When a provider needs IPs, they typically request them from their Regional Internet Registry (e.g., ARIN) or purchase them from an IP broker. The blocks are then assigned to the provider’s AS (Autonomous System).

These blocks can be viewed by various tool, such as on Hurricane Electric’s site.  For example, LowEnd provider SecureDragon.net is AS54561.  If you look them up on HE’s site, you’ll see they have four blocks assigned to them:

This a legitimate entry (for a very reputable provider) who has approximately 16,000 IPv4 addresses to assign to its various customer servers.  As you can see, the name assigned to each block matches the AS name.

Now let’s look at an entry that is not legitimate.

Here is AS62900:

Rather confusing, isn’t it?  Multiple blocks assigned to companies in many different countries (US, Canada, South Africa, and China), and many with the same name.  Some of these companies don’t even exist any more.  “MCI” went defunct in 2006; Arthur Andersen back in 2002.

So what’s going on here?  Block hijacking.  These blocks are blocks of IP space which the RIR has forgotten or were not properly returned to the RIR.  For example, the requester went bankrupt and never relinquished the blocks, or the requester has many blocks and forgot about one assigned to them.  Or perhaps the requester has many blocks and has experienced a decreased need but is reluctant to return them (as IPv4 is getting scarce) and so continues to hold on to them without using them.  Also, some organizations may request a block and use part or all of it as “private” IP space (which should not be done, as there are designated IP networks which are not publicly routable).

A sketchy provider may search IP space to find a block not currently announced and then simply begin announcing it (using BGP) as their own.  This can work for a time, possibly for a long time.  But it’s a dangerous game because the actual owner might wake up and start using the block.

The provider is potentially saving a ton of money by not paying for his IPs.  But if you’re a client of that provider, you might suddenly find your network no longer works, usually following swiftly by an email from the provider stating that due to (insert purposefully obtuse technobabble) they’ve had to change some customer IPs.

How to protect yourself?  Find out your provider’s AS number and look it up.  You should see all blocks owned in the company’s name (or a related name if the company has changed names or is part of a larger firm).  The block may also be in the name of the provider’s upstream provider.

However, if you see something that seems strange, ask why.  If the provider can’t provide a logical explanation, look for a new provider because you may be sitting on squatted space.

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raindog308

Dread Lord of LowEnd Content at LowEndBox

I'm raindog308, techno polymath and long-time LowEndTalk community Administrator. My technical interests include all things Unix, perl, python, golang, shell scripting, vintage operating systems such as MVS, and relational database systems such as Oracle, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.

I also enjoy using LEBs! I have an empire of little guys for VPNs, larger guys for apps, and big guys for databases and storage. When I'm not in front a screen I'm into German Shepherd dogs, quality knives, target shooting, theology, tabletop roleplaying games, and forest hiking.

I enjoy writing technical articles here on LowEndBox to help people get more out of their systems. You can find me on LowEndTalk @raindog308

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