OASIS ebXML Messaging Services TC

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Re: [ebxml-msg] Sign and Encrypt

  • 1.  Re: [ebxml-msg] Sign and Encrypt

    Posted 10-26-2001 17:23
    David:
    
    Section 12.3.5 Persistent Confidentiality in the 1.0 spec used to state:
    
    "However, this specification states that it is not the responsibility of the
    MSH
    to provide security for the ebXML 'Payloads'."
    
    I don't recall anyone raising an issue to have the above statement removed.
    
    I agree that your proposal makes logical sense. Perhaps the word
    encryption in your Note should be qualified with the word payload.
    
    Regards,
    -Arvola
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: David Fischer <david@drummondgroup.com>
    To: Arvola Chan <arvola@tibco.com>; ebXML Msg
    <ebxml-msg@lists.oasis-open.org>
    Date: Friday, October 26, 2001 1:07 PM
    Subject: RE: [ebxml-msg] Sign and Encrypt
    
    
    Arvola,
    
    Signing is not viable if done after encryption.  From a legalistic point of
    view, if you sign the encrypted part, you have not made the required
    connection
    between what is being signed and the signer since the signer does not know
    what
    is being signed (like signing the outside of an envelope without being able
    to
    look at the contents.)
    
    This is not a choice, this is how it must happen.  Encryption is handled by
    the
    MSH during packaging.  See section 4.1.4.5
    
    ===============
    4.1.4.5 Persistent Confidentiality
       <<snip>>
    Confidentiality for ebXML Payload Containers MAY be provided by
    functionality
    possessed by a MSH.  Payload confidentiality MAY be provided by using XML
    Encryption (when available) or some other cryptographic process (such as
    [S/MIME], [S/MIMEV3], or [PGP/MIME]) bilaterally agreed upon by the parties
    involved.  Since XML Encryption is not currently available, it is
    RECOMMENDED
    that [S/MIME] encryption methods be used for ebXML Payload Containers.  The
    XML
    Encryption standard SHALL be the default encryption method when XML
    Encryption
    has achieved W3C Recommendation status.
    
    Note:  When both signature and encryption are required, sign first and then
    encrypt.
    
    ===============
    
    If the Application wishes to submit an encrypted payload to the MSH, that's
    fine.  They can also submit a previously signed payload.  We can't control
    any
    of that.  However, the MSH level encryption function must be done after the
    MSH
    level signature function.  We need to say this.
    
    Regards,
    
    David Fischer
    Drummond Group.
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Arvola Chan [mailto:arvola@tibco.com]
    Sent: Friday, October 26, 2001 2:17 PM
    To: David Fischer; ebXML Msg
    Subject: Re: [ebxml-msg] Sign and Encrypt
    
    
    David:
    
    You proposed order of signing before encrypting works only if the MSH
    takes care of both signatures and encryption.
    
    In the current Messaging spec, the MSH is responsible for signing but
    not encryption. Therefore, if you are concerned with persistent encryption
    of the payload portion of an ebXML message, the encryption will have to
    be performed first. The encrypted payload(s) will then have to be passed to
    the MSH for packaging and signing.
    
    Regards,
    -Arvola
    
    -----Original Message-----
    From: David Fischer <david@drummondgroup.com>
    To: ebXML Msg <ebxml-msg@lists.oasis-open.org>
    Date: Friday, October 26, 2001 12:02 PM
    Subject: [ebxml-msg] Sign and Encrypt
    
    
    I am looking through the spec and I don't see anywhere that says which to do
    first, Sign or Encrypt.  All security protocols of which I am aware always
    sign
    first and then encrypt.  This may be obvious but I would like to add a note
    to
    this effect in section 4.1.4.5.
    
    Note:  When both signature and encryption are required, sign first and then
    encrypt.
    
    Regards,
    
    David Fischer
    Drummond Group.
    
    
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