Network Working Group R. Housley
Internet-Draft Vigil Security
Updates: 4211 (if approved) 21 December 2020
Intended status: Standards Track
Expires: 24 June 2021
Algorithm Requirements Update to the Internet X.509 Public Key
Infrastructure Certificate Request Message Format (CRMF)
draft-ietf-lamps-crmf-update-algs-02
Abstract
This document updates the cryptographic algorithm requirements for
the Password-Based Message Authentication Code in the Internet X.509
Public Key Infrastructure Certificate Request Message Format (CRMF)
specified in RFC 4211.
Status of This Memo
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3. Password-Based Message Authentication Code . . . . . . . . . 2
3.1. Introduction Paragraph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
3.2. One-Way Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.3. Iteration Count . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3.4. MAC Algorithm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4. IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
5. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
6. Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Author's Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1. Introduction
This document updates the cryptographic algorithm requirements for
the Password-Based Message Authentication Code (MAC) in the Internet
X.509 Public Key Infrastructure Certificate Request Message Format
(CRMF) [RFC4211]. The algorithms specified in [RFC4211] were
appropriate in 2005; however, these algorithms are no longer
considered the best choices. This update specifies algorithms that
are more appropriate today.
2. Terminology
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.
3. Password-Based Message Authentication Code
Section 4.4 of [RFC4211] specifies a Password-Based MAC that relies
on a one-way function to compute a symmetric key from the password
and a MAC algorithm. This section specifies algorithm requirements
for the one-way function and the MAC algorithm.
3.1. Introduction Paragraph
Add guidance about limiting the use of the password.
OLD:
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This MAC algorithm was designed to take a shared secret (a
password) and use it to compute a check value over a piece of
information. The assumption is that, without the password, the
correct check value cannot be computed. The algorithm computes
the one-way function multiple times in order to slow down any
dictionary attacks against the password value.
NEW:
This MAC algorithm was designed to take a shared secret (a
password) and use it to compute a check value over a piece of
information. The assumption is that, without the password, the
correct check value cannot be computed. The algorithm computes
the one-way function multiple times in order to slow down any
dictionary attacks against the password value. The password used
to compute this MAC SHOULD NOT be used for any other purpose.
3.2. One-Way Function
Change the paragraph describing the "owf" as follows:
OLD:
owf identifies the algorithm and associated parameters used to
compute the key used in the MAC process. All implementations MUST
support SHA-1.
NEW:
owf identifies the algorithm and associated parameters used to
compute the key used in the MAC process. All implementations MUST
support SHA-256 [SHS].
3.3. Iteration Count
Update the guidance on appropriate iteration count values.
OLD:
iterationCount identifies the number of times the hash is applied
during the key computation process. The iterationCount MUST be a
minimum of 100. Many people suggest using values as high as 1000
iterations as the minimum value. The trade off here is between
protection of the password from attacks and the time spent by the
server processing all of the different iterations in deriving
passwords. Hashing is generally considered a cheap operation but
this may not be true with all hash functions in the future.
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NEW:
iterationCount identifies the number of times the hash is applied
during the key computation process. The iterationCount MUST be a
minimum of 100; however, the iterationCount SHOULD be as large as
server performance will allow, typically at least 10,000
[NISTSP800-63B]. There is a trade off between protection of the
password from attacks and the time spent by the server processing
the iterations. A lower iteration count can be used, if automated
generation produces shared secrets with high entropy.
3.4. MAC Algorithm
Change the paragraph describing the "mac" as follows:
OLD:
mac identifies the algorithm and associated parameters of the MAC
function to be used. All implementations MUST support HMAC-SHA1
[HMAC]. All implementations SHOULD support DES-MAC and Triple-
DES-MAC [PKCS11].
NEW:
mac identifies the algorithm and associated parameters of the MAC
function to be used. All implementations MUST support HMAC-SHA256
[HMAC]. All implementations SHOULD support AES-GMAC AES [GMAC]
with a 128 bit key.
For convenience, the identifiers for these two algorithms are
repeated here.
The algorithm identifier for HMAC-SHA256 is defined in [RFC4231]:
id-hmacWithSHA256 OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { iso(1) member-body(2)
us(840) rsadsi(113549) digestAlgorithm(2) 9 }
When this The algorithm identifier is used, the parameters SHOULD be
present. When present, the parameters MUST contain a type of NULL.
The algorithm identifier for AES-GMAC [AES][GMAC] with a 128-bit key
is defined in [I-D.housley-lamps-cms-aes-mac-alg]:
id-aes128-GMAC OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { joint-iso-itu-t(2)
country(16) us(840) organization(1) gov(101) csor(3)
nistAlgorithm(4) aes(1) 9 }
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When this algorithm identifier is used, the parameters MUST be
present, and the parameters MUST contain the GMACParameters structure
as follows:
GMACParameters ::= SEQUENCE {
nonce OCTET STRING, -- recommended size is 12 octets
length MACLength DEFAULT 12 }
MACLength ::= INTEGER (12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16)
The GMACParameters nonce parameter is the GMAC initialization vector.
The nonce may have any number of bits between 8 and 2^64, but it MUST
be a multiple of 8 bits. Within the scope of any GMAC key, the nonce
value MUST be unique. A nonce value of 12 octets can be processed
more efficiently, so that length for the nonce value is RECOMMENDED.
The GMACParameters length parameter field tells the size of the
message authentication code in octets. The length may have a value
between 12 and 16, inclusive. A length of 12 octets is RECOMMENDED.
4. IANA Considerations
This document makes no requests of the IANA.
5. Security Considerations
The security of the password-based MAC relies on the number of times
the hash function is applied as well as the entropy of the shared
secret (the password). Hardware support for hash calculation is
available at very low cost [PHS], which reduces the protection
provided by a high iterationCount value. Therefore, the entropy of
the password is crucial for the security of password-based MAC
function. In 2010, researchers showed that about half of the real-
world passwords can be broken with less than 150 million trials,
indicating a median entropy of only 27 bits [DMR]. Higher entropy
can be achieved by using randomly generated strings. For example,
assuming an alphabet of 60 characters a randomly chosen password with
10 characters offers 59 bits a entropy, and 20 characters offers 118
bits of entropy. Using a one-time password also increases the
security of the MAC, assuming that the integrity-protected
transaction will complete before the attacker is able to learn the
password with an offline attack.
Cryptographic algorithms age; they become weaker with time. As new
cryptanalysis techniques are developed and computing capabilities
improve, the work required to break a particular cryptographic
algorithm will reduce, making an attack on the algorithm more
feasible for more attackers. While it is unknown how cryptoanalytic
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attacks will evolve, it is certain that they will get better. It is
unknown how much better they will become or when the advances will
happen. For this reason, the algorithm requirements for CRMF are
updated by this specification.
When a Password-Based MAC is used, implementations must protect the
password and the MAC key. Compromise of either the password or the
MAC key may result in the ability of an attacker to undermine
authentication.
6. Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Hans Aschauer, Hendrik Brockhaus, Quynh Dang, Tomas
Gustavsson, Jonathan Hammell, Lijun Liao, Tim Polk, Mike StJohns, and
Sean Turner for their careful review and improvements.
7. References
7.1. Normative References
[AES] "Advanced encryption standard (AES)", National Institute
of Standards and Technology report,
DOI 10.6028/nist.fips.197, November 2001,
<https://doi.org/10.6028/nist.fips.197>.
[GMAC] Dworkin, M., "Recommendation for block cipher modes of
operation :: GaloisCounter Mode (GCM) and GMAC", National
Institute of Standards and Technology report,
DOI 10.6028/nist.sp.800-38d, 2007,
<https://doi.org/10.6028/nist.sp.800-38d>.
[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>.
[RFC4211] Schaad, J., "Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure
Certificate Request Message Format (CRMF)", RFC 4211,
DOI 10.17487/RFC4211, September 2005,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4211>.
[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>.
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[SHS] Dang, Q., "Secure Hash Standard", National Institute of
Standards and Technology report,
DOI 10.6028/nist.fips.180-4, July 2015,
<https://doi.org/10.6028/nist.fips.180-4>.
7.2. Informative References
[DMR] Dell'Amico, M., Michiardi, P., and Y. Roudier, "Password
Strength: An Empirical Analysis", 2010 Proceedings
IEEE INFOCOM, DOI 10.1109/infcom.2010.5461951, March 2010,
<https://doi.org/10.1109/infcom.2010.5461951>.
[I-D.housley-lamps-cms-aes-mac-alg]
Housley, R., "Using the AES-GMAC Algorithm with the
Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS)", Work in Progress,
Internet-Draft, draft-housley-lamps-cms-aes-mac-alg-00, 9
November 2020, <http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-
housley-lamps-cms-aes-mac-alg-00.txt>.
[NISTSP800-63B]
Grassi, P., Fenton, J., Newton, E., Perlner, R.,
Regenscheid, A., Burr, W., Richer, J., Lefkovitz, N.,
Danker, J., Choong, Y., Greene, K., and M. Theofanos,
"Digital identity guidelines: authentication and lifecycle
management", National Institute of Standards and
Technology report, DOI 10.6028/nist.sp.800-63b, June 2017,
<https://doi.org/10.6028/nist.sp.800-63b>.
[PHS] Pathirana, A., Halgamuge, M., and A. Syed, "Energy
efficient bitcoin mining to maximize the mining profit:
Using data from 119 bitcoin mining hardware setups",
International Conference on Advances in Business
Management and Information Technology, pp 1-14, November
2019.
[RFC4231] Nystrom, M., "Identifiers and Test Vectors for HMAC-SHA-
224, HMAC-SHA-256, HMAC-SHA-384, and HMAC-SHA-512",
RFC 4231, DOI 10.17487/RFC4231, December 2005,
<https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4231>.
Author's Address
Russ Housley
Vigil Security, LLC
516 Dranesville Road
Herndon, VA, 20170
United States of America
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Email: housley@vigilsec.com
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