100 Percent Encrypted Web New Challenges For TLS RSA Conference 2017

SESSION ID:SESSION ID:
#RSAC
Kirk Hall
100% Encrypted Web
New Challenges for TLS
PDAC-W10
Dir Policy & Compliance, Certificate Services
Entrust Datacard

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We are moving toward a 100%
encrypted web – but can we get
it right?
We must leverage certificate identity data for greater user
security

#RSAC
We Will Discuss…
3
Types of Server Certificates
Past and Present Browser UI Security Indicators
Positive Developments in Encryption
Negative Developments in Encryption
Using Identity in Certificates as a Proxy for User Safety
How Do We Get to a Common Browser UI That Leverages Identity?
Next Steps

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Digital Certificate Refresher

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5
Domain Validated (DV) – No identity information, just a confirmed domain

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6
Domain Validated (DV)
Close Up:
Sample Browser Treatment (Chrome):

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7
Organization Validated (OV) – Basic identity confirmation through simple
vetting, confirmed customer contact using reliable third party data

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8
Organization Validated (OV)
Close Up:
Sample Browser Treatment (Chrome):

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9
Extended Validation (EV) – Strong identity confirmation through extensive
vetting using reliable third party data, and government registries

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10
Extended Validation (EV)
Close Up:
Sample Browser Treatment (Internet Explorer):

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Past and Present Browser UI
Security Indicators

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12
1995-2001: Organization Validation (OV) only; two UI security states
2001-2007: Domain Validated (DV) added as alternative to OV; still only
two security UI states – no differentiation between DV and OV

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13
2007-Present: Extended Validation (EV) added as alternative to DV and OV
Four security UI states, including “problem” state; still no differentiation
between DV and OV

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Positive Developments in
Encryption

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15
Rapid move to encryption – Web now over 50% encrypted
Browsers mandating encryption in stages – otherwise receive negative
browser UI – “https://” becoming the new normal
Encrypted sites receive higher SEO rankings
Automated certificate issuance and installation – Boulder, ACME,
Certbot – make it easy for small users
Free DV certificate services – Let’s Encrypt and others – encourage
websites to try it out
The PCI Security Standards Council recommends the use of OV/EV certs
as part of the Best Practices for Safe E-Commerce
Source: https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/pdfs/best_practices_securing_ecommerce.pdf

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16
Encryption is increasing rapidly – now over 50%

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But what good is encryption if you don’t
know who you’re talking to…?

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Negative Developments in
Encryption

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19
Malware exploits are moving to encryption and are harder to block
RISING USE OF ENCRYPTION GIVES MALWARE A PERFECT PLACE TO HIDE
“Nearly half of cyber-attacks this year have used malware hidden in encrypted traffic to
evade detection.
In an ironic twist, A10 Networks has announced the results of an international study ***
revealing that the risk to financial services, healthcare and other industries stems from
growing reliance on encryption technology.
A growing number of organizations are turning to encryption to keep their network data
safe. But SSL encryption not only hides data traffic from would-be hackers, but also from
common security tools.”
Source: http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/rising-use-of-encryption-gives/

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DV certificates are now the default choice for fraudsters – “look-alike”
names, anonymity, free, the padlock, no UI warnings:

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21
CERTIFICATE AUTHORITIES ISSUE SSL CERTIFICATES TO FRAUDSTERS
“In just one month, certificate authorities have issued hundreds of SSL
certificates for deceptive domain names used in phishing attacks. SSL
certificates lend an additional air of authenticity to phishing sites, causing the
victims' browsers to display a padlock icon to indicate a secure connection.
Despite industry requirements for increased vetting of high-risk requests,
many fraudsters slip through the net, obtaining SSL certificates for domain
names such as banskfamerica.com ***, ssl-paypai-inc.com ***, and
paypwil.com***.”
Source: http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2015/10/12/certificate-authorities-issue-hundreds-of-deceptive-ssl-certificates-to-fraudsters.html

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22
Many browsers no longer do effective revocation checking
CONCLUDING DISCUSSION
“Overall, our results show that, in today's Web's PKI, there is extensive
inaction with respect to certificate revocation. While many certificates are
revoked (over 8% of fresh certificates and almost 1% of alive certificates),
many web browsers either fail to check certificate revocation information
or soft-fail by accepting a certificate if revocation information is
unavailable.”
Source: https://web.stanford.edu/~aschulm/docs/imc15-revocation.pdf

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Some CAs no longer do certificate revocation for encrypted malware sites
Let’s Encrypt believes that “CAs make poor content watchdogs,” and even
though phishing and malware sites are bad “we’re not sure that certificate
issuance (at least for Domain Validation) is the right level on which to be
policing phishing and malware sites in 2015.” So Let’s Encrypt will not
revoke for phishing or fraud.
“Treating a DV certificate as a kind of ‘seal of approval’ for a site’s content is
problematic for several reasons,” including that CAs are not well-positioned
to operate anti-phishing and anti-malware operations and would do better
to leave those actions to the browser website filters.
Source: https://letsencrypt.org/2015/10/29/phishing-and-malware.html

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Users assume all encrypted sites with padlocks are “safe” sites:
“The biggest problem with [the display of DV certificates in the browser UI] is that it
democratizes access to https for any website. Yes, on the surface, this should in fact be a
positive thing that we're celebrating. Unfortunately human nature comes into play here. When
most people (non-geeks/non-IT) see https, immediate and unwavering trust is implied.
“Even though [DV certificates are] merely providing encryption for your website, most
people visiting it will give it the same level of trust as websites with the "green bar" https
(Extended Domain Validation), which includes the company name next to the padlock in the
address bar.”
Fraudsters also sprinkle static “padlocks” all over the page to fool users.
Source: http://www.datamation.com/security/lets-encrypt-the-good-and-the-bad.html

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What About Browser Website Filters?
25
Browser website filters expand, but are not a complete solution for user safety
– thousands of bad sites are not included
Microsoft SmartScreen problems: Only protects users in Windows
Users can’t report phishing URLs – must visit bad site first to report, click on button
SmartScreen filters can be bypassed by fraudster email / click-throughs to bad site
Google Safe Browsing: Only works on Google search results / Google properties
Privacy issues – cookies, retains browsing records on same device
Relies on proprietary Google algorithms, not transparent to users
Both SmartScreen and Safe Browsing must be turned on to work
Reactive systems –back to the ‘90s
Like cops solving a crime after it happens – but not preventing the crime

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Many Bad Sites Missed by Browser Filters
26
[URLs modified for safety]
Source: Comodo Valkyrie malware analysis system
More phishing links: http://cdn.download.comodo.com/intelligence/ctrl-06-02-url.txt
More malware file links: http://cdn.download.comodo.com/intelligence/ctrl-06-01-url.txt
Thousands of Malware / Phishing sites not detected
SmartScreen Safe Browsing
usbbackup.com/cgi-biin/update.apple-
id.com/4bebac1b93b057sjgurnm94a6b06c59b7/login.ph
p
0760mly.com/js/wwwpaypalcom/IrelandPayPal/signing
38CountryIE/ieLogIn.html
aggelopoulos.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/ 07/
www.paypal.com/beta.entab9387.net/wp-
theme/image/img/DHL/tracking.php
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2724801a312bda1123d55
4199/files/Electronic_Shipping_Document.zip
http://121.134.15.63/www.paypal.com/websc-login.php
http://alfssp.net/www.confirm.paypal.com/websc-
login.php
http://aquaseryis.marag.pl/wp-
includes/random_compat/apple.co.uk/
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2724801a312bda1123d55
4199/files/Electronic_Shipping_Document.zip

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What more can be done?
27
So what more can we do to protect
users in 100% encrypted
environment…?

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Using Identity in Certificates
as a Proxy for User Safety

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Confirming Identity – How It’s Done
29
Organization Vetting (OV)
Find the customer in a reliable third party database, such as Dun & Bradstreet or
Hoover’s
Call the customer representative through a number found on the third party data
source, confirm order is legitimate: +1-425-882-8080 for Microsoft
Confirm domain ownership or control (using CA/Browser Forum Methods)

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Confirming Identity – How It’s Done
30
Extended Validation Vetting (EV) – All that and more:
Confirm active status of corporation with government agency
Check authority of customer rep with company HR Department
Check against blacklists, prohibited lists, etc.

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What’s the Problem With Current Browser UIs?
31
No consistency among browser UIs as to four states: unencrypted, DV,
OV, and EV
Individual browsers frequently change their own UI, users can’t keep up
Adding array of other warnings to UI (minor problems, major problems)
that the average user doesn’t understand
Most mobile devices don’t even show any symbol for encryption
As a result, users are confused about how to read browser UIs
TAKE A LOOK…

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What Does This Mean? Universal - “STOP!”
32

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What if “Stop” Signs Were Always Changing?
33
That’s what browser UI security indicators have done – user confusion!

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What Does Any of This Mean? What a Mess!
34
Source: Rethinking Connection Security Indicators, https://www.usenix.org/system/files/conference/soups2016/soups2016-paper-porter-felt.pdf

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More Examples of Confusing Browser UIs
35
Source: CA Security Council (CASC)

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Plus, What Do All These Warnings Mean?
36
Source: CA Security Council (CASC)

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Help Is On The Way! …Or is it?
37
June 2016 Google UI paper proposed standardizing around only three security states –
but basically a binary, two-state “secure/not secure” UI. Plus, EV UI may be disappearing:

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Google Binary UI Proposal
38
Good: Bad:
No more EV?
DV, OV, EV all the same?

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Here’s What This Can Mean
Phishing site: paypal.com.summary-spport.com
Here’s how it looks as an http site today – just a gray circle-i:
Soon, Chrome will treat http sites as “Not Secure”:

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Phishers will move to DV certs for “Secure” UI
Phishing site: paypal.com.summary-spport.com gets anonymous, free DV
cert:
Chrome gives “Secure” https browser UI to phishing site:

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Is This the Future?
If EV green bar display is lost in Chrome, and real and phishing
PayPal Login pages look the same (“Secure”) – Can’t tell the difference!

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2016 Study – https alone no longer effective for
anti-phishing, EV indicators can be improved
“In the past, HTTPS was viewed as a sign of website trustworthiness; getting a valid
HTTPS certificate was too difficult for typical phishing websites. *** Subsequently,
HTTPS has ceased to be a useful signal for identifying phishing websites because it is no
longer unusual to find malicious websites that support HTTPS. ***
“EV is an anti-phishing defense, although its use is limited by lack of support from
popular websites and some major mobile browsers. All major desktop browsers display
EV information, but some mobile browsers (including Chrome and Opera for Android)
do not display EV information. Older literature suggests that EV indicators may need
improvement. *** Improving EV indicators are out of scope for our current work.”
Source: Rethinking Connection Security Indicators, https://www.usenix.org/system/files/conference/soups2016/soups2016-paper-porter-felt.pdf

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Chain of Logic
43
Browsers are pushing website owners to 100% encryption (good)
Fraudsters are rushing to free DV certs to hide (bad)
DV certs are free, allow anonymity, no identity, no recourse
OV and EV certs include identity, allow recourse – almost no fraud or
phishing has been recorded for OV, none for EV
But, users can’t tell the difference between DV and OV certs – both
receive the same UI in the browsers; EV may be downgraded to same
level as DV and OV by Chrome in future release
Conclusion: We are wasting valuable identity information already inside
OV and EV certs – should use as a proxy for user safety

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Let’s Use the Data We Already Have
There is so much identity data in certificates today – but most of it’s
hidden
Why aren’t we using identity data to block phishing and malware sites?
Source: Frost and Sullivan
2016 Data
Type Number
(000s)
Percent Combined
DV 7,503 75%
OV 2,353 24%
25%
EV 243 1%

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How Do We Get to a Common
Browser UI That Leverages
Identity?

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Five Principles of TLS Certificate Identity
46
First, adopt the Five Principles of TLS Certificate Identity:
1. Identity in TLS server certs should be used by browsers as a proxy for greater user safety
2. CAs should vet their customers to the highest identity level possible
3. OV certs should receive their own browser UI different from DV certs to show user safety
4. EV certs should continue to receive a separate browser UI from OV and DV certs to show
greater user safety
5. Browsers should agree on common UI security indicators, avoid changes to UI, and work
with others to educate users about the meaning of the common UI security indicators for
greater user safety.

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Here’s Who Has Endorsed the Five Principles
47
Current endorsers of the Five Principles of TLS Certificate Identity and
adoption of a new “Universal” browser UI:
More CA endorsers to come…

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Do website owners care about identity?
You bet they do! (No one asked them before…)
PUBLIC ENDORSEMENT OF WEBSITE IDENTITY PRINCIPLES
We, the undersigned organizations, strongly support the display of website identity for user
security, and we specifically endorse the following website identity principles:
1. Website identity is important for user security.
2. TLS certificate types that are used to secure websites – Extended Validation (EV),
Organization Validated (OV), and Domain Validated (DV) certificates – should each receive a
distinct, clearly-defined browser UI security indicator showing users when a website’s identity
has been independently confirmed.
3. Browsers should adopt a common set of browser UI security indicators for each certificate
type, and should educate users on what the differences are to promote user security.
The following enterprises endorse these Website Identity Principles:

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Website owners who support Website Identity
Principles
Source: Comodo and Entrust Datacard
Plus many more enterprise endorsers!
Sign up to support the Website Identity Principles at CASC site: casecurity.org/identity

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Adopt a “Universal” UI for all Browsers
50
Here is a proposal that would work for desktop and mobile environments.
This is just a starting point for discussion…
Design by: Chris Bailey

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Obstacles and Responses to “Universal” UI
51
“Users don’t understand the difference among DV, OV, and EV”
Response: That’s because browsers keep changing UIs, and there’s no user education =
user confusion
“OV vetting isn’t rigorous enough for its own UI”
Response: CAs standardized OV vetting in 2012, and can strengthen further
“We browsers will decide safety for our users – maybe just a binary UI”
Google approach – but totally wastes available identity information in certs
“It’s too hard to transition from current DV/OV single UI to new OV UI”
Response: announce a year ahead – customers will migrate to OV to get the better UI

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User Education will be Based on Cert Guidelines
52
To help develop user education, start by defining when to use each type
of certificate:

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How Do We Educate Users on the New UI?
53
Here’s the simple message for users:
“Look for the warnings” and insist on encryption as a minimum
requirement (i.e., follow the browser warnings to avoid http, broken https)
“Look for the padlock in the address bar” (OV or EV) before providing any
personal information (password, credit card number) to a website
“Look for the green bar” (EV) for high security transactions, such as banking
or health care matters
We successfully trained users to look for a padlock ten years ago – we can
train them again with new, common UI security indicators

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Next Steps for User Security
55
Browsers should collaborate and adopt a common “Universal” UI
Browsers should announce a transition date to new Universal UI
Padlock will disappear for DV, which will become the new “normal” state
OV certs will receive a new, distinct UI symbol
EV certs will continue with an enhanced EV UI symbol
Start an education program to prepare users, website owners
CAs should work on strengthening OV vetting, improved common standards
Collect and respond to data on the use of certs by fraudsters (DV, OV, EV)
RESULT: a safer Internet for users within 1-2 years; fraud prevention

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Summary
56
Fraudsters are moving to DV certificates
Fraudsters hate identity – they avoid OV and EV certificates
Therefore, OV and EV certs (25% of sites) represent much safer sites for
users – prevent crime
On this basis, OV and EV certs deserve their own distinct browser UIs
for user safety
DON’T eliminate EV UI, DON’T create binary UI of “secure” vs. “not
secure”- that hides identity
Browsers should work together to create a common Universal UI
All should work together to educate users on the new Universal UI

#RSAC
Thank you! Questions?
Download White Paper “Use of Identity in SSL-TLS Certs
for User Safety” and sign petition at:
casecurity.org/identity

#RSAC
The First Draft of a “Universal” UI
Design by: Chris Bailey

100 Percent Encrypted Web New Challenges For TLS RSA Conference 2017

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100 Percent Encrypted Web New Challenges For TLS RSA Conference 2017