Audit IPsec Quick Mode (2024)

  • Article

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8

This topic for the IT professional describes the Advanced Security Audit policy setting, Audit IPsec Quick Mode, which determines whether the operating system generates audit events for the results of the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocol and Authenticated Internet Protocol (AuthIP) during Quick Mode negotiations.

IKE is an Internet standard, defined in RFC 2409, that defines a mechanism to establish IPsec security associations (SAs). An SA is a combination of a mutually agreeable policy and keys that define the security services and mechanisms that help protect communication between IPsec peers.

AuthIP is an enhanced version of IKE that offers additional flexibility with support for user-based authentication, authentication with multiple credentials, improved authentication method negotiation, and asymmetric authentication. Like IKE, AuthIP supports Main Mode and Quick Mode negotiation.

Quick Mode (also known as Phase 2) IKE negotiation establishes a secure channel between two computers to protect data. Because this phase involves the establishment of security associations (SAs) that are negotiated on behalf of the IPsec service, the SAs that are created during Quick Mode are called the IPsec SAs. During Quick Mode, keying material is refreshed or, if necessary, new keys are generated. A protection suite that protects specified IP traffic is also selected. A protection suite is a defined set of data integrity or data encryption settings. Quick Mode is not considered a complete exchange because it is dependent on a Main Mode exchange.

Event volume: High

Default: Not configured

If this policy setting is configured, the following events appear on computers running the supported versions of the Windows operating system as designated in the Applies To list at the beginning of this topic, in addition to Windows Server2008 and Windows Vista.

Event ID

Event message

4977

During Quick Mode negotiation, IPsec received an invalid negotiation packet. If this problem persists, it could indicate a network issue or an attempt to modify or replay this negotiation.

5451

An IPsec Quick Mode security association was established.

5452

An IPsec Quick Mode security association ended.

Advanced Security Audit Policy Settings

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The article delves into the Advanced Security Audit policy setting, specifically focusing on "Audit IPsec Quick Mode." This setting plays a crucial role in determining whether the operating system generates audit events for the results of the Internet Key Exchange (IKE) protocol and Authenticated Internet Protocol (AuthIP) during Quick Mode negotiations. Now, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:

  1. Internet Key Exchange (IKE):

    • IKE is an Internet standard defined in RFC 2409. It outlines a mechanism for establishing IPsec security associations (SAs).
    • An SA is a combination of mutually agreeable policies and keys that define the security services and mechanisms to protect communication between IPsec peers.
  2. Authenticated Internet Protocol (AuthIP):

    • AuthIP is an enhanced version of IKE with additional features, such as support for user-based authentication, authentication with multiple credentials, improved authentication method negotiation, and asymmetric authentication.
    • Like IKE, AuthIP supports Main Mode and Quick Mode negotiation.
  3. Quick Mode (Phase 2) IKE Negotiation:

    • Quick Mode establishes a secure channel between two computers to protect data.
    • During Quick Mode, IPsec Security Associations (SAs) are created, which involve the negotiation of security parameters on behalf of the IPsec service.
    • Keying material is refreshed, and new keys are generated during Quick Mode.
    • A protection suite, defined settings for data integrity or encryption, is selected to protect specified IP traffic.
  4. Security Associations (SAs):

    • SAs are negotiated agreements between two IPsec peers regarding security policies and keys.
    • In the context of Quick Mode, the SAs created are referred to as IPsec SAs.
  5. Audit Events:

    • The article mentions specific audit events triggered by the configured policy setting, such as:
      • Event ID 4977: Indicates the reception of an invalid negotiation packet during Quick Mode negotiation.
      • Event IDs 5451 and 5452: Signal the establishment and termination of an IPsec Quick Mode security association.
  6. Event Volume and Default Configuration:

    • The article notes that the event volume for this setting is high by default, and the setting is not configured by default.

In summary, the Advanced Security Audit policy setting discussed in the article provides IT professionals with the ability to monitor and audit events related to IPsec Quick Mode negotiations, offering insights into potential network issues or security threats.

Audit IPsec Quick Mode (2024)

FAQs

Audit IPsec Quick Mode? ›

Audit IPsec Quick Mode allows you to audit events generated by Internet Key Exchange

Internet Key Exchange
In computing, Internet Key Exchange (IKE, versioned as IKEv1 and IKEv2) is the protocol used to set up a security association (SA) in the IPsec protocol suite. IKE builds upon the Oakley protocol and ISAKMP.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Internet_Key_Exchange
protocol (IKE) and Authenticated Internet Protocol (AuthIP) during Quick Mode negotiations.

What is quick mode in IPSec? ›

Quick Mode (QM1, QM2, and QM3)

Quick mode occurs after the Main monde and the IKE has established the secure tunnel in phase 1. Quick Mode negotiates the shared IPSec policy, for the IPSec security algorithms and manages the key exchange for the IPSec SA establishment.

What are the modes of IPSec Phase 1? ›

IKE phase 1 can operate in two modes: main mode and aggressive mode. The main difference between them is the number and content of the messages exchanged between the endpoints. Main mode uses six messages, while aggressive mode uses only three.

What is quick mode? ›

Quick mode lets you build animations scene-by-scene. The timeline displays a series of thumbnails, one for each scene.

What is IKE Phase 2 quick mode? ›

IKE Phase II (Quick mode or IPSec Phase)

IKE phase II is encrypted according to the keys and methods agreed upon in IKE phase I. The key material exchanged during IKE phase II is used for building the IPsec keys. The outcome of phase II is the IPsec Security Association.

Which IPsec mode should you use? ›

IPsec Tunnel Mode vs Transport Mode: When to Use Each Mode

If you are both behind the NAT device, then tunnel mode is better because it establishes a connection while transport mode simply encrypts packets.

What is Phase 1 and Phase 2 of IPsec? ›

The establishment of an IPsec connection takes place in two phases, called IKE phases: In IKE Phase 1, the two endpoints authenticate one another and negotiate keying material. This results in an encrypted tunnel used by Phase 2 for negotiating the ESP security associations.

What are the 2 modes of IPsec operation? ›

The IPsec standards define two distinct modes of IPsec operation, transport mode and tunnel mode. The modes do not affect the encoding of packets. The packets are protected by AH, ESP, or both in each mode.

What are the two modes in IPSec? ›

The IPsec standards define two distinct modes of IPsec operation, transport mode and tunnel mode. The modes do not affect the encoding of packets. The packets are protected by AH, ESP, or both in each mode.

What are the modes of IPSec? ›

IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) is a protocol that provides security for IP-based communication. IPsec can operate in two modes: Tunnel Mode and Transport Mode. Tunnel Mode: In Tunnel Mode, the entire original IP packet is encapsulated in a new IP packet.

Which IPSec mode should you use? ›

IPsec Tunnel Mode vs Transport Mode: When to Use Each Mode

If you are both behind the NAT device, then tunnel mode is better because it establishes a connection while transport mode simply encrypts packets.

What are the two modes that the IPSec protocol can operate in? ›

The basic building blocks of IPSec, AH, and ESP use symmetric cryptographic techniques for ensuring data confidentiality, and data signatures for authenticating the source of the data. IPSec operates in two modes: Transport mode and Tunnel mode.

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