path: root/doc/rfc/rfc7281.txt

Independent Submission                                       A. Melnikov
Request for Comments: 7281                                     Isode Ltd
Category: Informational                                        June 2014
ISSN: 2070-1721


 Authentication-Results Registration for S/MIME Signature Verification

Abstract

   RFC 7001 specifies the Authentication-Results header field for
   conveying results of message authentication checks.  This document
   defines a new authentication method to be used in the Authentication-
   Results header field for S/MIME-related signature checks.

Status of This Memo

   This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is
   published for informational purposes.

   This is a contribution to the RFC Series, independently of any other
   RFC stream.  The RFC Editor has chosen to publish this document at
   its discretion and makes no statement about its value for
   implementation or deployment.  Documents approved for publication by
   the RFC Editor are not a candidate for any level of Internet
   Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 5741.

   Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
   and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
   http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7281.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2014 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.









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Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
   2. Conventions Used in This Document ...............................2
   3. "smime" Authentication Method ...................................2
      3.1. S/MIME Results .............................................3
      3.2. Email Authentication Parameters for S/MIME .................4
           3.2.1. body.smime-part .....................................4
           3.2.2. body.smime-identifier ...............................4
           3.2.3. body.smime-serial and body.smime-issuer .............5
      3.3. Examples ...................................................5
   4. IANA Considerations .............................................7
   5. Security Considerations .........................................9
   6. References .....................................................10
      6.1. Normative References ......................................10
      6.2. Informative References ....................................10
   Appendix A. Acknowledgements ......................................11

1.  Introduction

   [RFC7001] specifies the Authentication-Results header field for
   conveying results of message authentication checks.  As S/MIME
   signature verification (and alteration) is sometimes implemented in
   border message transfer agents, guards, and gateways (for example,
   see [RFC3183]), there is a need to convey signature verification
   status to Mail User Agents (MUAs) and downstream filters.  This
   document defines a new authentication method to be used in the
   Authentication-Results header field for S/MIME-related signature
   checks.

2.  Conventions Used in This Document

   The formal syntax uses the Augmented Backus-Naur Form (ABNF)
   [RFC5234] notation, including the core rules defined in Appendix B of
   [RFC5234].

3.  "smime" Authentication Method

   S/MIME signature and countersignature verification is represented by
   the "smime" method and is defined in [RFC5751].











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3.1.  S/MIME Results

   The result values used by S/MIME [RFC5751] are as follows:

   +-----------+-------------------------------------------------------+
   | Result    | Meaning                                               |
   | code      |                                                       |
   +-----------+-------------------------------------------------------+
   | none      | The message was not signed.                           |
   |           |                                                       |
   | pass      | The message was signed, the signature or signatures   |
   |           | were acceptable to the verifier, and the signature(s) |
   |           | passed verification tests.                            |
   |           |                                                       |
   | fail      | The message was signed and the signature or           |
   |           | signatures were acceptable to the verifier, but they  |
   |           | failed the verification test(s).                      |
   |           |                                                       |
   | policy    | The message was signed and signature(s) passed        |
   |           | verification tests, but the signature or signatures   |
   |           | were not acceptable to the verifier.                  |
   |           |                                                       |
   | neutral   | The message was signed but the signature or           |
   |           | signatures contained syntax errors or were not        |
   |           | otherwise able to be processed.  This result is also  |
   |           | used for other failures not covered elsewhere in this |
   |           | list.                                                 |
   |           |                                                       |
   | temperror | The message could not be verified due to some error   |
   |           | that is likely transient in nature, such as a         |
   |           | temporary inability to retrieve a certificate or      |
   |           | Certificate Revocation List (CRL).  A later attempt   |
   |           | may produce a final result.                           |
   |           |                                                       |
   | permerror | The message could not be verified due to some error   |
   |           | that is unrecoverable, such as a required header      |
   |           | field being absent or the signer's certificate not    |
   |           | being available.  A later attempt is unlikely to      |
   |           | produce a final result.                               |
   +-----------+-------------------------------------------------------+

   A signature is "acceptable to the verifier" if it passes local policy
   checks (or there are no specific local policy checks).  For example,
   a verifier might require that the domain in the rfc822Name
   subjectAltName in the signing certificate matches the domain in the
   address of the sender of the message (value of the Sender header
   field, if present; value of the From header field otherwise), thus
   making third-party signatures unacceptable.  [RFC5751] advises that



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   if a message fails verification, it should be treated as an unsigned
   message.  A report of "fail" here permits the receiver of the report
   to decide how to handle the failure.  A report of "neutral" or "none"
   preempts that choice, ensuring that the message will be treated as if
   it had not been signed.

3.2.  Email Authentication Parameters for S/MIME

   This document defines several new authentication parameters for
   conveying S/MIME-related information, such as the location of an
   S/MIME signature and the identity associated with the entity that
   signed the message or one of its body parts.

3.2.1.  body.smime-part

   body.smime-part contains the MIME body part reference that contains
   the S/MIME signature.  The syntax of this property is described by
   the smime-part ABNF production below.  application/pkcs7-signature or
   application/pkcs7-mime (containing SignedData) media type body parts
   are referenced using the <section> syntax (see Section 6.4.5 of
   [RFC3501]).  If the signature being verified is encapsulated by
   another Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS) content type (e.g.,
   application/pkcs7-mime containing EnvelopedData, which contains
   SignedData), such an inner signature body part can be referenced
   using "section[/section..." syntax.

      smime-part = section ["/" smime-subpart]
      smime-subpart = smime-part
      section = <Defined in Section 6.4.5 of [RFC3501]>

3.2.2.  body.smime-identifier

   body.smime-identifier contains the email address [RFC5322] associated
   with the S/MIME signature referenced in the corresponding
   body.smime-part.  The email address can be specified explicitly in
   the signer's X.509 certificate or derived from the identity of the
   signer.  Note that this email address can correspond to a
   countersignature.













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3.2.3.  body.smime-serial and body.smime-issuer

   body.smime-serial contains the serialNumber of the X.509 certificate
   associated with the S/MIME signature (see Section 4.1.2.2 of
   [RFC5280]) referenced in the corresponding body.smime-part.

   body.smime-issuer contains the issuer name DN (distinguished name)
   (e.g., "CN=CA1,ST=BC,c=CA") of the X.509 certificate associated with
   the S/MIME signature (see Section 4.1.2.4 of [RFC5280]) referenced in
   the corresponding body.smime-part.

   Either both or neither of body.smime-serial and body.smime-issuer
   should be present in an Authentication-Results header field.

   body.smime-serial and body.smime-issuer are used for cases when
   body.smime-identifier (email address) can't be derived by the entity
   adding the corresponding Authentication-Results header field.  For
   example, this can be used when gatewaying from X.400.

3.3.  Examples

 Return-Path: <aliceDss@example.com>
 Authentication-Results: example.net;
  smime=fail (certificate is revoked by CRL)
  body.smime-identifier=aliceDss@example.com
  body.smime-part=2
 Received: from ietfa.example.com (localhost [IPv6:::1])
         by ietfa.example.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2875111E81A0;
         Fri, 06 Sep 2002 00:35:14 -0700 (PDT)
 MIME-Version: 1.0
 To: User2@example.com
 From: aliceDss@example.com
 Subject: Example 4.8
 Message-Id: <020906002550300.249@example.com>
 Date: Fri, 06 Sep 2002 00:25:21 -0700
 Content-Type: multipart/signed;
     micalg=SHA1;
     boundary="----=_NextBoundary____Fri,_06_Sep_2002_00:25:21";
     protocol="application/pkcs7-signature"












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 This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

 ------=_NextBoundary____Fri,_06_Sep_2002_00:25:21

 This is some sample content.
 ------=_NextBoundary____Fri,_06_Sep_2002_00:25:21
 Content-Type: application/pkcs7-signature; name=smime.p7s
 Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64
 Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=smime.p7s

 MIIDdwYJKoZIhvcNAQcCoIIDaDCCA2QCAQExCTAHBgUrDgMCGjALBgkqhkiG9w0BBwGgggL
 gMIIC3DCCApugAwIBAgICAMgwCQYHKoZIzjgEAzASMRAwDgYDVQQDEwdDYXJsRFNTMB4XDT
 k5MDgxNzAxMTA0OVoXDTM5MTIzMTIzNTk1OVowEzERMA8GA1UEAxMIQWxpY2VEU1MwggG2M
 IIBKwYHKoZIzjgEATCCAR4CgYEAgY3N7YPqCp45PsJIKKPkR5PdDteoDuxTxauECE//lOFz
 SH4M1vNESNH+n6+koYkv4dkwyDbeP5u/t0zcX2mK5HXQNwyRCJWb3qde+fz0ny/dQ6iLVPE
 /sAcIR01diMPDtbPjVQh11Tl2EMR4vf+dsISXN/LkURu15AmWXPN+W9sCFQDiR6YaRWa4E8
 baj7g3IStii/eTzQKBgCY40BSJMqo5+z5t2UtZakx2IzkEAjVc8ssaMMMeUF3dm1nizaoFP
 VjAe6I2uG4Hr32KQiWn9HXPSgheSz6Q+G3qnMkhijt2FOnOLl2jB80jhbgvMAF8bUmJEYk2
 RL34yJVKU1a14vlz7BphNh8Rf8K97dFQ/5h0wtGBSmA5ujY5A4GEAAKBgFzjuVp1FJYLqXr
 d4z+p7Kxe3L23ExE0phaJKBEj2TSGZ3V1ExI9Q1tv5VG/+onyohs+JH09B41bY8i7RaWgSu
 OF1s4GgD/oI34a8iSrUxq4Jw0e7wi/ZhSAXGKsZfoVi/G7NNTSljf2YUeyxDKE8H5BQP1Gp
 2NOM/Kl4vTyg+W4o4GBMH8wDAYDVR0TAQH/BAIwADAOBgNVHQ8BAf8EBAMCBsAwHwYDVR0j
 BBgwFoAUcEQ+gi5vh95K03XjPSC8QyuT8R8wHQYDVR0OBBYEFL5sobPjwfftQ3CkzhMB4v3
 jl/7NMB8GA1UdEQQYMBaBFEFsaWNlRFNTQGV4YW1wbGUuY29tMAkGByqGSM44BAMDMAAwLQ
 IUVQykGR9CK4lxIjONg2q1PWdrv0UCFQCfYVNSVAtcst3a53Yd4hBSW0NevTFjMGECAQEwG
 DASMRAwDgYDVQQDEwdDYXJsRFNTAgIAyDAHBgUrDgMCGjAJBgcqhkjOOAQDBC4wLAIUM/mG
 f6gkgp9Z0XtRdGimJeB/BxUCFGFFJqwYRt1WYcIOQoGiaowqGzVI

 ------=_NextBoundary____Fri,_06_Sep_2002_00:25:21--






















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4.  IANA Considerations

   IANA has added the following entries to the "Email Authentication
   Methods" sub-registry of the "Email Authentication Parameters"
   registry:

+------+----------+-------+------------+----------------+-------+------+
|Method| Defined  | ptype | Property   | Value          |Status | Ver- |
|      |   in     |       |            |                |       | sion |
+------+----------+-------+------------+----------------+-------+------+
| smime| [RFC5751]| body  | smime-part | A reference to |active | 1    |
|      |          |       |            | the MIME body  |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | part that      |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | contains the   |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | signature, as  |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | defined in     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | Section 3.2.1  |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | of [RFC7281].  |       |      |
|      |          |       |            |                |       |      |
| smime| [RFC5751]| body  | smime-     | The email      |active | 1    |
|      |          |       | identifier | address        |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | [RFC5322]      |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | associated     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | with the       |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | S/MIME         |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | signature.     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | The email      |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | address can be |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | specified      |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | explicitly or  |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | derived from   |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | the identity   |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | of the signer. |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | Note that this |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | email address  |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | can correspond |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | to a counter-  |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | signature.     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            |                |       |      |












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| smime| [RFC5751]| body  | smime-     | serialNumber   |active | 1    |
|      |          |       | serial     | of the         |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | certificate    |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | associated     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | with the       |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | S/MIME         |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | signature (see |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | Section        |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | 4.1.2.2 of     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | [RFC5280].     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            |                |       |      |
| smime| [RFC5751]| body  | smime-     | Issuer name DN |active | 1    |
|      |          |       | issuer     | (e.g., "CN=CA1,|       |      |
|      |          |       |            | ST=BC,c=CA")   |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | of the         |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | certificate    |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | associated     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | with the       |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | S/MIME         |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | signature (see |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | Section        |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | 4.1.2.4 of     |       |      |
|      |          |       |            | [RFC5280].     |       |      |
+------+----------+-------+------------+----------------+-------+------+

   IANA has added the following entries to the "Email Authentication
   Result Names" sub-registry of the "Email Authentication Parameters"
   registry:

   +-----------+-----------+----------+-----------------------+--------+
   | Code      | Defined   | Auth     | Meaning               | Status |
   |           |           | Method   |                       |        |
   +-----------+-----------+----------+-----------------------+--------+
   | none      | [RFC7281] | smime    | [RFC7281] Section 3.1 | active |
   |           |           |          |                       |        |
   | pass      | [RFC7281] | smime    | [RFC7281] Section 3.1 | active |
   |           |           |          |                       |        |
   | fail      | [RFC7281] | smime    | [RFC7281] Section 3.1 | active |
   |           |           |          |                       |        |
   | policy    | [RFC7281] | smime    | [RFC7281] Section 3.1 | active |
   |           |           |          |                       |        |
   | neutral   | [RFC7281] | smime    | [RFC7281] Section 3.1 | active |
   |           |           |          |                       |        |
   | temperror | [RFC7281] | smime    | [RFC7281] Section 3.1 | active |
   |           |           |          |                       |        |
   | permerror | [RFC7281] | smime    | [RFC7281] Section 3.1 | active |
   +-----------+-----------+----------+-----------------------+--------+




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5.  Security Considerations

   This document doesn't add new security considerations not already
   covered by [RFC7001] and [RFC5751].  In particular, security
   considerations related to the use of weak cryptography over
   plaintext, weakening and breaking of cryptographic algorithms over
   time, and changing the behavior of message processing based on
   presence of a signature specified in [RFC5751] are relevant to this
   document.  Similarly, the following security considerations specified
   in [RFC7001] are particularly relevant to this document: Forged
   Header Fields, Misleading Results, Internal Mail Transfer Agent (MTA)
   Lists, and Compromised Internal Hosts.

   To repeat something already mentioned in RFC 7001, Section 7.1:

      An MUA or filter that accesses a mailbox whose messages are
      handled by a non-conformant MTA, and understands
      Authentication-Results header fields, could potentially make false
      conclusions based on forged header fields.  A malicious user or
      agent could forge a header field using the DNS domain of a
      receiving ADMD as the authserv-id token in the value of the header
      field and, with the rest of the value, claim that the message was
      properly authenticated.  The non-conformant MTA would fail to
      strip the forged header field, and the MUA could inappropriately
      trust it.

      For this reason, it is best not to have processing of the
      Authentication-Results header field enabled by default; instead,
      it should be ignored, at least for the purposes of enacting
      filtering decisions, unless specifically enabled by the user or
      administrator after verifying that the border MTA is compliant.
      It is acceptable to have an MUA aware of this specification but
      have an explicit list of hostnames whose Authentication-Results
      header fields are trustworthy; however, this list should initially
      be empty.

   So, to emphasize this point: whenever possible, MUAs should implement
   their own S/MIME signature verification instead of implementing this
   specification.

   Note that agents adding Authentication-Results header fields
   containing S/MIME authentication method might be unable to
   verify S/MIME signatures inside encrypted CMS content types such
   as EnvelopedData [RFC5652].  So, agents processing
   Authentication-Results header fields can't treat the lack of an
   Authentication-Results header field with S/MIME authentication method
   as an indication that the corresponding S/MIME signature is missing,
   invalid, or valid.



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6.  References

6.1.  Normative References

   [RFC3501]  Crispin, M., "INTERNET MESSAGE ACCESS PROTOCOL -
              VERSION 4rev1", RFC 3501, March 2003.

   [RFC5234]  Crocker, D. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax
              Specifications: ABNF", STD 68, RFC 5234, January 2008.

   [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.

   [RFC5322]  Resnick, P., Ed., "Internet Message Format", RFC 5322,
              October 2008.

   [RFC5751]  Ramsdell, B. and S. Turner, "Secure/Multipurpose Internet
              Mail Extensions (S/MIME) Version 3.2 Message
              Specification", RFC 5751, January 2010.

   [RFC7001]  Kucherawy, M., "Message Header Field for Indicating
              Message Authentication Status", RFC 7001, September 2013.

6.2.  Informative References

   [RFC3183]  Dean, T. and W. Ottaway, "Domain Security Services using
              S/MIME", RFC 3183, October 2001.

   [RFC5652]  Housley, R., "Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS)", STD 70,
              RFC 5652, September 2009.



















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Appendix A.  Acknowledgements

   Thank you to Murray S. Kucherawy, David Wilson, Jim Schaad, SM, and
   Steve Kille for comments and corrections on this document.

Author's Address

   Alexey Melnikov
   Isode Ltd
   14 Castle Mews
   Hampton, Middlesex  TW12 2NP
   United Kingdom

   EMail: Alexey.Melnikov@isode.com





































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