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Barreto-Lynn-Scott Elliptic Curve Key Representations for JOSE and COSE
draft-ietf-cose-bls-key-representations-01

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Authors Tobias Looker , Michael B. Jones
Last updated 2022-10-24 (Latest revision 2022-07-08)
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draft-ietf-cose-bls-key-representations-01
COSE                                                           T. Looker
Internet-Draft                                                     Mattr
Intended status: Standards Track                                M. Jones
Expires: 27 April 2023                                         Microsoft
                                                         24 October 2022

Barreto-Lynn-Scott Elliptic Curve Key Representations for JOSE and COSE
               draft-ietf-cose-bls-key-representations-01

Abstract

   This specification defines how to represent cryptographic keys for
   the pairing-friendly elliptic curves known as Barreto-Lynn-Scott
   (BLS), for use with the key representation formats of JSON Web Key
   (JWK) and COSE (COSE_Key).

Discussion Venues

   This note is to be removed before publishing as an RFC.

   Source for this draft and an issue tracker can be found at
   https://github.com/tplooker/draft-ietf-cose-bls-key-representations.

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
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   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 27 April 2023.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2022 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

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   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.  Conventions and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     2.1.  Representation Definition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
       2.1.1.  JSON Web Key Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       2.1.2.  COSE_Key Representation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       2.1.3.  Curve Parameter Registration  . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   3.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   4.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
     4.1.  JSON Web Key (JWK) Elliptic Curve Registrations . . . . .   6
     4.2.  COSE Elliptic Curve Registrations . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   5.  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   6.  Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   Appendix A.  Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
   Appendix B.  Acknowledgments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   Appendix C.  Document History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12

1.  Introduction

   This specification defines how to represent cryptographic keys for
   the pairing-friendly elliptic curves known as Barreto-Lynn-Scott
   [BLS], for use with the key representation formats of JSON Web Key
   (JWK) and COSE_Key.  This specification registers the elliptic curves
   in appropriate IANA JOSE and COSE registries.

   There are a variety of applications for pairing based cryptography
   including schemes already published as RFCs, such as Identity-Based
   Cryptography [RFC5091] Sakai-Kasahara Key Encryption (SAKKE)
   [RFC6508], and Identity-Based Authenticated Key Exchange (IBAKE)
   [RFC6539].  SAKKE is applied to Multimedia Internet KEYing (MIKEY)
   [RFC6509].

   This branch of cryptography has also been used to develop privacy-
   preserving cryptographic hardware attestations schemes, including the
   Elliptic Curve Direct Anonymous Attestation (ECDAA) in the Trusted
   Platform Modules [TPM] specified by the Trusted Computing Group.
   Further work on similar schemes has also occurred at the FIDO

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   Alliance [ECDAA].  Similarly, Intel released [EPID] which provides a
   solution to remote hardware attestation for Intel Software Guard
   Extension (SGX) enabled environments.

   More recently, applications of pairing based cryptography using the
   Barreto-Lynn-Scott curves include the standardization effort for BLS
   Signatures [id.draft.bls-signature-04], which are used extensively in
   multiple blockchain projects due to their unique signature
   aggregation properties, including [Ethereum] [DFINITY] [Algorand].
   Additionally, efforts are under way to standardize the general
   purpose short group signature scheme of BBS Signatures [BBS], which
   features novel properties such as multi-message signing and selective
   disclosure alongside zero knowledge proving.  It is intended that
   this draft will help with these efforts by standardizing the
   associated cryptographic key representation in the popular formats of
   JWK and COSE_Key.

   Other relevant work to this draft includes [JWP] which is extending
   the JOSE family of specifications to provide support for representing
   a variety of new proof based cryptographic schemes such as [BBS]
   which as referred to above uses the Barreto-Lynn-Scott curves.

   There are multiple different pairing-friendly curves in active use;
   however, this draft focuses on a definition for the Barreto-Lynn-
   Scott curves due to them being the most "widely used" and "efficient"
   whilst achieving 128-bit and 256-bit security (BLS12-381 and
   BLS48-581 respectively).

   More extensive discussion on the broader application of pairing based
   cryptography and the assessment of various elliptic curves (including
   the BLS family) can be found in
   [id.draft.pairing-friendly-curves-10].

2.  Conventions and Definitions

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and
   "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP
   14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all
   capitals, as shown here.

2.1.  Representation Definition

   The following definitions apply to the pairing-friendly elliptic
   curves known as the Barreto-Lynn-Scott (BLS) curves.

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2.1.1.  JSON Web Key Representation

   When expressing a cryptographic key for these curves in JSON Web Key
   (JWK) form, the following rules apply:

   *  The parameter "kty" MUST be present and set to "OKP".

   *  The parameter "crv" MUST be present and value MUST be one defined
      in Section 2.1.3.

   *  The parameter "x" MUST be present whose value represents the curve
      point for the public key.  This value MUST be encoded using the
      serialization defined in [id.draft.pairing-friendly-curves-10]
      Appendix C and MUST be base64url encoded without padding as
      defined in [RFC7515] Appendix C.

   *  The parameter "d" MUST be present for private key representations
      whose value MUST contain the little-endian representation of the
      private key base64url encoded without padding as defined in
      [RFC7515] Appendix C.  This parameter MUST NOT be present for
      public keys.

2.1.2.  COSE_Key Representation

   When expressing a cryptographic key for these curves in COSE_Key
   form, the following rules apply:

   *  The parameter "kty" (1) MUST be present and set to "OKP" (1).

   *  The parameter "crv" (-1) MUST be present and value MUST be one
      defined in Section 2.1.3.

   *  The parameter "x" (-2) MUST be present whose value represents the
      curve point for the public key.  This value MUST be encoded using
      the serialization defined in [id.draft.pairing-friendly-curves-10]
      Appendix C.

   *  The parameter "d" (-4) MUST be present for private key
      representations whose value MUST contain the little-endian
      representation of the private key.  This parameter MUST NOT be
      present for public keys.

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2.1.3.  Curve Parameter Registration

     +============+============+=====================================+
     | JWK "crv"  | COSE_Key   | Description                         |
     | value      | "crv"      |                                     |
     |            | value      |                                     |
     +============+============+=====================================+
     | Bls12381G1 | TBD (13    | A cryptographic key on the Barreto- |
     |            | requested) | Lynn-Scott (BLS) curve featuring an |
     |            |            | embedding degree 12 with 381-bit p  |
     |            |            | in the subgroup of G1 defined as    |
     |            |            | E(GF(p)) of order r                 |
     +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+
     | Bls12381G2 | TBD (14    | A cryptographic key on the Barreto- |
     |            | requested) | Lynn-Scott (BLS) curve featuring an |
     |            |            | embedding degree 12 with 381-bit p  |
     |            |            | in the subgroup of G1 defined as    |
     |            |            | E(GF(p^2)) of order r               |
     +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+
     | Bls48581G1 | TBD (15    | A cryptographic key on the Barreto- |
     |            | requested) | Lynn-Scott (BLS) curve featuring an |
     |            |            | embedding degree 48 with 581-bit p  |
     |            |            | in the subgroup of G1 defined as    |
     |            |            | E(GF(p)) of order r                 |
     +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+
     | Bls48581G2 | TBD (16    | A cryptographic key on the Barreto- |
     |            | requested) | Lynn-Scott (BLS) curve featuring an |
     |            |            | embedding degree 48 with 581-bit p  |
     |            |            | in the subgroup of G1 defined as    |
     |            |            | E(GF(p^8)) of order r               |
     +------------+------------+-------------------------------------+

                                  Table 1

3.  Security Considerations

   See [id.draft.pairing-friendly-curves-10] for additional details on
   security considerations for the curves used.  Implementers should
   also consider the general guidance provided in Section 9 of [RFC7517]
   and Section 17 of [RFC8152] when using this specification.

   Furthermore, because this specification only defines the
   cryptographic key representations and not the usage of these keys
   with specific algorithms, implementers should be aware to follow any
   guidance that may be provided around appropriate usage of the keys
   and or additional steps that may be required to validate the keys
   within the context of particular algorithms.

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4.  IANA Considerations

4.1.  JSON Web Key (JWK) Elliptic Curve Registrations

   This section registers the following values in the IANA "JSON Web Key
   Elliptic Curve" registry [IANA.JOSE.Curves].

   Bls12381G1

   *  Curve Name: Bls12381G1

   *  Curve Description: 381 bit with an embedding degree of 12 Barreto-
      Lynn-Scott pairing-friendly curve using the r-order subgroup of
      E(GF(p))

   *  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional

   *  Change Controller: IESG

   *  Specification Document(s): Section 2.1.1

   Bls12381G2

   *  Curve Name: Bls12381G2

   *  Curve Description: 381 bit with an embedding degree of 12 Barreto-
      Lynn-Scott pairing-friendly curve using the r-order subgroup of
      E'(GF(p^2))

   *  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional

   *  Change Controller: IESG

   *  Specification Document(s): Section 2.1.1

   Bls48581G1

   *  Curve Name: Bls48581G1

   *  Curve Description: 581 bit with an embedding degree of 48 Barreto-
      Lynn-Scott pairing-friendly curve using the r-order subgroup of
      E(GF(p))

   *  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional

   *  Change Controller: IESG

   *  Specification Document(s): Section 2.1.1

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   Bls48581G2

   *  Curve Name: Bls48581G2

   *  Curve Description: 581 bit with an embedding degree of 48 Barreto-
      Lynn-Scott pairing-friendly curve using the r-order subgroup of
      E'(GF(p^8))

   *  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional

   *  Change Controller: IESG

   *  Specification Document(s): Section 2.1.1

4.2.  COSE Elliptic Curve Registrations

   This section registers the following value in the IANA "COSE Elliptic
   Curves" registry [IANA.COSE.Curves].

   Bls12381G1

   *  Curve Name: Bls12381G1

   *  Value: TBD (13 requested)

   *  Key Type: OKP

   *  Curve Description: 381 bit with an embedding degree of 12 Barreto-
      Lynn-Scott pairing-friendly curve using the r-order subgroup of
      E(GF(p))

   *  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional

   *  Change Controller: IESG

   *  Specification Document(s): Section 2.1.2

   *  Recommended: Yes

   Bls12381G2

   *  Curve Name: Bls12381G2

   *  Value: TBD (14 requested)

   *  Key Type: OKP

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   *  Curve Description: 381 bit with an embedding degree of 12 Barreto-
      Lynn-Scott pairing-friendly curve using the r-order subgroup of
      E'(GF(p^2))

   *  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional

   *  Change Controller: IESG

   *  Specification Document(s): Section 2.1.2

   *  Recommended: Yes

   Bls48581G1

   *  Curve Name: Bls48581G1

   *  Value: TBD (15 requested)

   *  Key Type: OKP

   *  Curve Description: 581 bit with an embedding degree of 48 Barreto-
      Lynn-Scott pairing-friendly curve using the r-order subgroup of
      E(GF(p))

   *  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional

   *  Change Controller: IESG

   *  Specification Document(s): Section 2.1.2

   *  Recommended: Yes

   Bls48581G2

   *  Curve Name: Bls48581G2

   *  Value: TBD (16 requested)

   *  Key Type: OKP

   *  Curve Description: 581 bit with an embedding degree of 48 Barreto-
      Lynn-Scott pairing-friendly curve using the r-order subgroup of
      E'(GF(p^8))

   *  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional

   *  Change Controller: IESG

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   *  Specification Document(s): Section 2.1.2

   *  Recommended: Yes

5.  Normative References

   [BLS]      Barreto, P., Lynn, B., and M. Scott, "Constructing
              Elliptic Curves with Prescribed Embedding Degrees", 2003.

   [IANA.COSE.Curves]
              IANA, "COSE Elliptic Curves",
              <https://www.iana.org/assignments/cose/
              cose.xhtml#elliptic-curves>.

   [IANA.JOSE.Curves]
              IANA, "JOSE Elliptic Curves",
              <https://www.iana.org/assignments/jose/jose.xhtml#web-key-
              elliptic-curve>.

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

   [RFC7515]  Jones, M., Bradley, J., and N. Sakimura, "JSON Web
              Signature (JWS)", RFC 7515, DOI 10.17487/RFC7515, May
              2015, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7515>.

   [RFC7517]  Jones, M., "JSON Web Key (JWK)", RFC 7517,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC7517, May 2015,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7517>.

   [RFC8152]  Schaad, J., "CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE)",
              RFC 8152, DOI 10.17487/RFC8152, July 2017,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8152>.

   [id.draft.bls-signature-04]
              IETF CFRG, "BLS Signature",
              <https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-irtf-cfrg-
              bls-signature-04>.

   [id.draft.pairing-friendly-curves-10]
              IETF CFRG, "Pairing-Friendly Curves",
              <https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-irtf-cfrg-pairing-
              friendly-curves-10.html>.

6.  Informative References

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   [BBS]      Decentralized Identity Foundation, "The BBS Signature
              Scheme", <https://identity.foundation/bbs-signature/draft-
              bbs-signatures.html>.

   [ECDAA]    FIDO Alliance, "ECDAA Algorithm", 2018,
              <https://fidoalliance.org/specs/fido-v2.0-id-20180227/
              fido-ecdaa-algorithm-v2.0-id-20180227.html>.

   [EPID]     Intel Corporation, "Intel (R) SGX: Intel (R) EPID
              Provisioning and Attestation Services",
              <https://software.intel.com/en-us/download/intel-sgx-
              intel-epid-provisioning-and-attestation-services>.

   [JWP]      Miller, J. and M. Jones, "JSON Web Proof", <https://json-
              web-proofs.github.io/json-web-proofs/draft-jmiller-json-
              proof-algorithms.html#name-bls-curve>.

   [RFC5091]  Boyen, X. and L. Martin, "Identity-Based Cryptography
              Standard (IBCS) #1: Supersingular Curve Implementations of
              the BF and BB1 Cryptosystems", RFC 5091,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC5091, December 2007,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc5091>.

   [RFC6508]  Groves, M., "Sakai-Kasahara Key Encryption (SAKKE)",
              RFC 6508, DOI 10.17487/RFC6508, February 2012,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6508>.

   [RFC6509]  Groves, M., "MIKEY-SAKKE: Sakai-Kasahara Key Encryption in
              Multimedia Internet KEYing (MIKEY)", RFC 6509,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC6509, February 2012,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6509>.

   [RFC6539]  Cakulev, V., Sundaram, G., and I. Broustis, "IBAKE:
              Identity-Based Authenticated Key Exchange", RFC 6539,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC6539, March 2012,
              <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6539>.

   [RFC8174]  Leiba, B., "Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC
              2119 Key Words", BCP 14, RFC 8174, DOI 10.17487/RFC8174,
              May 2017, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8174>.

   [TPM]      Trusted Computing Group, "Trusted Platform Module",
              <https://trustedcomputinggroup.org/>.

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Appendix A.  Appendix

   The following examples showcase JWKs for both the G1 and G2 subgroups
   of the Bls12381 curve.  Note, the examples also include the
   corresponding private key, expressed through the inclusion of the "d"
   parameter.

   An example JWK for the Bls12381 curve where the public key is in the
   G1 subgroup.

{
  "kty": "OKP",
  "crv": "Bls12381G1",
  "d": "Mt_OyD9IAsYvobHJ9NCipm6-G7zAu28FCc-saRnXhjQ",
  "x": "iXmOmxttBniHSpyoq-vBr82BexrqG7WDTsxCY4ngUOERVxwpwUT7yKqSKqJeIr7J"
}

   Another example of a different JWK for the Bls12381 curve where the
   public key is in the G1 subgroup.

{
  "kty": "OKP",
  "crv": "Bls12381G1",
  "d": "PV21Ysd3RNtDBzx94WOkIItSdMkMx0xdjtVFWen9xy8",
  "x": "jQb7AerHCU1Zf7oUCMYioqAkK_Q35-hDmg9cKhIJzGyZmQgb4saO376vjmGkvaLC"
}

   An example JWK for the Bls12381 curve where the public key is in the
   G2 subgroup.

{
  "kty": "OKP",
  "crv": "Bls12381G2",
  "d": "CUrC9Xp5pEonbFaykalWlbNYYwueJlcuoOexhEhpu0k",
  "x": "rvdKcdkxwlj0Y-XZsFpz1hDPJGjnLN27IJipbmaLlaKdYfICGG6dzakG6EkdcvW0AtVV6hXBSKtdFnKQKmmD759tMYYuvKYf5o2cZnROLN5iWQ2H6vp6FlLi71a_AE5I"
}

   Another example of a different JWK for the Bls12381 curve where the
   public key is in the G2 subgroup.

{
  "kty": "OKP",
  "crv": "Bls12381G2",
  "d": "oF2xFR6Iu3aWQARjHFdmNjeZBKuSO6q1DA1t2ucNHyc",
  "x": "pHufIAzbxDG-oaD0Kb1BcRsDpjw0JX3h6FHRJQpuYSpqQr_sZigCD3UOTrDO2YEvAxiC6GZXZvlwkqSIOVHRWAwRt2loaqAu6jFiL0L0r8LuXhBxX0tvfPX1UhYgcl3_"
}

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Appendix B.  Acknowledgments

   The authors would like to acknowledge the work of Kyle Den Hartog,
   which was used as the foundation for this draft.

Appendix C.  Document History

   -00

   *  Created draft-ietf-cose-bls-key-representations-00 from draft-
      looker-cose-bls-key-representations-00 following working group
      adoption.

Authors' Addresses

   Tobias Looker
   Mattr
   Email: tobias.looker@mattr.global

   Michael B. Jones
   Microsoft
   Email: mbj@microsoft.com
   URI:   https://self-issued.info/

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