 713/170
• US Class Current: 726/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/14 for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/321 involving a third party or a trusted authority
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/041 Key generation or derivation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/121 Wireless intrusion detection systems [WIDS]; Wireless intrusion prevention systems [WIPS]

Abstract

A system for determining the validity of a received cryptographic message while ensuring for out-of-order messages is utilized to provide for secure communications among peers in a network. In particular, a secure communication module may be configured to accept the cryptographic message in response to a received nonce value of the received message is greater than the largest nonce value yet seen. Otherwise, when the received nonce value is not the largest nonce value yet seen, the secure communication module may be configured to compare the received nonce value with a nonce acceptance window. If the received nonce value falls outside the nonce acceptance window, the secure communication module may be further configured to reject the received message and assume that a replay attack has been detected. If the received nonce value falls within the nonce acceptance window, the secure communication module may be further configured to determine if the received nonce value has been seen before by comparing the received nonce value with a replay window mask. If the received nonce has been seen before, the secure communication module may be further configured to reject the received message and assume a replay attack. Otherwise, the secure communication module may be further configured to accept the message and add the received nonce value to the replay window mask.

Claims

1. A method of processing out-of-order message packets, comprising:

defining a maximum largest nonce value for a first session;

receiving, at a physical receiving client device, an out-of-order message packet associated with a nonce value;

comparing, with a secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said nonce value of said received out-of-order message packet for a second session with a largest nonce value yet received for said second session by said physical receiving client device;

adjusting, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, a size of a single replay attack acceptance window for said second session based on said largest nonce value yet received;

comparing, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said largest nonce value yet received with said maximum largest nonce value; and

resetting said largest nonce value yet received for said second session when said largest nonce value yet received exceeds said maximum largest nonce value.

2. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 1, further comprising:

designating, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said nonce value as said largest nonce value yet received if said nonce value exceeds said largest nonce value yet received.

3. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 1, further comprising:

replacing, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said largest nonce value yet received with said nonce value if said nonce value exceeds said largest nonce value yet received.

4. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said size of said single replay attack acceptance window if said nonce value exceeds said largest nonce value yet received.

5. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 1, further comprising:

designating, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said received out-of-order message packet as a replay attack.

6. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 4, further comprising:

comparing, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said nonce value to a window mask value if said nonce value falls within said single replay attack acceptance window; and

rejecting, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said received out-of-order message packet if said nonce value is within said window mask value.

7. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 6, further comprising:

designating, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said received out-of-order message packet as part of a replay attack.

8. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 1, further comprising:

comparing, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said nonce value to a window mask value if said nonce value falls within said single replay attack acceptance window; and

accepting, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said received out-of-order message packet if said nonce value is outside said single replay attach acceptance window.

9. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 8, further comprising:

designating, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said nonce value as a largest nonce value yet received.

10. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting a range of acceptable nonce values within said single replay attach window.

11. The method of processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a new cryptographic key when said largest nonce value yet received exceeds said maximum largest nonce value.

12. A physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets, comprising:

a physical receiving client device to receive an out-of-order message packet associated with a nonce value;

a secure communication module of said physical receiving client device to define a maximum largest nonce value for a first session, to compare said nonce value of said received out-of-order message packet for a second session with a largest nonce value yet received by said physical receiving client device for said second session, to adjust a size of a single replay attack acceptance window for said second session based on said largest nonce value yet received, and to compare said largest nonce value yet received with a maximum largest nonce value defined for a first session; and

wherein said largest nonce value yet received is reset for said second session when said largest nonce value yet received exceeds said maximum largest nonce value.

13. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 12, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

designate said nonce value as said largest nonce value yet received if said nonce value exceeds said largest nonce value yet received.

14. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 12, wherein said secure communication module further:

replace said largest nonce value yet received with said nonce value if said nonce value exceeds said largest nonce value yet received.

15. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 12, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

adjust said size of a single replay attack acceptance window if said nonce value exceeds said largest nonce value yet received.

16. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 12, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

designate said received out-of-order message packet as a replay attack.

17. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 12, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

compare said nonce value to a window mask value if said nonce value falls within said single replay attack acceptance window; and

reject, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said received out-of-order message packet if said nonce value is within said window mask value.

18. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 17, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

designate said received out-of-order message packet as part of a replay attack.

19. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 12, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

compare said nonce value to a window mask value if said nonce value falls within said single replay attack acceptance window; and

accept, with said secure communication module of said physical receiving client device, said received out-of-order message packet if said nonce value is outside said single replay attach acceptance window.

20. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 19, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

designate said nonce value as a largest nonce value yet received.

21. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 12, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

adjust a range of acceptable nonce values within said single replay attach window.

22. The physical receiving client device for processing out-of-order message packets according to claim 12, wherein said secure communication module is adapted further to:

generate a new cryptographic key when said largest nonce value yet received exceeds said maximum largest nonce value.