RFC 4056
Use of the RSASSA-PSS Signature Algorithm in Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS)
Network Working Group J. Schaad Request for Comments: 4056 Soaring Hawk Consulting Category: Standards Track June 2005 Use of the RSASSA-PSS Signature Algorithm in Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS) Status of This Memo This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited. Copyright Notice Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).Abstract
This document specifies the conventions for using the RSASSA-PSS (RSA Probabilistic Signature Scheme) digital signature algorithm with the Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS).1. Overview
This document specifies the conventions for using the RSA Probabilistic Signature Scheme (RSASSA-PSS) [P1v2.1] digital signature algorithm with the Cryptographic Message Syntax [CMS] signed-data content type. CMS values are generated using ASN.1 [X.208-88], using the Basic Encoding Rules (BER) [X.209-88] and the Distinguished Encoding Rules (DER) [X.509-88]. This document is written to be used in conjunction with RFC 4055 [RSA-ALGS]. All of the ASN.1 structures referenced in this document are defined in RFC 4055. The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [STDWORDS].
1.1. PSS Algorithm
Although there are no known defects with the PKCS #1 v1.5 [P1v1.5] signature algorithm, RSASSA-PSS [P1v2.1] was developed in an effort to have more mathematically provable security. PKCS #1 v1.5 signatures were developed in an ad hoc manner; RSASSA-PSS was developed based on mathematical foundations.2. Algorithm Identifiers and Parameters
2.1. Certificate Identifiers
The RSASSA-PSS signature algorithm is defined in RFC 3447 [P1v2.1]. Conventions for encoding the public key are defined in RFC 4055 [RSA-ALGS]. Two algorithm identifiers for RSA subject public keys in certificates are used. These are: rsaEncryption OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { pkcs-1 1 } and id-RSASSA-PSS OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { pkcs-1 10 } When the rsaEncryption algorithm identifier is used for a public key, the AlgorithmIdentifier parameters field MUST contain NULL. Complete details can be found in [RSA-ALGS]. When the id-RSASSA-PSS algorithm identifier is used for a public key, the AlgorithmIdentifier parameters field MUST either be absent or contain RSASSA-PSS-params. Again, complete details can be found in [RSA-ALGS]. In both cases, the RSA public key, which is composed of a modulus and a public exponent, MUST be encoded using the RSAPublicKey type. The output of this encoding is carried in the certificate subject public key. RSAPublicKey ::= SEQUENCE { modulus INTEGER, -- n publicExponent INTEGER } -- e
2.2. Signature Identifiers
The algorithm identifier for RSASAA-PSS signatures is: id-RSASSA-PSS OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= {pkcs-1 10 } When the id-RSASSA-PSS algorithm identifier is used for a signature, the AlgorithmIdentifier parameters field MUST contain RSASSA-PSS- params. Information about RSASSA-PSS-params can be found in [RSA- ALGS]. When signing, the RSA algorithm generates a single value, and that value is used directly as the signature value.3. Signed-data Conventions
digestAlgorithms SHOULD contain the one-way hash function used to compute the message digest on the eContent value. The same one-way hash function SHOULD be used for computing the message digest on both the eContent and the signedAttributes value if signedAttributes exist. The same one-way hash function MUST be used for computing the message digest on the signedAttributes and as the hashAlgorithm in the RSA- PSS-params structure. signatureAlgorithm MUST contain id-RSASSA-PSS. The algorithm parameters field MUST contain RSASSA-PSS-params. signature contains the single value resulting from the signing operation. If the subjectPublicKeyInfo algorithm identifier for the public key in the certificate is id-RSASSA-PSS and the parameters field is present, the following additional steps MUST be done as part of signature validation: 1. The hashAlgorithm field in the certificate subjectPublicKey.algorithm parameters and the signatureAlgorithm parameters MUST be the same. 2. The maskGenAlgorithm field in the certificate subjectPublicKey.algorithm parameters and the signatureAlgorithm parameters MUST be the same.
3. The saltLength in the signatureAlgorithm parameters MUST be
greater or equal to the saltLength in the certificate
subjectPublicKey.algorithm parameters.
4. The trailerField in the certificate subjectPublicKey.algorithm
parameters and signatureAlgorithm parameters MUST be the same.
In doing the above comparisons, default values are considered to be
the same as extant values. If any of the above four steps is not
true, the signature checking algorithm MUST fail validation.
4. Security Considerations
Implementations must protect the RSA private key. Compromise of the
RSA private key may result in the ability to forge signatures.
The generation of RSA private key relies on random numbers. The use
of inadequate pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) to generate
these values can result in little or no security. An attacker may
find it much easier to reproduce the PRNG environment that produced
the keys, searching the resulting small set of possibilities, rather
than brute force searching the whole key space. The generation of
quality random numbers is difficult. RFC 1750 [RANDOM] offers
important guidance in this area.
Using the same private key for different algorithms has the potential
of allowing an attacker to get extra information about the key. It
is strongly suggested that the same key not be used for both the PKCS
#1 v1.5 and RSASSA-PSS signature algorithms.
When computing signatures, the same hash function should be used for
all operations. This reduces the number of failure points in the
signature process.
The parameter checking procedures outlined in section 3 are of
special importance. It is possible to forge signatures by changing
(especially to weaker values) these parameter values. Signers using
this algorithm should take care that only one set of parameter values
is used as this decreases the possibility of leaking information.
5. Normative References
[CMS] Housley, R., "Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS)", RFC 3852, July 2004. [P1v2.1] Jonsson, J. and B. Kaliski, "Public-Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS) #1: RSA Cryptography Specifications Version 2.1", RFC 3447, February 2003. [RSA-ALGS] Schaad, J., Kaliski, B., and R. Housley, "Additional Algorithms and Identifiers for RSA Cryptography for use in the Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure Certificate and Certificate Revocation List (CRL) Profile", RFC 4055, June 2005. [STDWORDS] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997. [X.208-88] CCITT Recommendation X.208: Specification of Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1), 1998. [X.209-88] CCITT Recommendation X.209: Specification of Basic Encoding Rules for Abstract Syntax Notation One (ASN.1), 1988. [X.509-88] CCITT Recommendation X.509: The Directory Authentication Framework, 1988.6. Informative References
[P1v1.5] Kaliski, B., "PKCS #1: RSA Encryption Version 1.5", RFC 2313, March 1998. [RANDOM] Eastlake 3rd, D., Crocker, S., and J. Schiller, "Randomness Recommendations for Security", RFC 1750, December 1994.Author' Address
Jim Schaad Soaring Hawk Consulting PO Box 675 Gold Bar, WA 98251 EMail: jimsch@exmsft.com
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