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diff --git a/doc/rfc/rfc972.txt b/doc/rfc/rfc972.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7ab2bb8 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/rfc/rfc972.txt @@ -0,0 +1,114 @@ + + +Network Working Group F. Wancho +Request for Comments: 972 WSMR + January 1986 + + Password Generator Protocol + + +STATUS OF THIS MEMO + + This RFC specifies a standard for the ARPA Internet community. Hosts + on the ARPA Internet that choose to implement a Password Generator + Protocol (PWDGEN) are expected to adopt and implement this standard. + Distribution of this memo is unlimited. + +BACKGROUND + + Many security-conscious host administrators are becoming increasingly + aware that user-selected login passwords are too easy to guess for + even casual penetration attempts. Some sites have implemented + dictionary lookup techniques in their password programs to prevent + ordinary words from being used. Others have implemented some variant + of a randomly generated password with mixed success. The problem + arises from the fact that such passwords are difficult to remember + because they cannot be pronounced or are based on a relatively short + cycle pseudo-random number generator. + + A version of the PWDGEN algorithm briefly described below has been in + use for several years at a small number of sites in the Internet. + Interest has recently been expressed at porting this algorithm to + other sites. However, the relatively short cycle and the resulting + randomness of the pseudo-random number generator available on these + sites tends to interfere with the intended result of minimizing the + potential duplication of passwords both within a site and across + sites when a user has access to more than one site. + + The PWDGEN Service described herein provides a means for sites to + offer a list of possible passwords for the user to choose one from + the first set, or optionally select from another set. With more than + one site offering this service, it is then possible to randomly + select which site to use and have multiple fallback sites should that + site be unavailable. + + Description + + The PWDGEN Service provides a set of six randomly generated + eight-character CRLF-delimited "words" with a reasonable level of + pronounceability, using a multi-level algorithm. An + implementation of the algorithm is available in FORTRAN-77 for + examination and possible implementation by system administrators + only. + + + +Wancho [Page 1] + + + +RFC 972 January 1986 +Password Generator Protocol + + + The uniqueness of the generated words is highly dependent on the + randomness of the initial seed value used. The availability of a + single system-wide seed, updated after each access is highly + desireable. Seeds based on a time-of-day clock are unacceptable. + Seed values should be stored as values in excess of 32 bits for + best performance. + + TCP Based PWDGEN Service + + One PWDGEN service is defined as a connection based application on + TCP. A server listens for TCP connections on TCP port 129. Once + a connection is established, the six CRLF-delimited words are + generated and sent to the caller, and the connection is closed by + the server. No dialog is used or required. + + UDP Based PWDGEN Service + + Another possible PWDGEN service is defined as a datagram based + application on UDP. A server listens for UDP datagrams on UDP + port 129. When a datagram is received, the six CRLF-delimited + words are sent back in an answering datagram. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +Wancho [Page 2] + |