Network Working Group R. Ehlers Internet-Draft PastWipe Ltd Intended status: Informational 17 October 2026 Expires: 20 April 2027 RepSec: Post-Breach Data Neutralisation Protocol draft-ehlers-repsec-02 Abstract This document introduces RepSec, a post-breach data neutralisation protocol designed to reduce the utility of exfiltrated or unauthorised data copies. RepSec operates independently of traditional perimeter and access-control security models by enforcing conditional data usability based on attestation and environmental integrity. The goal is to limit downstream exploitation, resale value, and operational impact of compromised data without disrupting legitimate use. Status of This Memo This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79. Internet-Drafts are working documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Note that other groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts. The list of current Internet- Drafts is at https://datatracker.ietf.org/drafts/current/. Internet-Drafts are draft documents valid for a maximum of six months and may be updated, replaced, or obsoleted by other documents at any time. It is inappropriate to use Internet-Drafts as reference material or to cite them other than as "work in progress." This Internet-Draft will expire on 20 April 2027. Copyright Notice Copyright (c) 2026 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the document authors. All rights reserved. Ehlers Expires 20 April 2027 [Page 1] Internet-Draft RepSec October 2026 This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal Provisions Relating to IETF Documents (https://trustee.ietf.org/ license-info) in effect on the date of publication of this document. Please review these documents carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect to this document. Code Components extracted from this document must include Revised BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as described in the Revised BSD License. Table of Contents 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2. Problem Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3. Design Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4. Architectural Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5. Operational Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 6. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7. Performance Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 8. Interoperability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 9. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 10. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 1. Introduction Traditional cybersecurity architectures focus on preventing unauthorised access to data. However, once data has been exfiltrated, copied, or otherwise exposed, existing controls provide limited mechanisms to govern its subsequent use. This document defines a conceptual framework for post-breach data control, where the objective shifts from access prevention to sustained control over data usability after exposure. RepSec introduces a protocol model that enables data to become conditionally usable based on verifiable environmental and contextual factors. For background on access-centric security models, see Zero Trust Architecture [NIST.SP.800-207]. 2. Problem Statement Current security models assume that data, once accessed, remains inherently usable. This assumption creates a structural gap: * Exfiltrated data can be reused indefinitely Ehlers Expires 20 April 2027 [Page 2] Internet-Draft RepSec October 2026 * Data resale markets retain economic value * Insider threats bypass perimeter controls * Encryption protects transport and storage, not post-theft use As a result, organisations face persistent risk even after detection, containment, and remediation. 3. Design Goals RepSec is designed with the following objectives: * Post-exposure control: Maintain influence over data usability after loss * Environmental binding: Restrict data function to approved contexts * Low operational overhead: Avoid significant latency or workflow disruption * Compatibility: Operate alongside existing security infrastructure * Auditability: Provide verifiable evidence of data state and access conditions 4. Architectural Overview RepSec operates as a data-centric control layer that introduces conditional execution semantics to protected data objects. At a high level, the system includes: * Data objects with embedded or associated control logic * An attestation mechanism validating execution environment integrity * A policy framework governing permitted usage conditions * A response mechanism that degrades or invalidates data outside approved parameters The protocol does not require modification of underlying storage systems but instead overlays a control plane governing data usability. Ehlers Expires 20 April 2027 [Page 3] Internet-Draft RepSec October 2026 5. Operational Model Under RepSec, data access is evaluated dynamically at the point of use. Example flow: 1. A data object is requested for use 2. The execution environment is assessed against defined policies 3. If conditions are satisfied, full functionality is granted 4. If conditions are not satisfied, data is degraded, restricted, or rendered unusable This model ensures that possession of data does not guarantee its utility. 6. Security Considerations RepSec addresses several threat vectors: * Data exfiltration and resale * Insider misuse * Unauthorised duplication * Long-term exploitation of archived stolen data The protocol assumes that adversaries may obtain full data copies and focuses on reducing their ability to derive value from them. Detailed implementation strategies, including cryptographic methods and enforcement mechanisms, are outside the scope of this document. 7. Performance Considerations RepSec is designed to minimise performance impact by: * Performing lightweight attestation checks * Avoiding full system re-architecture * Operating at the data interaction layer rather than network layer Specific performance characteristics depend on deployment context. Ehlers Expires 20 April 2027 [Page 4] Internet-Draft RepSec October 2026 8. Interoperability RepSec is intended to integrate with: * Identity and access management systems * Data loss prevention tools * Endpoint detection and response platforms * Existing encryption and key management systems The protocol complements rather than replaces these controls. 9. IANA Considerations This document makes no requests of IANA. 10. Informative References [NIST.SP.800-207] Rose, S., Borchert, O., Mitchell, S., and S. Connelly, "Zero Trust Architecture", NIST Special Publication 800-207, DOI 10.6028/NIST.SP.800-207, August 2020, . Author's Address Ralph Ehlers PastWipe Ltd Email: contact@pastwipe.com Ehlers Expires 20 April 2027 [Page 5]