HSRP MD5 Authentication

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Information About HSRP MD5 Authentication

HSRP Text Authentication

HSRP ignores unauthenticated HSRP protocol messages. The default authentication type is text authentication.

HSRP authentication protects against false HSRP hello packets causing a denial-of-service attack. For example, Device A has a priority of 120 and is the active device. If a host sends spoof HSRP hello packets with a priority of 130, then Device A stops being the active device. If Device A has authentication configured such that the spoof HSRP hello packets are ignored, Device A will remain the active device

HSRP packets will be rejected in any of the following cases:

  • The authentication schemes differ on the device and in the incoming packets.

  • Text authentication strings differ on the device and in the incoming packet.

HSRP MD5 Authentication

Before the introduction of HSRP MD5 authentication, HSRP authenticated protocol packets with a simple plain text string. HSRP MD5 authentication is an enhancement to generate an MD5 digest for the HSRP portion of the multicast HSRP protocol packet. This functionality provides added security and protects against the threat from HSRP-spoofing software.

MD5 authentication provides greater security than the alternative plain text authentication scheme. MD5 authentication allows each HSRP group member to use a secret key to generate a keyed MD5 hash that is part of the outgoing packet. A keyed hash of an incoming packet is generated and if the hash within the incoming packet does not match the generated hash, the packet is ignored.

The key for the MD5 hash can be either given directly in the configuration using a key string or supplied indirectly through a key chain.

HSRP has two authentication schemes:

  • Plain text authentication

  • MD5 authentication

HSRP authentication protects against false HSRP hello packets causing a denial-of-service attack. For example, Device A has a priority of 120 and is the active device. If a host sends spoof HSRP hello packets with a priority of 130, then Device A stops being the active device. If Device A has authentication configured such that the spoof HSRP hello packets are ignored, Device A will remain the active device.

HSRP packets will be rejected in any of the following cases:

  • The authentication schemes differ on the device and in the incoming packets.

  • MD5 digests differ on the device and in the incoming packet.

  • Text authentication strings differ on the device and in the incoming packet.

How to Configure HSRP MD5 Authentication

Configuring HSRP MD5 Authentication Using a Key Chain

Perform this task to configure HSRP MD5 authentication using a key chain. Key chains allow a different key string to be used at different times according to the key chain configuration. HSRP will query the appropriate key chain to obtain the current live key and key ID for the specified key chain.

SUMMARY STEPS

    1.    enable

    2.    configure terminal

    3.    key chain name-of-chain

    4.    key key-id

    5.    key-string string

    6.    exit

    7.    exit

    8.    interface type number

    9.    ip address ip-address mask [secondary]

    10.    standby [group-number] priority priority

    11.    standby [group-number] preempt [delay {minimum | reload | sync} seconds]

    12.    standby [group-number] authentication md5 key-chain key-chain-name

    13.    standby [group-number] ip [ip-address [secondary]]

    14.    Repeat Steps 1 through 12 on each device that will communicate.

    15.    end

    16.    show standby


DETAILED STEPS
     Command or ActionPurpose
    Step 1 enable


    Example:
    Device> enable
     

    Enables privileged EXEC mode.

    • Enter your password if prompted.

     
    Step 2 configure terminal


    Example:
    Device# configure terminal
     

    Enters global configuration mode.

     
    Step 3 key chain name-of-chain


    Example:
    Device(config)# key chain hsrp1
     

    Enables authentication for routing protocols, identifies a group of authentication keys, and enters key-chain configuration mode.

     
    Step 4 key key-id


    Example:
    Device(config-keychain)# key 100
     

    Identifies an authentication key on a key chain and enters key-chain key configuration mode.

    • The value for thekey-id argument must be a number.

     
    Step 5 key-string string


    Example:
    Device(config-keychain-key)# key-string mno172
     

    Specifies the authentication string for a key.

    • The value for the string argument can be 1 to 80 uppercase or lowercase alphanumeric characters; the first character cannot be a numeral

     
    Step 6 exit


    Example:
    Device(config-keychain-key)# exit
     

    Returns to key-chain configuration mode.

     
    Step 7 exit


    Example:
    Device(config-keychain)# exit
     

    Returns to global configuration mode.

     
    Step 8 interface type number


    Example:
    Device(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
     

    Configures an interface type and enters interface configuration mode.

     
    Step 9 ip address ip-address mask [secondary]


    Example:
    Device(config-if)# ip address 10.21.8.32 255.255.255.0
     

    Specifies a primary or secondary IP address for an interface.

     
    Step 10 standby [group-number] priority priority


    Example:
    Device(config-if)# standby 1 priority 110
     

    Configures HSRP priority.

     
    Step 11 standby [group-number] preempt [delay {minimum | reload | sync} seconds]


    Example:
    Device(config-if)# standby 1 preempt
     

    Configures HSRP preemption.

     
    Step 12 standby [group-number] authentication md5 key-chain key-chain-name


    Example:
    Device(config-if)# standby 1 authentication md5 key-chain hsrp1
     

    Configures an authentication MD5 key chain for HSRP MD5 authentication.

    • The key chain name must match the name specified in Step 3.

     
    Step 13 standby [group-number] ip [ip-address [secondary]]


    Example:
    Device(config-if)# standby 1 ip 10.21.8.12
     

    Activates HSRP.

     
    Step 14 Repeat Steps 1 through 12 on each device that will communicate.  

    —

     
    Step 15 end


    Example:
    Device(config-if)# end
     

    Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

     
    Step 16 show standby


    Example:
    Device# show standby
     

    (Optional) Displays HSRP information.

    • Use this command to verify your configuration. The key string or key chain will be displayed if configured.

     

    Troubleshooting HSRP MD5 Authentication

    Perform this task if HSRP MD5 authentication is not operating correctly.

    SUMMARY STEPS

      1.    enable

      2.    debug standby errors


    DETAILED STEPS
       Command or ActionPurpose
      Step 1 enable


      Example:
      Device> enable
       

      Enables privileged EXEC mode.

      • Enter your password if prompted.

       
      Step 2 debug standby errors


      Example:
      Device# debug standby errors
       

      Displays error messages related to HSRP.

      • Error messages will be displayed for each packet that fails to authenticate, so use this command with care.

       

      Examples

      In the following example, Device A has MD5 text string authentication configured, but Device B has the default text authentication: 

      Device# debug standby errors

A:Jun 16 12:14:50.337:HSRP:Et0/1 Grp 0 Auth failed for Hello pkt from 10.21.0.5, MD5 confgd but no tlv
B:Jun 16 12:16:34.287:HSRP:Et0/1 Grp 0 Auth failed for Hello pkt from 10.21.0.4, Text auth failed

      In the following example, both Device A and Device B have different MD5 authentication strings: 

      Device# debug standby errors

A:Jun 16 12:19:26.335:HSRP:Et0/1 Grp 0 Auth failed for Hello pkt from 10.21.0.5, MD5 auth failed
B:Jun 16 12:18:46.280:HSRP:Et0/1 Grp 0 Auth failed for Hello pkt from 10.21.0.4, MD5 auth failed

      Configuring HSRP Text Authentication

      SUMMARY STEPS

        1.    enable

        2.    configure terminal

        3.    interface type number

        4.    ip address ip-address mask [secondary]

        5.    standby [group-number] priority priority

        6.    standby [group-number] preempt [delay {minimum | reload | sync} seconds]

        7.    standby [group-number] authentication text string

        8.    standby [group-number] ip [ip-address [secondary]]

        9.    Repeat Steps 1 through 8 on each device that will communicate.

        10.    end

        11.    show standby


      DETAILED STEPS
         Command or ActionPurpose
        Step 1 enable


        Example:
        Device> enable
         

        Enables privileged EXEC mode.

        • Enter your password if prompted.

         
        Step 2 configure terminal


        Example:
        Device# configure terminal
         

        Enters global configuration mode.

         
        Step 3 interface type number


        Example:
        Device(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
         

        Configures an interface type and enters interface configuration mode.

         
        Step 4 ip address ip-address mask [secondary]


        Example:
        Device(config-if)# ip address 10.0.0.1 255.255.255.0
         

        Specifies a primary or secondary IP address for an interface.

         
        Step 5 standby [group-number] priority priority


        Example:
        Device(config-if)# standby 1 priority 110
         

        Configures HSRP priority.

         
        Step 6 standby [group-number] preempt [delay {minimum | reload | sync} seconds]


        Example:
        Device(config-if)# standby 1 preempt
         

        Configures HSRP preemption.

         
        Step 7 standby [group-number] authentication text string


        Example:
        Device(config-if)# standby 1 authentication text authentication1
         

        Configures an authentication string for HSRP text authentication.

        • The default string is cisco.

         
        Step 8 standby [group-number] ip [ip-address [secondary]]


        Example:
        Device(config-if)# standby 1 ip 10.0.0.3
         

        Activates HSRP.

         
        Step 9 Repeat Steps 1 through 8 on each device that will communicate.  

        --

         
        Step 10 end


        Example:
        Device(config-if)# end
         

        Returns to privileged EXEC mode.

         
        Step 11 show standby


        Example:
        Device# show standby
         

        (Optional) Displays HSRP information.

        • Use this command to verify your configuration. The key string or key chain will be displayed if configured.

         

        Configuration Examples for HSRP MD5 Authentication

        Example: Configuring HSRP MD5 Authentication Using Key Strings

        Device(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Device(config-if)# standby 1 priority 110
Device(config-if)# standby 1 preempt
Device(config-if)# standby 1 authentication md5 key-string 54321098452103ab timeout 30
Device(config-if)# standby 1 ip 10.21.0.10

        Example: Configuring HSRP MD5 Authentication Using Key Chains

        In the following example, HSRP queries the key chain “hsrp1” to obtain the current live key and key ID for the specified key chain: 

        Device(config)# key chain hsrp1
Device(config-keychain)# key 1
Device(config-keychain-key)# key-string 54321098452103ab
Device(config-keychain-key)# exit
Device(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Device(config-if)# standby 1 priority 110
Device(config-if)# standby 1 preempt
Device(config-if)# standby 1 authentication md5 key-chain hsrp1
Device(config-if)# standby 1 ip 10.21.0.10

        Example: Configuring HSRP MD5 Authentication Using Key Strings and Key Chains

        The key ID for key-string authentication is always zero. If a key chain is configured with a key ID of zero, then the following configuration will work:

        Device 1

        Device(config)# key chain hsrp1
Device(config-keychain)# key 0
Device(config-keychain-key)# key-string 54321098452103ab
Device(config-keychain-key)# exit
Device(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Device(config-if)# standby 1 authentication md5 key-chain hsrp1
Device(config-if)# standby 1 ip 10.21.0.10

        Device 2

        Device(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Device(config-if)# standby 1 authentication md5 key-string 54321098452103ab
Device(config-if)# standby 1 ip 10.21.0.10

        Example: Configuring HSRP Text Authentication

        Device(config)# interface GigabitEthernet 0/0/0
Device(config-if)# standby 1 priority 110
Device(config-if)# standby 1 preempt
Device(config-if)# standby 1 authentication text company2
Device(config-if)# standby 1 ip 10.21.0.10

        Additional References

        Related Documents

        Related Topic

        Document Title

        Cisco IOS commands

        Cisco IOS Master Commands List, All Releases

        HSRP commands: complete command syntax, command mode, command history, defaults, usage guidelines, and examples

        Cisco IOS First Hop redundancy Protocols Command Reference

        HSRP for IPv6

        “HSRP for IPv6” module

        Troubleshooting HSRP

        Hot Standby Router Protocol: Frequently Asked Questions

        Standards

        Standards

        Title

        No new or modified standards are supported by this feature, and support for existing standards has not been modified by this feature.

        --

        MIBs

        MIBs

        MIBs Link

        CISCO-HSRP-MIB CISCO-HSRP-EXT-MIB

        To locate and download MIBs for selected platforms, Cisco software releases, and feature sets, use Cisco MIB Locator found at the following URL:

        http:/​/​www.cisco.com/​go/​mibs

        RFCs

        RFCs

        Title

        RFC 792

        Internet Control Message Protocol

        RFC 1828

        IP Authentication Using Keyed MD5

        RFC 2281

        Cisco Hot Standby Router Protocol

        Technical Assistance

        Description

        Link

        The Cisco Support and Documentation website provides online resources to download documentation, software, and tools. Use these resources to install and configure the software and to troubleshoot and resolve technical issues with Cisco products and technologies. Access to most tools on the Cisco Support and Documentation website requires a Cisco.com user ID and password.

        http:/​/​www.cisco.com/​cisco/​web/​support/​index.html

        Feature Information for HSRP MD5 Authentication

        The following table provides release information about the feature or features described in this module. This table lists only the software release that introduced support for a given feature in a given software release train. Unless noted otherwise, subsequent releases of that software release train also support that feature.

        Use Cisco Feature Navigator to find information about platform support and Cisco software image support. To access Cisco Feature Navigator, go to www.cisco.com/​go/​cfn. An account on Cisco.com is not required.
        Table 1 Feature Information for HSRP MD5 Authentication

        Feature Name

        Releases

        Feature Information

        HSRP MD5 Authentication

        12.2(25)S

        12.2(33)SRA

        12.2(33)SXH

        12.2(50)SY

        12.3(2)T

        15.0(1)S

        15.0(1)SY

        Cisco IOS XE Release 2.1

        Cisco IOS XE 3.1.0SG

        Cisco IOS XE Release 3.9S

        Prior to the introduction of the HSRP MD5 Authentication feature, HSRP authenticated protocol packets with a simple plain text string. The HSRP MD5 Authentication feature is an enhancement to generate an MD5 digest for the HSRP portion of the multicast HSRP protocol packet. This feature provides added security and protects against the threat from HSRP-spoofing software.

        The following commands were introduced or modified by this feature: show standby, standby authentication.