Route origin validation is a BGP security check that verifies whether the network announcing an IP prefix is authorized to do so. It is typically implemented with RPKI data, which lets routers compare a route advertisement against a signed record of who should originate that prefix. If the origin does not match, the route can be marked invalid and rejected or deprioritized.
This matters because BGP has no built-in authentication for prefix ownership. Attackers or misconfigured networks can announce someone else’s prefix and pull traffic toward the wrong destination, creating a route hijack. Route origin validation helps reduce that risk by making bogus origin claims harder to accept. Defenders use it alongside route monitoring, AS-path analysis, and cryptographic update verification to protect both connectivity and the trustworthiness of software delivery paths.