Use of RSA Keys with SHA-2 512 in Secure Shell (SSH)
draft-rsa-dsa-sha2-256-01

Internet-Draft                                                  D. Bider
Expires: May 5, 2016                                     Bitvise Limited
                                                        November 5, 2015

          Use of RSA Keys with SHA-2 512 in Secure Shell (SSH)
                     draft-rsa-dsa-sha2-256-01.txt

Abstract

  This memo defines an algorithm name, public key format, and signature
  format for use of RSA keys with SHA-2 512 for server and client
  authentication in SSH connections. A new mechanism is also defined
  for servers to inform clients of supported signature algorithms during
  client authentication.

Status

  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), its areas, and its working groups.  Note that other
  groups may also distribute working documents as Internet-Drafts.

  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."

  The list of current Internet-Drafts can be accessed at
  http://www.ietf.org/1id-abstracts.html
  
  The list of Internet-Draft Shadow Directories can be accessed at
  http://www.ietf.org/shadow.html

Copyright

  Copyright (c) 2015 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
  document authors.  All rights reserved.

  This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
  Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
  (http://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 Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
  the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
  described in the Simplified BSD License.

Bider                                                           [Page 1]
Internet-Draft       RSA Keys with SHA-2 512 in SSH        November 2015

1.  Overview and Rationale

  Secure Shell (SSH) is a common protocol for secure communication on
  the Internet. In [RFC4253], SSH originally defined the signature
  methods "ssh-rsa" for server and client authentication using RSA with
  SHA-1, and "ssh-dss" using 1024-bit DSA and SHA-1.
   
  A decade later, these signature methods are considered deficient.
  For US government use, NIST has disallowed 1024-bit RSA and DSA, and
  use of SHA-1 for signing [800-131A].
   
  This memo defines a new algorithm name allowing for interoperable use
  of RSA keys with SHA-2 512, and a mechanism for servers to inform SSH
  clients of signature algorithms they support and accept.
  
  A draft version of this memo also defined an algorithm name for use of
  2048-bit and 3072-bit DSA keys with a 256-bit subgroup and SHA-2 256
  hashing. It is possible to implement DSA securely by generating "k"
  deterministically as per [RFC6979]. However, a plurality of reviewers
  were concerned that implementers would not pay heed, and would use
  cryptographic libraries that continue to generate "k" randomly. This
  is vulnerable to biased "k" generation, and extremely vulnerable to
  "k" reuse. The relative speed advantage of DSA signing compared to RSA
  signing was not perceived to outweigh this shortcoming, especially
  since algorithms based on elliptic curves are faster yet.
  
  Due to these disrecommendations, this document abstains from defining
  an algorithm name for large DSA keys, and recommends RSA instead.

1.1.  Requirements Terminology

  The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
  "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
  document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119].

2.  Public Key Algorithm

  This memo adopts the style and conventions of [RFC4253] in specifying
  how the use of a signature algorithm is indicated in SSH.

  The following new signature algorithm is defined:
   
    rsa-sha2-512    RECOMMENDED    sign    Raw RSA key

  This signature algorithm is suitable for use both in the SSH transport
  layer [RFC4253] for server authentication, and in the authentication
  layer [RFC4252] for client authentication.

   

Bider                                                           [Page 2]
Internet-Draft       RSA Keys with SHA-2 512 in SSH        November 2015
   

  Since RSA keys are not dependent on the choice of hash function, this
  algorithm reuses the public key format of the existing "ssh-rsa"
  algorithm as defined in [RFC4253]:

    string    "ssh-rsa"
    mpint     e
    mpint     n
      
  All aspects of the "ssh-rsa" format are kept, including the encoded
  string "ssh-rsa", in order to allow users' existing RSA keys to be
  used with the new signature format, without requiring re-encoding, or
  affecting already trusted key fingerprints.
   
  Signing and verifying using this algorithm is performed according to
  the RSASSA-PSS scheme in [RFC3447] using SHA-2 512 [FIPS-180-4] as
  hash; MGF1 as mask function; and salt length equal to hash size.

  The resulting signature is encoded as follows:

    string    "rsa-sha2-512"
    string    rsa_signature_blob

  The value for 'rsa_signature_blob' is encoded as a string containing
  S - an octet string which is the output of RSASSA-PSS, of length
  equal to the length in octets of the RSA modulus.
  
2.1   Use for server authentication

  To express support and preference for this algorithm for server
  authentication, the SSH client and server include the algorithm name,
  "rsa-sha2-512", in the name-list field "server_host_key_algorithms"
  in the SSH_MSG_KEXINIT packet [RFC4253]. If this host key algorithm
  is negotiated, the server sends an "ssh-rsa" public key as part of
  the negotiated key exchange method (e.g. in SSH_MSG_KEXDH_REPLY),
  and encodes a signature with algorithm name "rsa-sha2-512".
  
2.2   Use for client authentication

  To use this algorithm for client authentication, the SSH client sends
  an SSH_MSG_USERAUTH_REQUEST message [RFC4252] encoding the "publickey"
  method, and encoding the string field "public key algorithm name" with
  the value "rsa-sha2-512". The "public key blob" field encodes the RSA
  public key using the "ssh-rsa" algorithm name. The signature field, if
  present, encodes a signature using the "rsa-sha2-512" algorithm name.

  

Bider                                                           [Page 3]
Internet-Draft       RSA Keys with SHA-2 512 in SSH        November 2015

  
3.   Informing clients of supported signature algorithms

  When a public key format can use multiple signature algorithms, it can
  be useful for a mechanism to exist using which a client can discover
  signature algorithms accepted by a server without resorting to trial
  and error in authentication requests.

  Unfortunately, SSH lacks proper extension negotiation, and existing
  clients of at least one ubiquitous implementation will disconnect if
  any additional fields are added to SSH_MSG_SERVICE_REQUEST,
  SSH_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT, or SSH_MSG_USERAUTH_FAILURE.
  
  Therefore, an SSH Server SHOULD inform the client of a list of public
  key signature algorithms it accepts by sending the following
  SSH_MSG_IGNORE message immediately before SSH_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT:
  
    byte    SSH_MSG_IGNORE
    string  data:
      string     "sig-algs-accepted"
      name-list  signature algorithm names accepted

  This message SHOULD be sent immediately before SSH_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT,
  so that the client can immediately use this information in a public
  key authentication request triggered by SSH_MSG_SERVICE_ACCEPT.
  However, the server MAY also send this message again later, to update
  the list of accepted algorithms due to the client's authentication
  progress, failure, or external circumstance. In this case, the message
  SHOULD be sent immediately before an SSH_MSG_USERAUTH_FAILURE.
  
  If a server does not send this message, a client SHALL NOT make any
  assumptions about the server's signature algorithm support.
  
  If a server sends this message with an empty algorithm list, the
  client SHOULD take this to mean that the server will not accept any
  public key authentication request; even if the "publickey" method is
  included by the server in the "authentications that can continue"
  field in the message SSH_MSG_USERAUTH_FAILURE.
  
  Since this notification is sent as SSH_MSG_IGNORE, any incorrect or
  inconsistent encoding of this message MUST be silently discarded.

4.  IANA Considerations

  This document augments the Public Key Algorithm Names in [RFC4253]
  and [RFC4250].

  IANA is requested to update the "Secure Shell (SSH) Protocol
  Parameters" registry with the following entry:

    Public Key Algorithm Name      Reference          Note
    rsa-sha2-512                   [this document]    Section 2.1

Bider                                                           [Page 4]
Internet-Draft       RSA Keys with SHA-2 512 in SSH        November 2015

5.  Security Considerations

  The security considerations of [RFC4253] apply to this document.
   
  The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special
  Publication 800-131A [800-131A] disallows the use of RSA and DSA keys
  shorter than 2048 bits for US government use after 2013. Keys of 2048
  bits or larger are considered acceptable.
  
  The same document disallows the SHA-1 hash function, as used in the
  "ssh-rsa" and "ssh-dss" algorithms, for digital signature generation
  after 2013. The SHA-2 family of hash functions is seen as acceptable.

6.  References

6.1.  Normative References

  [FIPS-180-4]
              National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
              United States of America, "Secure Hash Standard (SHS)",
              FIPS Publication 180-4, August 2015,
              <http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.FIPS.180-4>.

  [RFC2119]   Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.

  [RFC3447]   Jonsson, J. and B. Kaliski, "Public-Key Cryptography
              Standards (PKCS) #1: RSA Cryptography Specifications
              Version 2.1", RFC 3447, February 2003.

  [RFC4252]   Ylonen, T. and C. Lonvick, Ed., "The Secure Shell (SSH)
              Authentication Protocol", RFC 4252, January 2006.

  [RFC4253]   Ylonen, T. and C. Lonvick, Ed., "The Secure Shell (SSH)
              Transport Layer Protocol", RFC 4253, January 2006.

6.2.  Informative References

  [800-131A]  National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),
              "Transitions: Recommendation for Transitioning the Use of
              Cryptographic Algorithms and Key Lengths", NIST Special
              Publication 800-131A, January 2011, <http://csrc.nist.gov/
              publications/nistpubs/800-131A/sp800-131A.pdf>.

  [RFC4250]   Lehtinen, S. and C. Lonvick, Ed., "The Secure Shell (SSH)
              Protocol Assigned Numbers", RFC 4250, January 2006.

  [RFC6979]   Pornin, T., "Deterministic Usage of the Digital
              Signature Algorithm (DSA) and Elliptic Curve Digital
              Signature Algorithm (ECDSA)", RFC 6979, August 2013.

Bider                                                           [Page 5]
Internet-Draft       RSA Keys with SHA-2 512 in SSH        November 2015

Author's Address

  Denis Bider
  Bitvise Limited
  Suites 41/42, Victoria House
  26 Main Street
  GI

  Phone: +506 8315 6519
  EMail: ietf-ssh3@denisbider.com
  URI:   https://www.bitvise.com/

Acknowledgments

  Thanks to Jon Bright, Niels Moeller, Stephen Farrell, Mark D. Baushke,
  Jeffrey Hutzelman, Hanno Boeck, Peter Gutmann, and Damien Miller for
  comments and suggestions.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Bider                                                           [Page 6]