STIGQter: STIG Summary: Cisco IOS XR Router RTR Security Technical Implementation Guide Version: 3 Release: 3 Benchmark Date: 01 Oct 2025:

The Cisco router must be configured to enable routing protocol authentication using FIPS 198-1 algorithms with keys not exceeding 180 days of lifetime.

DISA Rule

SV-216739r1007834_rule

Vulnerability Number

V-216739

Group Title

SRG-NET-000168-RTR-000078

Rule Version

CISC-RT-000050

Severity

CAT II

CCI(s)

• CCI-000803 - Implement mechanisms for authentication to a cryptographic module that meet the requirements of applicable laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance for such authentication.
• CCI-002205 - Uniquely identify and authenticate source by organization, system, application, service, and/or individual for information transfer.

Weight

10

Fix Recommendation

Configure routing protocol authentication to use a NIST-validated FIPS 198-1 message authentication code algorithm with keys not exceeding 180 days of lifetime as shown in the examples.

BGP Example:

Step 1: Configure a keychain using a FIPS 198-1 algorithm with a key duration not exceeding 180 days.

key chain <KEY-CHAIN-NAME>
key <KEY-ID>
send-id <ID>
recv-id <ID>
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha256
key-string <KEY>
accept-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2022 duration 180
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2022 duration 180

Step 2: Configure BGP autonomous system to use the keychain for authentication.

tcp ao
keychain BGP_KEY_CHAIN
key <KEY-ID> SendID <ID> ReceiveID <ID>
!
!
router bgp <ASN>
neighbor X.X.X.X
remote-as <ASN>
ao BGP_KEY_CHAIN
address-family ipv4 unicast

OSPF Example:

Step 1: Configure a keychain using a FIPS 198-1 algorithm with a key duration not exceeding 180 days.

key chain OSPF_KEY_CHAIN
key 1
key-string xxxxxxx
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2018 23:59:59 Mar 31 2018
accept-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2018 01:05:00 Apr 1 2018
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha-256
key 2
key-string yyyyyyy
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Apr 1 2018 23:59:59 Jun 30 2018
accept-lifetime 23:55:00 Mar 31 2018 01:05:00 Jul 1 2018
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha-256

Step 2: Configure OSPF to use the keychain for authentication.

router ospf 1
area 0
authentication message-digest keychain OSPF_KEY_CHAIN

Check Contents

Review the router configuration using the configuration examples below for BGP and OSPF.

Certain older protocols supporting only MD5 will incur a permanent finding for those protocols as MD5 is not FIPS compliant.

Note: The 180-day key lifetime is Not Applicable for the DODIN Backbone. The remainder of the requirement still applies.

Verify that neighbor router authentication is enabled for all routing protocols. If neighbor authentication is not enabled this is a finding.

Verify that authentication is configured to use FIPS 198-1 message authentication algorithms. If the routing protocol authentication is not configured to use FIPS 198-1 algorithms this is a finding.

Verify that the protocol key lifetime is configured to not exceed 180 days. If any protocol key lifetime is configured to exceed 180 days this is a finding.

BGP Example:

key chain <KEY-CHAIN-NAME>
key <KEY-ID>
send-id <ID>
recv-id <ID>
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha256
key-string <KEY>
accept-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2022 duration 180
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2022 duration 180
!
tcp ao
keychain BGP_KEY_CHAIN
key <KEY-ID> SendID <ID> ReceiveID <ID>
!
!
router bgp <ASN>
neighbor X.X.X.X
remote-as <ASN>
ao BGP_KEY_CHAIN
address-family ipv4 unicast
!

Note: TCP-AO is used to replace MD5 in BGP authentication.

OSPF Example:

key chain OSPF_KEY_CHAIN
key 1
key-string xxxxxxx
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2018 23:59:59 Mar 31 2018
accept-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2018 01:05:00 Apr 1 2018
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha-256
key 2
key-string yyyyyyy
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Apr 1 2018 23:59:59 Jun 30 2018
accept-lifetime 23:55:00 Mar 31 2018 01:05:00 Jul 1 2018
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha-256
…
…
…
router ospf 1
area 0
authentication message-digest keychain OSPF_KEY_CHAIN

Vulnerability Number

V-216739

Documentable

False

Rule Version

CISC-RT-000050

Severity Override Guidance

Review the router configuration using the configuration examples below for BGP and OSPF.

Certain older protocols supporting only MD5 will incur a permanent finding for those protocols as MD5 is not FIPS compliant.

Note: The 180-day key lifetime is Not Applicable for the DODIN Backbone. The remainder of the requirement still applies.

Verify that neighbor router authentication is enabled for all routing protocols. If neighbor authentication is not enabled this is a finding.

Verify that authentication is configured to use FIPS 198-1 message authentication algorithms. If the routing protocol authentication is not configured to use FIPS 198-1 algorithms this is a finding.

Verify that the protocol key lifetime is configured to not exceed 180 days. If any protocol key lifetime is configured to exceed 180 days this is a finding.

BGP Example:

key chain <KEY-CHAIN-NAME>
key <KEY-ID>
send-id <ID>
recv-id <ID>
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha256
key-string <KEY>
accept-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2022 duration 180
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2022 duration 180
!
tcp ao
keychain BGP_KEY_CHAIN
key <KEY-ID> SendID <ID> ReceiveID <ID>
!
!
router bgp <ASN>
neighbor X.X.X.X
remote-as <ASN>
ao BGP_KEY_CHAIN
address-family ipv4 unicast
!

Note: TCP-AO is used to replace MD5 in BGP authentication.

OSPF Example:

key chain OSPF_KEY_CHAIN
key 1
key-string xxxxxxx
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2018 23:59:59 Mar 31 2018
accept-lifetime 00:00:00 Jan 1 2018 01:05:00 Apr 1 2018
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha-256
key 2
key-string yyyyyyy
send-lifetime 00:00:00 Apr 1 2018 23:59:59 Jun 30 2018
accept-lifetime 23:55:00 Mar 31 2018 01:05:00 Jul 1 2018
cryptographic-algorithm hmac-sha-256
…
…
…
router ospf 1
area 0
authentication message-digest keychain OSPF_KEY_CHAIN

Check Content Reference

M

Target Key

4029