Network Working Group J. Levine
Internet-Draft Taughannock Networks
Updates: 6376 (if approved) June 6, 2018
Intended status: Standards Track
Expires: December 8, 2018

A new cryptographic signature method for DKIM
draft-ietf-dcrup-dkim-crypto-12

Abstract

This document adds a new signing algorithm to DKIM, ed25519-sha256. DKIM verifiers are required to implement this algorithm.

Status of This Memo

This Internet-Draft is submitted in full conformance with the provisions of BCP 78 and BCP 79.

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Copyright Notice

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

Discussion Venue:
Discussion about this draft is directed to the dcrup@ietf.org mailing list.

DKIM signs e-mail messages, by creating hashes of the message headers and body and signing the header hash with a digital signature. Message recipients fetch the signature verification key from the DNS. The defining documents specify a single signing algorithm, RSA.

This document adds a new stronger signing algorithm, Edwards-Curve Digital Signature Algorithm using the Curve25519 curve (ed25519), which has much shorter keys than RSA for similar levels of security.

2. Conventions Used in This Document

The capitalized 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 [RFC2119].

Syntax descriptions use Augmented BNF (ABNF). The ABNF tokens sig-a-tag-k and key-k-tag-type are imported from [RFC6376].

3. Ed25519-SHA256 Signing Algorithm

The ed25519-sha256 signing algorithm computes a message hash as defined in section 3 of [RFC6376] using SHA-256 [FIPS-180-4-2015] as the hash-alg, and signs it with the PureEdDSA variant Ed25519, as defined in in RFC 8032 section 5.1. Example keys and signatures in Appendix A below are based on the test vectors in RFC 8032 section 7.1.

The DNS record for the verification public key has a "k=ed25519" tag to indicate that the key is an Ed25519 rather than RSA key.

This is an additional DKIM signature algorithm added to Section 3.3 of [RFC6376] as envisioned in Section 3.3.4 of [RFC6376].

Note: since Ed25519 keys are 256 bits long, the base64 encoded key is only 44 octets, so DNS key record data will generally fit in a single 255 byte TXT string, and will work even with DNS provisioning software that doesn't handle multi-string TXT records.

4. Signature and key syntax

The syntax of DKIM signatures and DKIM keys are updated as follows.

4.1. Signature syntax

The syntax of DKIM algorithm tags in section 3.5 of [RFC6376] is updated by adding this rule to the existing rule for sig-a-tag-k:

    ABNF:

    sig-a-tag-k =/ "ed25519"

4.2. Key syntax

The syntax of DKIM key tags in section 3.6.1 of [RFC6376] is updated by adding this rule to the existing rule for key-k-tag-type:

    ABNF:

    key-k-tag-type  =/ "ed25519"

The p= value in the key record is the ed25519 public key encoded in base64. Since the key is 256 bits long, the base64 text is 44 octets long. For example, a key record using the public key in [RFC8032] Section 7.1, Test 1, mignt be:

s._domainkey.example TXT (
   "v=DKIM1; k=ed25519; p=11qYAYKxCrfVS/7TyWQHOg7hcvPapiMlrwIaaPcHURo="
   )

5. Key and algorithm choice and strength

Section 3.3 of [RFC6376] describes DKIM's hash and signature algorithms. It is updated as follows:

Signers SHOULD implement and verifiers MUST implement the ed25519-sha256 algorithm.

6. Transition Considerations

For backward compatibility, signers can add multiple signatures that use old and new signing algorithms. Since there can only be a single key record in the DNS for each selector, the signatures have to use different selectors, although they can use the same d= and i= identifiers.

7. Security Considerations

Ed25519 is a widely used cryptographic technique, so the security of DKIM signatures using new signing algorithms should be at least as good as those using old algorithms.

All of the security advice in [RFC6376] continues to apply except that the advice in Section 8 of [RFC8032] supplants the advice about RSA threats.

8. IANA Considerations

IANA is requested to update registries as follows.

8.1. DKIM Key Type registry

The following value is added to the DKIM Key Type Registry

DKIM Key Type Registry Added Values
TYPE REFERENCE STATUS
ed25519 [RFC8032] active

9. References

9.1. Normative References

[FIPS-180-4-2015] U.S. Department of Commerce, "Secure Hash Standard", FIPS PUB 180-4, August 2015.
[RFC2119] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997.
[RFC5234] Crocker, D. and P. Overell, "Augmented BNF for Syntax Specifications: ABNF", STD 68, RFC 5234, DOI 10.17487/RFC5234, January 2008.
[RFC6376] Crocker, D., Hansen, T. and M. Kucherawy, "DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) Signatures", STD 76, RFC 6376, DOI 10.17487/RFC6376, September 2011.
[RFC8032] Josefsson, S. and I. Liusvaara, "Edwards-Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (EdDSA)", RFC 8032, DOI 10.17487/RFC8032, January 2017.

9.2. Informative References

[RFC3447] Jonsson, J. and B. Kaliski, "Public-Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS) #1: RSA Cryptography Specifications Version 2.1", RFC 3447, DOI 10.17487/RFC3447, February 2003.

Appendix A. Example of a signed message

This is a small message with both rsa-sha256 and ed25519-sha256 DKIM signatures. The signatures are independent of each other, so either signature would be valid if the other were not present.

A.1. Secret keys

Ed25519 secret key in base64.

fL+5V9EquCZAovKik3pA6Lk9zwCzoEtjIuIqK9ZXHHA=

RSA secret key in PEM format.

-----BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY-----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-----END RSA PRIVATE KEY-----

A.2. Public key DNS records

brisbane._domainkey.football.example.com. IN TXT (
 "v=DKIM1; k=ed25519; p=yi50DjK5O9pqbFpNHklsv9lqaS0ArSYu02qp1S0DW1Y=")

test._domainkey.football.example.com. IN TXT (
 "v=DKIM1; k=rsa; p=MIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQDkHlOQoBTzWR"
 "iGs5V6NpP3idY6Wk08a5qhdR6wy5bdOKb2jLQiY/J16JYi0Qvx/byYzCNb3W91y3FutAC"
 "DfzwQ/BC/e/8uBsCR+yz1Lxj+PL6lHvqMKrM3rG4hstT5QjvHO9PzoxZyVYLzBfO2EeC3"
 "Ip3G+2kryOTIKT+l/K4w3QIDAQAB")

A.3. Signed Message

The text in each line of the message starts at the first position except for the continuation lines on the DKIM-Signature headers which start with a single space.

DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=ed25519-sha256; c=simple/simple; 
 d=football.example.com; i=@football.example.com; 
 q=dns/txt; s=brisbane; t=1518460054; h=from : to : 
 subject : date : message-id : from : subject : date; 
 bh=4bLNXImK9drULnmePzZNEBleUanJCX5PIsDIFoH4KTQ=; 
 b=9/dsDChY0YMTtD5Eyw3wx7x22BlSJP7M5ECbJ7GWrR45nXlTCGb8l0YB
 o0wBLR++X5LqmsxXaOYLLJe46l10AQ==
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=simple/simple; 
 d=football.example.com; i=@football.example.com; 
 q=dns/txt; s=test; t=1527915362; h=from : to : subject : 
 date : message-id : from : subject : date; 
 bh=4bLNXImK9drULnmePzZNEBleUanJCX5PIsDIFoH4KTQ=; 
 b=icKcLSEZYXJ95flvWE8FT6hl5iqd8MC/LEKYH0QjsqYy6MO/4pgVNCZH
 l/RAXAuADxE/40Fg7uTlxwwD1hjN2Ple6J//cJfslBdDOq6zTVbne1dqtl
 NOat7iamJ1AfRqyG+ja7a2AZsrpUuJ7VA6O+0zRYPqpwMEkEFIzI9i/Xk=
From: Joe SixPack <joe@football.example.com>
To: Suzie Q <suzie@shopping.example.net>
Subject: Is dinner ready?
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 21:00:37 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <20030712040037.46341.5F8J@football.example.com>

Hi.

We lost the game.  Are you hungry yet?

Joe.

Appendix B. Change log

11 to 12
Made example less wrong.
10 to 11
New example with both signatures, minor nits.
09 to 10
Improve abstract, minor nits.
08 to 09
Specify sha-256 for the extremely literal minded. Take out the prehash stuff. Add example.
07 to 08
Specify base64 key records. Style edits per Dave C.
06 to 07:
Remove RSA fingerprints. Change Pure to hashed eddsa.
05 to 06:
Editorial changes only.
04 to 05:
Remove deprecation cruft and inconsistent key advice. Fix p= and k= text.
03 to 04:
Change eddsa to ed25519. Add Martin's key regeneration issue. Remove hashed ed25519 keys. Fix typos and clarify text. Move syntax updates to separate section. Take out SHA-1 stuff.
01 to 02:
Clarify EdDSA algorithm is ed25519 with Pure version of the signing. Make references to tags and fields consistent.

Author's Address

John Levine Taughannock Networks PO Box 727 Trumansburg, NY 14886 Phone: +883.5100.01196712 EMail: standards@taugh.com