Malaysia’s Telecom BGP Leak: Disruption in 2015

Introduction:

In 2015, Malaysia experienced a significant internet disruption due to a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing leak by a telecommunications provider. The incident resulted in a portion of global internet traffic being rerouted through Malaysia, causing disruptions to various online services and underscoring the vulnerability of BGP to misconfigurations.

Incident Overview:

In June 2015, a Malaysian telecommunications provider, TM Net, inadvertently leaked BGP routing information to its upstream peers. This misconfiguration caused TM Net to announce routes for IP addresses that it did not own, including those belonging to major internet service providers (ISPs) and content delivery networks (CDNs).

As a result of the BGP leak, a portion of global internet traffic was redirected through TM Net’s network in Malaysia. This unexpected routing caused congestion and latency issues for affected services, disrupting access to popular websites and online platforms for users worldwide.

The incident persisted for several hours before engineers identified and rectified the misconfiguration, restoring normal routing and alleviating the disruption to internet traffic.

Response:

Upon detecting the BGP leak, network operators and monitoring organizations swiftly intervened to assess the scope of the issue and mitigate its impact. Engineers at TM Net worked to identify the source of the misconfiguration and implement corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Additionally, affected ISPs and CDNs adjusted their routing policies and implemented filters to prevent their traffic from being erroneously routed through TM Net’s network. These measures helped to stabilize internet routing and restore normal service for users experiencing disruptions.

TM Net publicly acknowledged the incident and issued an apology for the disruption caused by the BGP leak. They pledged to enhance their network management practices and implement additional safeguards to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

Impact and Aftermath:

The Malaysia BGP incident of 2015 highlighted the potential risks associated with BGP misconfigurations and the broader implications for global internet connectivity. The disruption underscored the need for improved network monitoring and coordination among telecommunications providers to detect and mitigate routing anomalies promptly.

Following the incident, there were calls for greater awareness and training regarding BGP best practices among network operators. Industry stakeholders emphasized the importance of implementing security mechanisms, such as route filtering and validation, to prevent inadvertent BGP leaks and mitigate their impact on internet stability.

The incident served as a catalyst for discussions on enhancing the resilience of internet routing infrastructure and strengthening collaboration within the global internet community to address emerging threats and vulnerabilities.

Conclusion:

The Malaysia BGP incident of 2015 highlighted the critical role of BGP in internet routing and the potential consequences of misconfigurations on global internet connectivity. It underscored the importance of proactive measures, collaboration, and ongoing vigilance to safeguard the integrity and stability of internet routing infrastructure. The incident serves as a valuable lesson for network operators and policymakers in mitigating the risks associated with BGP routing anomalies.