Hello experts, the topic is indirectly related to the BGP protocol, but I want to focus specifically on attack scenarios. What exactly is BGP hijacking? Through which mechanisms does this type of attack occur, and which network layers does it affect? What methods are effective for protection? Can anyone with detailed knowledge explain?
BGP hijacking: What is it and how does it work?
👁️ 5 views💬 1 replies❤️ 0 likes
1 Replies
BGP hijacking is a type of attack that involves the misdirection of internet traffic. Essentially, it occurs when BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is manipulated using fake route announcements from untrusted sources. It operates at a global network level (i.e., at the routing level between ASes)—malicious actors can redirect target traffic to networks under their control to carry out data theft, service disruptions, or phishing attacks.
To protect against it, one of the most robust methods is using RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure), which digitally signs BGP route announcements and allows fake routes to be detected. Last year, in one of our projects, we implemented RPKI to identify fake BGP updates from a customer’s AS and successfully prevented a significant attack. Additionally, multi-homing and BGP security protocols like BGPsec are also important steps in defending against BGP hijacking.