Internet Engineering Task Force                         I. Barreira, Ed.
Internet-Draft                                                    Izenpe
Intended status: Best Current Practice                    B. Morton, Ed.
Expires: November 21, 2014                                       Entrust
                                                            May 20, 2014


                      Trust models of the Web PKI
                    draft-ietf-wpkops-trustmodel-01

Abstract

   This is one of a set of documents to define the operation of the Web
   PKI.  It describes the currently deployed Web PKI trust.

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
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   This Internet-Draft will expire on November 21, 2014.

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Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     1.1.  Requirements Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     1.2.  Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   2.  Trust model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
     2.1.  Root store provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     2.2.  CA Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       2.2.1.  Registration Authority  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       2.2.2.  Certificate status  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     2.3.  Subscriber  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     2.4.  Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   3.  Trust Model variants  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     3.1.  Root store provider variations  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       3.1.1.  Browser adopts root store . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
     3.2.  CA Infrastructure variations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       3.2.1.  One root CA cross-certifies another root CA . . . . .   6
       3.2.2.  Issuing CA is a third party to the root CA  . . . . .   6
       3.2.3.  Registration authority is a third party to the
               issuing CA  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       3.2.4.  Root CA is operated by the government . . . . . . . .   7
       3.2.5.  Subscriber operates issuing CA  . . . . . . . . . . .   7
       3.2.6.  Subscriber sources management of issuing CA . . . . .   7
       3.2.7.  Subscriber manages registration authority . . . . . .   7
       3.2.8.  Subscriber certificate issued by a root CA  . . . . .   7
     3.3.  Subscriber  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
       3.3.1.  Subscriber uses agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     3.4.  Browser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
       3.4.1.  Browser directly trusts issuing CA key  . . . . . . .   8
       3.4.2.  Browser directly trusts subscriber entity key . . . .   8
       3.4.3.  Browser makes root CA public key unusable . . . . . .   8
       3.4.4.  Browser supports public key pinning . . . . . . . . .   8
   4.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   5.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     5.1.  HTTPS is optional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     5.2.  Naming of subscribers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     5.3.  Root CA compromise  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
   6.  References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     6.1.  IETF Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     6.2.  IETF Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
   Appendix A.  Other references . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
   Authors' Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10

1.  Introduction

   This document defines the Web PKI trust model as it is currently
   implemented.  The trust model is to support communications between




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   the subscriber and the browser.  This document does not address
   future changes to the implemented trust model.

1.1.  Requirements Language

   The key words "REQUIRED", "MUST", "MUST NOT" and "MAY" in this
   document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [RFC2119]

1.2.  Definitions

   The use of PKI terminology is used as defined in RFC 5280 [RFC5280].
   Additional definitions are provided below for interpretation of this
   document.

      Certificate policy - per RFC 3647.  [RFC3647]

      Intermediate CA - is a non-root CA which issues certificates to
      issuing CAs.

      Issuing CA - in relation to a particular subscriber certificate,
      the CA that issued the certificate.

      Root CA - a CA with a self signed certificate and whose public key
      is included as a trust anchor in a root store.

      Root certificate - typically a self-signed certificate that
      identifies the root CA.  The root certificate is a type of trust
      anchor.

      Root store - a set of root certificates which can be trusted by a
      browser.

      Root store policy - the governance policy provided by the root
      store provider.

      Subscriber - per RFC 3647.  [RFC3647]

      Subscriber agreement - per RFC 3647.  [RFC3647]

      Trust Anchor - per RFC 5914.  [RFC5914]

2.  Trust model

   This section describes the basic Web PKI trust model.  Variants to
   the trust model are discussed in section 3.

   In the Web PKI trust model, a browser uses a root store that contains
   one or more root CA public keys.  Each entry in a browser's root



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   store has been installed on an evaluation made by the browser vendor.
   Each root CA issues a certificate to one or more issuing CAs that are
   under the control of the same CA entity with the variant stated in
   3.2.2.  Each issuing CA accepts and responds to certificate requests
   from one or more subscribers via one or more registration
   authorities.

2.1.  Root store provider

   A root store provider (e.g., Microsoft or Mozilla) determines a root
   store policy.  This policy must be met by a candidate root CA in
   order to be included in the root store.  The root store provider
   installs and manages root certificates in its operating system or
   browser to support certificate chain validation.  The root store
   provider establishes requirements for accepting a root certificate.
   These requirements may include legal agreements, security or audit
   reports or acceptance by another root store provider.

   The root store provider may require the root CA to be subject to an
   annual compliance audit performed by a third party auditor as
   specified in [BR-certs].  The audit requirements are defined by the
   root store policy.  The audit is based on an accepted schema of the
   standards (e.g., WebTrust or ETSI).  A third party auditor generates
   an audit report which is provided to the root store provider.  If the
   audit report states the root CA did not comply with the auditing
   standards, then the root CA will be required to take corrective
   actions.  Once the corrective actions are completed, then an updated
   report is submitted to the root store provider.  If the status of the
   root CA is not acceptable to the root store provider, then the root
   CA certificates may be removed from the root store or the indications
   from the browser (e.g., removal of https indicator) may change for
   certificates verified under that root CA.

2.2.  CA Infrastructure

   The CA infrastructure consists of a PKI hierarchy.  Each organization
   acting as a CA entity is represented by one or more self-signed root
   certificates.  The root CAs sign certificates for subordinate issuing
   CAs.  The root CA may have subordinate intermediate CAs to manage
   groups of subordinate issuing CAs.  The CA entity manages root,
   intermediate, and issuing CAs and oversees operation of the
   certificate issuance and management system in accordance with a
   certificate policy.








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2.2.1.  Registration Authority

   Each issuing CA operates a registration authority, with variations in
   3.2.3 and 3.2.7, which authenticates requests for certificates in
   accordance with the certificate policy of the CA.

2.2.2.  Certificate status

   Each CA provides certificate status in the form of a certificate
   revocation list (CRL) and/or an on-line certificate status protocol
   (OCSP) response.  Updates and validity periods of the certificate
   status are provided in accordance with the certificate policy of the
   CA.  The location of the CRL is provided in the certificate CDP (CRL
   Distribution Point) OID and the location of the OCSP response is
   provided in the AIA (Authority Info Access) OID of the issued
   certificate.

2.3.  Subscriber

   Each subscriber provides services through the browsers to relying
   parties.  The subscriber identifies the on-line web location of its
   service using a domain name or IP address contained in a certificate.

   The subscriber submits certificate requests in accordance with a CA's
   certificate policy.  Once the certificate request has been accepted,
   the subscriber will receive the certificate and will manage the
   certificate in accordance with the subscriber agreement.

2.4.  Browser

   The browser accepts and manages certificates and performs related
   functions in accordance with the root store policy (e.g., [Mozilla-
   CP]).

3.  Trust Model variants

   This section defines variants to the roles of the parties as defined
   in section 2.

3.1.  Root store provider variations

3.1.1.  Browser adopts root store

   The browser does not use its own root store, but uses the root store
   managed by a separate root store provider.  For example, the Google
   Chrome browser operated on Windows uses the Windows root store.





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   The browser will provide its own trust and security indications.  The
   browser may determine whether it will provide extended validation
   indications.  The browser may also provide its own services to verify
   the status of the certificates.

3.2.  CA Infrastructure variations

3.2.1.  One root CA cross-certifies another root CA

   Some browsers in active use do not possess the capability to be
   updated with new root certificates in the field.  Consequently, these
   browsers do not accept new root certificates issued by CAs that came
   into existence after they were first deployed.  The new root
   certificates are accepted by newer browsers and other browsers that
   can be updated in the field.  As such newer CAs operate at a
   disadvantage to older CAs.

   The disadvantage can be addressed by having trust extended to the new
   root certificate, by having the public key of the new root
   certificate cross-signed by an older root CA which is already
   accepted in the older browsers.  As the cross-certified root CA is
   also recognized directly by the root store provider, it operates in
   accordance with the requirements of that certificate policy to which
   the root CA conforms. , inIn addition, the cross-certified CA
   complies to any requirements placed upon it by the contract between
   it and the cross-certifying root CA.

3.2.2.  Issuing CA is a third party to the root CA

   An issuing CA may operate as a third party subordinate to the root
   CA.  The issuing CA's behaviour is governed by its contract with the
   root CA, which commonly stipulates adherence to the root store
   policy.  Unlike the situation in section 3.2.1, the subordinate
   issuing CA is not recognized independently by any relationship with
   the root store provider.

3.2.3.  Registration authority is a third party to the issuing CA

   A registration authority may operate as a third party to an issuing
   CA.  A registration authority's behaviour is governed by its contract
   with the issuing CA, which commonly stipulates adherence to the root
   store policy to which the CA adheres.  A third party registration
   authority is not identified in a CA certificate.








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3.2.4.  Root CA is operated by the government

   In the case where a root CA is operated by a government department, a
   root store provider may rely upon an audit conducted in accordance
   with the government's own internal audit process.

3.2.5.  Subscriber operates issuing CA

   A subscriber may operate its own issuing CA.  Typically, the
   subscriber is approved to issue certificates only within a specific
   region of the name-space, and this limitation is enforced by
   contract.  The root CA may use the name constraints certificate
   extension to limit the region of the name-space in which the issuing
   CA can issue valid certificates.

   This is often referred to as an enterprise-based subordinate CA
   relationship.

3.2.6.  Subscriber sources management of issuing CA

   A root CA may host an issuing CA on behalf of a subscriber.
   Typically, the subscriber is approved to issue certificates only
   within a specific region of the name-space, and this limitation is
   enforced by the host root CA.  Examination of the certificate chain
   would indicate that the issuing CA was owned by the subscriber by
   viewing the organization name in the subject field.

   This may also be an enterprise-based CA relationship; however, the
   entity operating the CA (rather than the enterprise subscriber) has
   immediate control of the CA and physical possession of the CA private
   key.

3.2.7.  Subscriber manages registration authority

   A subscriber may manage a registration authority.  The subscriber is
   approved to issue certificates only within a specific region of the
   name-space, and this limitation is enforced by the issuing CA through
   technical or legal means.

   This is often referred to an enterprise-based registration authority
   relationship with the issuing CA.

3.2.8.  Subscriber certificate issued by a root CA

   Some legacy situations demand that a certificate be issued directly
   by a root CA, without the involvement of intermediate issuing CAs.





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3.3.  Subscriber

3.3.1.  Subscriber uses agent

   A subscriber may use a third party agent to manage its certificates.
   The third party will request certificates from a registration
   authority and manage the certificates in accordance with the
   subscriber agreement on the subscriber's behalf.

3.4.  Browser

3.4.1.  Browser directly trusts issuing CA key

   A browser may allow a relying party to designate a CA key as a trust
   anchor for the purpose of evaluating subscriber certificates.

3.4.2.  Browser directly trusts subscriber entity key

   A browser may allow a relying party to designate a subscriber's
   certificate as a trust anchor.

3.4.3.  Browser makes root CA public key unusable

   A browser may allow a relying party to remove the trust of a root CA
   by deleting the root certificate from the root store.  In some cases
   the trust removal may only be temporary as the browser or operating
   system may update the root store and restore the trust of the root
   CA.

3.4.4.  Browser supports public key pinning

   A browser may limit the set of public keys used to verify a
   certificate containing a domain name.  Limitation can be done by
   including the set of accepted public keys in the browser or by
   respecting an HTTP header provided by the subscriber.

4.  IANA Considerations

   This memo includes no request to IANA.

5.  Security Considerations

   The trust models described here exhibit several vulnerabilities that
   could adversely affect the reliability of the authentication they
   provide.






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5.1.  HTTPS is optional

   The subscriber does not have to support HTTPS for the web site.  The
   subscriber may provide HTTPS in some cases and not in other cases.
   As such, the trust model is optional for each web site.  In the event
   of no HTTPS, the browser could more easily be attacked.  This attack
   can be mitigated by supporting HSTS in accordance with RFC 6797
   [RFC6797].  HSTS allows the subscriber to declare to the browser that
   interactions shall only be done using HTTPS connections.

5.2.  Naming of subscribers

   Subscriber names with any of the following characteristics can be
   used in an impersonation attack.

   o  homographic name

   o  mixed-alphabet name

   o  name that contains a string termination character

   o  Internet non-unique name (e.g. an internal server name)

   With the exception of non-unique names, CAs in the Web PKI are
   required to screen out requests for certificates with any of these
   characteristics.  CAs are required to phase out the practice of
   issuing non-unique names by 2015 per [BR-certs].

   Technically, unless constrained by an upstream CA to issue
   certificates only in a specific region of the name-space, any CA in
   the Web PKI can issue an apparently legitimate certificate for any
   name, whether or not the legitimate holder of that name is aware of
   or approves the issuance.  Furthermore, the legitimate holder of that
   name may not discover that such a certificate has been issued.

5.3.  Root CA compromise

   In the event of a detected compromise of a root CA, its key is
   blacklisted by means of a software update.  This has the effect of
   invalidating every certificate that is subordinate to that root CA,
   whether or not the certificate was issued while the compromise
   existed.  This step would have a severe impact upon the CA and its
   subscribers; this is a step not likely to be taken without very
   careful.







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6.  References

6.1.  IETF Normative References

   [RFC5280]  Cooper, D., Santesson, S., Farrell, S., Boeyen, S.,
              Housley, R., and W. Polk, "Internet X.509 Public Key
              Infrastructure Certificate and Certificate Revocation List
              (CRL) Profile", RFC 5280, May 2008.

   [RFC5914]  Housley, R., Ashmore, S., and C. Wallace, "Trust Anchor
              Format", RFC 5914, June 2010.

   [RFC6797]  Hodges, J., Jackson, C., and A. Barth, "HTTP Strict
              Transport Security (HSTS)", RFC 6797, November 2012.

6.2.  IETF Informative References

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

   [RFC3647]  Chokhani, S., Ford, W., Sabett, R., Merrill, C., and S.
              Wu, "Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure Certificate
              Policy and Certification Practices Framework", RFC 3647,
              November 2003.

Appendix A.  Other references

      [BR-certs] - CA/Browser Forum, Baseline Requirements for the
      Issuance and Management of Publicly-Trusted Certificates. https://
      cabforum.org/baseline-requirements-documents/

      [Mozilla-CP] - Mozilla CA Certificate Policy. https://
      www.mozilla.org/projects/security/certs/policy/

Authors' Addresses

   Inigo Barreira (editor)
   Izenpe
   Beato Tomas de Zumarraga 71, 1.  01008 Vitoria-Gasteiz.  Spain

   Phone: +34 945067705
   Email: i-barreira@izenpe.net









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   Bruce Morton (editor)
   Entrust
   1000 Innovation Drive.  Ottawa, Ontario.  Canada K2K 3E7

   Email: bruce.morton@entrust.com














































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