Real time switching from unsecured to secured signaling channel
Calls that can be secure (e.g., are conducted with end-to-end encryption) may originate with some or all of the call being unsecured. Then, upon a triggering event such as a user deciding that sensitive information will be discussed or a “sniffer” determining that the call is being monitored by a spoofed endpoint, triggers a transition of the call from an unsecure connection to a secure connection without terminating and reestablishing the call. Accordingly, an unsecure call, such as one utilizing Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) signaling and Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP) and transitioned to Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure RTP (SRTP) to allow a previously unsecured call to become secured with end-to-end encryption.
1. A method for securing an ongoing unsecured call, comprising:
establishing a call via a network between a first endpoint and second endpoint, the call comprising a signaling path and a first data channel, wherein the signaling path comprises at least a portion not secured by end-to-end encryption;
receiving a signal at the first endpoint to secure the call;
in response to the signal, sending a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to the second endpoint;
receiving, in response to the first SIP message, a second SIP message accepting the first SIP message; and
in response to the second SIP message, transitioning the call from the first data channel to a second data channel, wherein the second data channel utilizes end-to-end encryption between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first SIP message is sent from the first endpoint to the second endpoint via sending the first SIP message to a server located in the signaling path which, in turn, provides the first SIP message to the second endpoint.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data channel comprises a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP).
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second data channel consists entirely of a Secure Real-time transport Protocol (SRTP).
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling path utilized to establish the first data channel comprises a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling path utilized after the second SIP message consists entirely of a Transport Layer Security (TLS) connection.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal is provided in response to a user selection received on the first endpoint.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sniffer application operable to determine that a spoofed endpoint is a node of the call; and
wherein the sniffer application provides the signal to the first endpoint upon determining that a spoofed endpoint is currently present on the call.
9. A system for securing an ongoing unsecured call, comprising:
a first endpoint comprising a processor and a first network interface to a network;
a second endpoint comprising a processor and a second network interface to the network, wherein the first endpoint and the second endpoint are engaged in a call, via the network, the call comprising a signaling path and a first data channel, wherein the signaling path comprises at least a portion not secured by end-to-end encryption, and wherein the call is initially established without end-to-end encryption;
wherein one of the first endpoint or the second endpoint receives a signal to secure the call;
wherein, in response to the signal, sending, by the one of the first endpoint or the second endpoint that received the signal, a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to one other of the first endpoint or the second endpoint;
receiving, in response to the first SIP message, a second SIP message accepting the first SIP message; and
in response to the second SIP message, transitioning the call from the first data channel to a second data channel, wherein the second data channel utilizes end-to-end encryption between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a sniffer comprising a third network interface to the network; and
wherein the sniffer, upon detecting the presence of a spoofed endpoint on the call, provides the signal to the one of the first endpoint or the second endpoint.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first SIP message is sent from the first endpoint to the second endpoint via sending the first SIP message to a server located in the signaling path which, in turn, provides the first SIP message to the second endpoint.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first data channel comprises of a Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP).
13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second data channel consists entirely of a Secure Real-time Transport Protocol (SRTP).
14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the signaling path utilized to establish the first data channel comprises a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP).
15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the signaling path utilized after the second SIP message consists entirely of a Transport Layer Security (TLS) connection.
16. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a user input component on the one of the first endpoint or the second endpoint and wherein the signal is provided in response a user selection received by the user input component.
17. A communications endpoint, comprising:
a processor comprising instructions maintained in a non-transitory memory;
a network interface to a network for communicating thereon; and
wherein the processor:
receives a signal to secure a call, via the network, the call comprising a signaling path and a first data channel, wherein the signaling path comprises at least a portion not secured by end-to-end encryption, wherein the call comprises an exchange of data packets with a second endpoint, and wherein the call is absent end-to-end encryption;
sends, in response to the signal, a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to the second endpoint;
receives, in response to the first SIP message, a second SIP message accepting the first SIP message; and
in response to the second SIP message, transitions the call from the first data channel to a second data channel, wherein the second data channel utilizes end-to-end encryption between a first endpoint and the second endpoint.
18. The communications endpoint of claim 17 , wherein the signal is received from the second endpoint.
19. The communications endpoint of claim 17 , wherein the signal is received from a sniffer monitoring the call and in response to the sniffer determining that a spoofed endpoint is on the call.
20. The communications endpoint of claim 17 , further comprising:
a user input component; and
wherein the signal is received by the user input component in response to receiving an input to the user input component.