Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) hijacking is a network attack where an adversary maliciously advertises IP prefixes they do not own, causing traffic to be misrouted through attacker-controlled networks. This can lead to interception, traffic manipulation, or denial of service. The post outlines a detection method leveraging Internet Routing Registries (IRR) data from sources like RIPE, ARIN, and APNIC, which contain authoritative mappings of IP prefixes to Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs). By storing this data in a search engine capable of prefix queries and continuously crawling live BGP stream data from RouteViews, the method compares the ASN announcing a prefix against the registered ASN in IRR. If a mismatch is detected, it flags a potential hijack event. This approach helps identify unauthorized route announcements indicative of BGP hijacking. The author shares results on ipiphistory.com, demonstrating practical application. While IRR data can be outdated or incomplete, combining it with real-time BGP monitoring enhances detection accuracy. The technique is straightforward but effective for network operators and security teams to detect suspicious routing changes. The post does not describe a new vulnerability or exploit but rather a community-driven detection strategy. BGP hijacking remains a critical threat due to the fundamental trust model of BGP and the lack of universal cryptographic validation in routing announcements.

BGP hijacking can severely impact European organizations by redirecting or intercepting sensitive traffic, causing data breaches, service disruptions, or enabling man-in-the-middle attacks. Critical infrastructure providers, financial institutions, and large enterprises relying on stable internet connectivity are at risk. Hijacks can degrade network availability, compromise confidentiality, and undermine trust in internet routing. For Europe, where many countries host major internet exchange points and data centers, BGP hijacks can disrupt cross-border communications and cloud services. The impact extends to national security, economic stability, and privacy compliance obligations under regulations like GDPR. Detection methods like the one described help mitigate these risks by enabling faster identification and response to hijack events. However, without proactive monitoring and validation, organizations remain vulnerable to sophisticated routing attacks that can be exploited by cybercriminals or state-sponsored actors.

European organizations should implement multi-layered BGP security measures beyond simple detection: 1) Deploy Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) to cryptographically validate route origins and reject unauthorized announcements. 2) Integrate real-time BGP monitoring tools that correlate IRR data with live route streams to detect anomalies promptly. 3) Collaborate with regional internet registries (e.g., RIPE NCC) to maintain accurate and up-to-date IRR records. 4) Establish incident response procedures for suspected BGP hijacks, including coordination with upstream providers and CERTs. 5) Use prefix filtering and route validation policies at network edges to limit acceptance of suspicious routes. 6) Participate in threat intelligence sharing communities focused on BGP security to stay informed of emerging threats. 7) Regularly audit network routing configurations and update detection heuristics to reduce false positives. These steps, combined with the detection approach described, provide a robust defense against BGP hijacking.