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"Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news  (E-Mail Removed)...> On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 21:40:24 -0000, "John Stubbings" > <anna.riceDELETE-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote: > >>Can anyone point me to a reference [rfc] that says what exactly is >>permissible in a SSID ESSID >> >>like leading spaces what symbols etc > > It should be in the IEEE 802.11 specification. > <http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html> > > From IEEE 802.11-1999 7.3.2.1 > 7.3.2.1 Service Set Identity (SSID) element > > The SSID element indicates the identity of an ESS or IBSS. > See Figure 35. > > The length of the SSID information field is between 0 and 32 octets. > A 0 length information field indicates the broadcast SSID. > > That's a bit misleading as the SSID is sometimes null terminated > leaving only 31 characters available. Some firmware versions screw up > if you use the full 32 characters. > > The characters must also be printable, so no control characters are > allowed. I'm fairly sure that a leading space is also not allowed, > but there doesn't seem to be anything specified. Tested with my Cisco access point with latest firmware Does not allow trailing spaces Does allow leading spaces, tested and it works with XP and FreeBSD system > > Also: The following six characters are not allowed: ?, ", $, [, \, ], > and +. In addition, the following three characters cannot be the first > character: !, #, and ;. Again tested with Cisco they say only + ] / " TAB and trailing space is invalid Tried ? and it works Tried leading ! and it works |
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John Stubbings wrote:
> "Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message > news (E-Mail Removed)...>> On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 21:40:24 -0000, "John Stubbings" >> <anna.riceDELETE-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote: >> >>> Can anyone point me to a reference [rfc] that says what exactly is >>> permissible in a SSID ESSID >>> >>> like leading spaces what symbols etc >> >> It should be in the IEEE 802.11 specification. >> <http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html> >> >> From IEEE 802.11-1999 7.3.2.1 >> 7.3.2.1 Service Set Identity (SSID) element >> >> The SSID element indicates the identity of an ESS or IBSS. >> See Figure 35. >> >> The length of the SSID information field is between 0 and 32 octets. >> A 0 length information field indicates the broadcast SSID. >> >> That's a bit misleading as the SSID is sometimes null terminated >> leaving only 31 characters available. Some firmware versions screw up >> if you use the full 32 characters. >> >> The characters must also be printable, so no control characters are >> allowed. I'm fairly sure that a leading space is also not allowed, >> but there doesn't seem to be anything specified. > > Tested with my Cisco access point with latest firmware > > Does not allow trailing spaces > > Does allow leading spaces, tested and it works with XP and FreeBSD system > >> >> Also: The following six characters are not allowed: ?, ", $, [, \, ], >> and +. In addition, the following three characters cannot be the first >> character: !, #, and ;. > > Again tested with Cisco they say only + ] / " TAB and trailing space is > invalid > > Tried ? and it works > > Tried leading ! and it works > > > > > > Interesting! When you say it works I presume you mean you can connect and transfer data rather than just see the SSID. From the Cisco info. I have seen they are quite clear that those characters are not to be used. <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/123-04.JA/1400br/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/122-15.JA/1100/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> <http://www.exio.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/wireless/airo1130/1130hig/113h_c3.htm> |
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LR wrote:
> John Stubbings wrote: >> "Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message >> news (E-Mail Removed)...>>> On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 21:40:24 -0000, "John Stubbings" >>> <anna.riceDELETE-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote: >>> >>>> Can anyone point me to a reference [rfc] that says what exactly is >>>> permissible in a SSID ESSID >>>> >>>> like leading spaces what symbols etc >>> >>> It should be in the IEEE 802.11 specification. >>> <http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html> >>> >>> From IEEE 802.11-1999 7.3.2.1 >>> 7.3.2.1 Service Set Identity (SSID) element >>> >>> The SSID element indicates the identity of an ESS or IBSS. >>> See Figure 35. >>> >>> The length of the SSID information field is between 0 and 32 octets. >>> A 0 length information field indicates the broadcast SSID. >>> >>> That's a bit misleading as the SSID is sometimes null terminated >>> leaving only 31 characters available. Some firmware versions screw up >>> if you use the full 32 characters. >>> >>> The characters must also be printable, so no control characters are >>> allowed. I'm fairly sure that a leading space is also not allowed, >>> but there doesn't seem to be anything specified. >> >> Tested with my Cisco access point with latest firmware >> >> Does not allow trailing spaces >> >> Does allow leading spaces, tested and it works with XP and FreeBSD system >> >>> >>> Also: The following six characters are not allowed: ?, ", $, [, \, ], >>> and +. In addition, the following three characters cannot be the first >>> character: !, #, and ;. >> >> Again tested with Cisco they say only + ] / " TAB and trailing space is >> invalid >> >> Tried ? and it works >> >> Tried leading ! and it works >> > Interesting! When you say it works I presume you mean you can connect > and transfer data rather than just see the SSID. > > From the Cisco info. I have seen they are quite clear that those > characters are not to be used. > <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/123-04.JA/1400br/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> > <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/122-15.JA/1100/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> > <http://www.exio.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/wireless/airo1130/1130hig/113h_c3.htm> Interesting. It appears that in the absence of "specific and detailed" valid SSID characters vendors have made up their own restrictions. I looked at "ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition (R2003)" and could not find any restrictions to the characters it might contain, only that it is an octet string of size 0-32. I admit my look was very cursive and I may have missed something, but it appears IEEE have dealt extensively with size and use of SSID and almost nothing on what it can contain. In my own case I have two Linksys wireless routers (WTR54G and BEFW11S4) with SSIDs of the type #naaaaaa (e.g. #5window) and they both work with XP and Kubuntu. Question: If the standards do not specify restrictions and a vendor applies restrictions, is that a violation of the standards? -- Ben |
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Plan9 <(E-Mail Removed)> hath wroth:
>LR wrote: > >> John Stubbings wrote: >>> "Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message >>> news (E-Mail Removed)...>>>> On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 21:40:24 -0000, "John Stubbings" >>>> <anna.riceDELETE-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Can anyone point me to a reference [rfc] that says what exactly is >>>>> permissible in a SSID ESSID >>>>> >>>>> like leading spaces what symbols etc >>>> >>>> It should be in the IEEE 802.11 specification. >>>> <http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html> >>>> >>>> From IEEE 802.11-1999 7.3.2.1 >>>> 7.3.2.1 Service Set Identity (SSID) element >>>> >>>> The SSID element indicates the identity of an ESS or IBSS. >>>> See Figure 35. >>>> >>>> The length of the SSID information field is between 0 and 32 octets. >>>> A 0 length information field indicates the broadcast SSID. >>>> >>>> That's a bit misleading as the SSID is sometimes null terminated >>>> leaving only 31 characters available. Some firmware versions screw up >>>> if you use the full 32 characters. >>>> >>>> The characters must also be printable, so no control characters are >>>> allowed. I'm fairly sure that a leading space is also not allowed, >>>> but there doesn't seem to be anything specified. >>> >>> Tested with my Cisco access point with latest firmware >>> >>> Does not allow trailing spaces >>> >>> Does allow leading spaces, tested and it works with XP and FreeBSD system >>> >>>> >>>> Also: The following six characters are not allowed: ?, ", $, [, \, ], >>>> and +. In addition, the following three characters cannot be the first >>>> character: !, #, and ;. >>> >>> Again tested with Cisco they say only + ] / " TAB and trailing space is >>> invalid >>> >>> Tried ? and it works >>> >>> Tried leading ! and it works >>> >> Interesting! When you say it works I presume you mean you can connect >> and transfer data rather than just see the SSID. >> >> From the Cisco info. I have seen they are quite clear that those >> characters are not to be used. >> ><http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/123-04.JA/1400br/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> >> ><http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/122-15.JA/1100/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> >> ><http://www.exio.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/wireless/airo1130/1130hig/113h_c3.htm> > >Interesting. It appears that in the absence of "specific and detailed" >valid SSID characters vendors have made up their own restrictions. I >looked at "ANSI/IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition (R2003)" and could not find >any restrictions to the characters it might contain, only that it is an >octet string of size 0-32. I admit my look was very cursive and I may have >missed something, but it appears IEEE have dealt extensively with size and >use of SSID and almost nothing on what it can contain. There are bigger holes in the 802.11 specs than a failure to specify a char or string field type. Nobody ever considered the possibility that users would want to intentionally obscure the SSID, hide the SSID, or use it as any form of security. The previous standard was published in 1997 and I vaguely recall (and am too lazy to research) was originally inscribed in about 1994/1995. Now, think about where we were in computing 12 years ago and see if you could predict current applications. I think Windoze 3.1 and Xenix was the fashion. Linux hadn't even been started. Next, try to predict where we'll be 12 years in the future and write an airtight spec that includes all possible creative interpretations and mutiliations. Be sure to make it compatible with systems that do not yet exist, with future security considerations, with future government regulations, and with predicted fashion trends. If you can do that, I wanna buy the crystal ball you're using. >In my own case I have two Linksys wireless routers (WTR54G and BEFW11S4) >with SSIDs of the type #naaaaaa (e.g. #5window) and they both work with XP >and Kubuntu. > >Question: >If the standards do not specify restrictions and a vendor applies >restrictions, is that a violation of the standards? I lifted the SSID restrictions from the Cisco SSID Manager release notes. See 2nd paragraph: <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/122-15.JA/1400br/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> My guess(tm) is that the various strictures are the result of various Cisco programs and shell scripts blowing up if confronted with these characters. That would certainly explain the strictures on the leading ! # ; which would probably blow up a Bourne Shell or Perl script. Leading and trailing spaces will cause problems with HTML in the configuration utilities. I found the problem with the null string delimiter which resulted in a 31 character SSID, instead of 32. As long as the management and configuration program handles the SSID as a string, there's going to be scripting problems. As for violating 802.11 standards, methinks you should take that up with the Wi-Fi Alliance, which offers various certifications: <http://www.wi-fi.org/wp/wifi-alliance-certification/> <http://www.wi-fi.org/certification_programs.php> However, I don't think you're going to get their attention. They have successfully ignored the ASCII versus Hex WEP key concompatibility between different vendor implimentations for years. There are also some rather creative timing incompatibilities, such as those between Meru Networks and Cisco. The Wi-Fi Alliance apparently (my guess) has no interest in becoming an enforcement organization and is only interested in selling certifications. Incidentally, I recently had a customer discover that it was possible to create a UserName in Vista that starts with a space. It was a typo error but it's driving me nuts because some utilities accept the leading space, while others do not. Directory names that start with a space are officially proscribed, but I'm still stuck with: c:\home\ user\ I can rename the user, but this customer already created a 2nd user with the same UserName, but without the leading space. Now, he's got files scattered all over the machine and randomly destributed between the two UserNames depending on how various utilities and programs handle the leading space. Worse, I can't move everything to a 3rd neutral UserName because he has multiple network authentication accounts all configured with the UserName. So, go ahead. Try using a leading space and see what breaks. -- Jeff Liebermann (E-Mail Removed) 150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558 |
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"LR" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)... > John Stubbings wrote: >> "Jeff Liebermann" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message >> news (E-Mail Removed)...>>> On Thu, 6 Dec 2007 21:40:24 -0000, "John Stubbings" >>> <anna.riceDELETE-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote: >>> >>>> Can anyone point me to a reference [rfc] that says what exactly is >>>> permissible in a SSID ESSID >>>> >>>> like leading spaces what symbols etc >>> >>> It should be in the IEEE 802.11 specification. >>> <http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html> >>> >>> From IEEE 802.11-1999 7.3.2.1 >>> 7.3.2.1 Service Set Identity (SSID) element >>> >>> The SSID element indicates the identity of an ESS or IBSS. >>> See Figure 35. >>> >>> The length of the SSID information field is between 0 and 32 octets. >>> A 0 length information field indicates the broadcast SSID. >>> >>> That's a bit misleading as the SSID is sometimes null terminated >>> leaving only 31 characters available. Some firmware versions screw up >>> if you use the full 32 characters. >>> >>> The characters must also be printable, so no control characters are >>> allowed. I'm fairly sure that a leading space is also not allowed, >>> but there doesn't seem to be anything specified. >> >> Tested with my Cisco access point with latest firmware >> >> Does not allow trailing spaces >> >> Does allow leading spaces, tested and it works with XP and FreeBSD system >> >>> >>> Also: The following six characters are not allowed: ?, ", $, [, \, ], >>> and +. In addition, the following three characters cannot be the first >>> character: !, #, and ;. >> >> Again tested with Cisco they say only + ] / " TAB and trailing space is >> invalid >> >> Tried ? and it works >> >> Tried leading ! and it works >> >> >> >> >> >> > Interesting! When you say it works I presume you mean you can connect and > transfer data rather than just see the SSID. > > From the Cisco info. I have seen they are quite clear that those > characters are not to be used. > > <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/123-04.JA/1400br/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> > > <http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/smbiz/prodconfig/help/eag/122-15.JA/1100/h_ap_sec_ap-client-security.htm> > > <http://www.exio.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/product/wireless/airo1130/1130hig/113h_c3.htm> > > What I quoted was from a pop up box generated by Cisco software on 1100 access point when I put a trailing space in the SSID System Software Filename: c1100-k9w7-tar.123-8.JEC System Software Version: 12.3(8)JEC Just tried SSID of ?$[\ no leading or trailing spaces, and it worked  and yes transferred data. Cisco access point FreeBSD client.Anyway enough silliness I guess there is no definitive answer. |
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