Depricated SSL/TLS Protocols and Ciphers you should not use

 As cybersecurity threats evolve, older SSL/TLS protocols and ciphers that were once considered secure have become deprecated due to vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Here are some of the deprecated SSL/TLS protocols and ciphers:

Deprecated SSL/TLS Protocols:

1.     SSLv2: SSL version 2 is highly insecure and has numerous vulnerabilities, including susceptibility to various attacks like the BEAST attack. It's considered completely obsolete and should not be used.

2.     SSLv3: SSL version 3 is also deprecated due to vulnerabilities like POODLE (Padding Oracle On Downgraded Legacy Encryption). It's no longer considered secure.

3.     TLS 1.0: TLS 1.0 is deprecated because it's vulnerable to attacks like BEAST and POODLE. It lacks some modern security features found in newer TLS versions.

4.     TLS 1.1: TLS 1.1 is considered weak and is also deprecated in many security-conscious environments.

Deprecated SSL/TLS Cipher Suites:

1.     RC4: The RC4 cipher is deprecated due to multiple vulnerabilities, including biases that allow for practical attacks. It's recommended to avoid using RC4 in favor of stronger ciphers like AES.

2.     DES (Data Encryption Standard): DES is considered weak due to its small key size, making it vulnerable to brute-force attacks. It's deprecated in favor of stronger encryption algorithms.

3.     3DES (Triple Data Encryption Standard): While 3DES was once considered secure, its key length and vulnerability to certain attacks make it deprecated in favor of more robust encryption algorithms.

4.     EXPORT Cipher Suites: These cipher suites were designed to comply with export restrictions on encryption technology in the 1990s. They have extremely weak key lengths and are deprecated.

5.     NULL Cipher Suites: These cipher suites provide no encryption, making data transmission completely insecure. They should never be used.

6.     Anon Cipher Suites: Anonymous cipher suites don't require the server to present a digital certificate, making them susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks. They are deprecated for security reasons.

7.     Cipher Suites with Weak Key Lengths: Cipher suites with key lengths less than 128 bits (e.g., 40-bit or 56-bit keys) are deprecated due to their vulnerability to brute-force attacks.

It's crucial to keep your SSL/TLS configurations up to date and avoid using deprecated protocols and ciphers to maintain a high level of security for your web services. Most modern web browsers and servers have deprecated these older protocols and ciphers as well, and it's essential to configure your systems to use only strong, secure options to protect against potential security threats.

 

TLS/SSL Cipher Suites and TLS handshake process

The foundation of secure communication on the internet relies heavily on TLS/SSL cipher suites. These suites dictate the algorithms used to encrypt and decrypt data, ensuring that sensitive information remains private and protected. In this article, we'll delve into the world of TLS/SSL cipher suites, examining how they work, their components, and their importance in establishing secure connections.

Understanding TLS/SSL Cipher Suites

A cipher suite is a combination of cryptographic algorithms that determine how data is secured during transmission over a network. Each TLS/SSL connection negotiates a cipher suite, allowing both the client and the server to agree on the encryption and authentication methods to be used. A typical cipher suite consists of several components:

1.     Key Exchange Algorithm: This component is responsible for securely exchanging encryption keys between the client and server. Common key exchange methods include Diffie-Hellman (DHE), Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDHE), and RSA.

2.     Authentication Algorithm: This algorithm verifies the authenticity of the server's digital certificate. The most widely used authentication method is RSA, although ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) is gaining popularity.

3.     Symmetric Encryption Algorithm: Symmetric encryption relies on a single shared key for both encryption and decryption. Common symmetric encryption algorithms include AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), 3DES (Triple Data Encryption Standard), and RC4 (Rivest Cipher 4).

4.     Message Authentication Code (MAC) Algorithm: MAC algorithms ensure message integrity by verifying that data has not been tampered with during transmission. HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code) is a popular choice.

5.     Hash Function: Hash functions are used for various purposes, such as generating digital signatures and verifying the integrity of transmitted data. Common hash functions include SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm 256-bit) and SHA-384.

The TLS Handshake Process

To establish a secure connection using a specific cipher suite, the TLS handshake process takes place:

1.     ClientHello: The client initiates the connection by sending a "ClientHello" message to the server. This message includes information about the cipher suites it supports.

2.     ServerHello: The server responds with a "ServerHello" message, selecting a cipher suite from the list provided by the client.

3.     Key Exchange: If necessary (as determined by the chosen cipher suite), the client and server exchange key information securely.

4.     Certificate Verification: The server presents its digital certificate to the client for verification. The client checks the certificate's authenticity using its list of trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs).

5.     Session Key Generation: Both the client and server use the exchanged key information to derive a session key, which will be used for symmetric encryption.

6.     Finished: Finally, both parties exchange "Finished" messages to confirm that the handshake was successful. Subsequent data is encrypted and decrypted using the derived session key.

Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS)

Perfect Forward Secrecy is a property of certain key exchange methods (such as DHE and ECDHE) that ensures that even if an attacker obtains the long-term private key, they cannot decrypt past communications encrypted with session keys. This enhances security and privacy.

Choosing the Right Cipher Suite

The choice of cipher suite is essential for security. It depends on factors like the sensitivity of the data being transmitted, the server's security configuration, and performance considerations. Strong, up-to-date cipher suites are recommended to ensure the highest level of security.

 

TLS Cipher Suites

Cipher Suite	Key Exchange Algorithm	Authentication Algorithm	Symmetric Encryption Algorithm	MAC Algorithm	Hash Function
TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384	ECDHE	RSA	AES-256-GCM	HMAC-SHA384	SHA-384
TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256	ECDHE	RSA	AES-128-GCM	HMAC-SHA256	SHA-256
TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384	DHE	RSA	AES-256-GCM	HMAC-SHA384	SHA-384
TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256	DHE	RSA	AES-128-GCM	HMAC-SHA256	SHA-256
TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384	RSA	RSA	AES-256-GCM	HMAC-SHA384	SHA-384
TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256	RSA	RSA	AES-128-GCM	HMAC-SHA256	SHA-256
TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256	RSA	RSA	AES-256-CBC	HMAC-SHA256	SHA-256
TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256	RSA	RSA	AES-128-CBC	HMAC-SHA256	SHA-256
TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA	RSA	RSA	AES-256-CBC	HMAC-SHA1	SHA-1
TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA	RSA	RSA	AES-128-CBC	HMAC-SHA1	SHA-1
TLS_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA	RSA	RSA	3DES-EDE-CBC	HMAC-SHA1	SHA-1
TLS_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA	RSA	RSA	RC4 (128-bit)	HMAC-SHA1	SHA-1

 

Please note that this table includes various combinations of key exchange, authentication, and encryption algorithms. The choice of cipher suite depends on factors like security requirements, server and client compatibility, and performance considerations. Additionally, it's crucial to stay updated with the latest security standards and recommendations when configuring TLS cipher suites for your web services.

TLS/SSL cipher suites are the building blocks of secure communication on the internet. By defining the encryption, authentication, and key exchange methods used during the TLS handshake, cipher suites enable secure data transmission and protect users from eavesdropping and data tampering.

 

SSL/TLS Certificate Chain Validation in HTTPS

The use of SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) encryption is fundamental to the security of internet communication. When you connect to an HTTPS website, your browser engages in a complex process of validating SSL/TLS certificates to ensure secure and trustworthy data transfer. In this article, we'll unravel the mystery behind SSL/TLS certificate chain validation and how it works to secure your online interactions.

The Importance of SSL/TLS Certificates

SSL/TLS certificates play a pivotal role in the encryption and authentication of data transmitted over the web. They provide three essential functions:

1. Encryption: Certificates facilitate the encryption of data between your browser and the web server, ensuring that any intercepted data remains unreadable.
2. Authentication: Certificates verify the identity of the website you're connecting to. This prevents attackers from impersonating legitimate websites.
3. Integrity: Certificates ensure that data exchanged between your browser and the web server hasn't been tampered with during transit.

The SSL/TLS Certificate Chain

The SSL/TLS certificate chain is a hierarchical structure comprising multiple certificates that establish trust between your browser and the website's server. Here's how it typically works:

1. Root Certificate Authority (CA):
• At the top of the chain is the Root CA certificate. These are well-known and trusted entities, like VeriSign or Let's Encrypt, that issue certificates.
• Your operating system or browser comes pre-installed with a list of trusted root CAs.
2. Intermediate Certificate Authorities:
• Below the root CA are intermediate CAs. These CAs are also trusted but are used by the root CAs to issue certificates.
• The website owner obtains a certificate from one of these intermediates, not directly from the root CA.
3. Server Certificate:
• The website's server certificate, also known as the end-entity certificate, is signed by one of the intermediate CAs.
• This certificate contains the server's public key and its hostname.

Certificate Chain Validation Process

When you connect to an HTTPS website, your browser performs the following steps to validate the certificate chain:

1. Receipt of Server Certificate:
• The server sends its certificate to your browser when you initiate an HTTPS connection.
2. Validation of Signature:
• Your browser checks the signature on the server's certificate. It uses the public key of the issuer (an intermediate CA) to verify the signature.
• If the signature is valid, the server's certificate is considered trustworthy so far.
3. Issuer Verification:
• Your browser checks if the issuer of the server certificate (the intermediate CA) is in its list of trusted CAs. This is where the chain begins.
4. Validation of Intermediate Certificate:
• Your browser proceeds to validate the intermediate certificate using the same process as the server certificate.
• It checks the signature and verifies that the intermediate CA is trusted.
5. Repeat Process for Root CA:
• The process continues until your browser reaches a root CA certificate. This final certificate must be in your browser's trusted list.
• If the root CA certificate is trusted, the entire certificate chain is validated.
6. Hostname Verification:
• Your browser also checks if the hostname in the server certificate matches the hostname you're trying to access. This prevents man-in-the-middle attacks.
7. Encryption Key Exchange:
• If all steps pass, your browser and the server exchange encryption keys, and secure communication begins.

SSL/TLS certificate chain validation is a complex but essential process that ensures the authenticity and security of HTTPS websites. By verifying each certificate in the chain, starting from the server certificate and ending with a trusted root CA, your browser establishes trust and encrypts data for secure communication.