ISAKMP/IKEv1 Client (2024)

FAQs

Should I use IKEv1 or IKEv2? ›

IKEv2 provides the following benefits over IKEv1: IKEv2 mode is considered to be more secure,reliable and faster. In IKEv2 Tunnel endpoints exchange fewer messages to establish a tunnel. IKEv2 uses four messages; IKEv1 uses either six messages (in the main mode) or three messages (in aggressive mode).

IKEv1 is more complex and prone to errors and misconfigurations. It also has more overhead and latency due to the multiple messages and modes. IKEv1 is less resilient to network changes and interruptions, such as switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data, or losing connectivity temporarily.

IKEv1 was designed in the late 1990s, so it is unlikely that most IKE protocols are vulnerable to this attack, however, it is known that some legacy systems enable this version of IKE by default. Additionally, there are a handful of Cisco devices/versions that are vulnerable to CVE-2016-6415.

IKEv1 Security Vulnerabilities

This separation of encryption from data integrity protection prevents the use of authenticated encryption (AES-GCM) with IKEv1. IKEv1 protocol is vulnerable to DoS amplification attacks. IKEv1 is vulnerable to half-open connections. IKEv2 can defend against DoS attacks.

Internet Key Exchange Version 1 (IKEv1) has been deprecated, and RFCs 2407, 2408, and 2409 have been moved to Historic status.

IKEv2 and OpenVPN are both solid choices when it comes to speed, security, and reliability. IKEv2 has the edge when it comes to speed and is a better choice for mobile devices due to its stability. However, OpenVPN is the stronger option if security is the top priority, and it still offers a fast connection.

While IKEv2 is generally considered secure, users should be aware of a few probable security issues as: Implementation vulnerabilities: Like any cryptographic protocol, the security of IKEv2 depends on the correct protocol implementation in software or hardware.

Rekeying. In comparison to IKEv1, which only supports reauthentication (see below), IKEv2 provides proper inline rekeying of IKE SAs by use of CREATE_CHILD_SA exchanges. This means that new keys may be established without any interruption of the existing IKE and IPsec SAs.

Internet Key Exchange (also known as IKE, IKEv1 or IKEv2) is a protocol that is used to generate a security association within the Internet Protocol Security protocol suite.

Is IKEv1 secure on reddit? ›

IKEv1 is easier to misconfigure into vulnerable configurations, especially agressive mode which is vulnerable to brute-force attacks. The story goes that the NSA designed IPSEC and IKE to be secure if configured properly, but easy to screw up. IKEv2 is an improvement on that early design.

The Aggressive Mode squeezes the IKE SA negotiation into three packets, with all data required for the SA passed by the initiator. The responder sends the proposal, key material, and ID, and authenticates the session in the next packet. The initiator replies and authenticates the session.

Using encryption keys for both ends of the VPN connection, IKEv2 is more secure than IKEv1. With its built-in NAT traversal, IKEv2 establishes a connection much faster than IKEv1. IKEv2 takes up less bandwidth and less data overhead.

IKEv2/IPSec is a VPN protocol that is widely used for gaming due to its fast speeds, stability, and strong security. It's a combination of two different protocols, IKEv2 and IPsec. Your device communicates with the VPN server using IKEv2 while IPsec handles data transmission.