During this last month, the SSAC discussed the following issues:
- Terms of Reference for the Root Scaling Study
The addition of IPv6 addresses, DNSSEC DS keys and possibly up to 500 new gTLDs will generate major changes to the root zone file. The incidence of these changes need to be assessed. The study will focus on on the root server system itself. Because of the variety in authoritative servers and resolvers, there is a need to identify if some issues can be troublesome and how they can be addressed.
Although the study would be focused on the root server sytem itself, it is worth noting that adding new features to the root zone, especially new TLDs will have side effects on Internet based applications. One example are forms on web sites which validate e-mail addresses based on TLD names. Up to now , this was a fairly static list of TLDs. With the perspective that ICANN may add an average of 10 new TLDs per week in the future, this may lead to major incompatibilities in user interfaces.
The ALAC liaison to SSAC also raised the specific issue of having more than 13 root servers at the root top. The historical limit of 13 IPv4 addresses has been de facto lifted by the introduction of IPv6 addresses, with no side effects reported up to now. Hence, the 13 root servers tehnical limit does not seem relevant anymore.
- SAC040: Measures to Protect Domain Registration Services from Exploitation and Misuse
This SSAC advisory will be published soon and is currently in LAST CALL status. It identifies the different types of attacks against registrar systems to gain control of registered domain names by hackers. Most of these attacks are the consequence of either social engineering or the exploitation of software bugs. It also suggests possible counter measures registrars could take.
- IRIS/CRISP and whois replacement
The SSAC is happy to note revived interest from the ICANN community towards a replacement for the current whois system. ICANN staff is currently seeking expert advice on IRIS. While it is unlikely that an IRIS workshop could be set up in time for the Sydney meeting, it is good to note that things seem to move forward.
