Re: Additional edits to XML Signature 1.1

On 31 Dec 2009, at 18:20, Magnus Nystrom wrote:

> For
> 
>> 2. HMACOutputLength warning
>> 
>> We added in section 4.4.2
>> 
>> [[Signatures must be deemed invalid if the truncation length is below
>> half the underlying hash algorithm's output length, or 80 bits,
>> whichever of these two values is greater.]]
>> 
>> it seems it is invalid if (a) truncation length < half output length
>> and/or (b) < 80 bits.
>> 
>> Can we remove the phrase ", whichever of these two values is greater."
>> 
>> If not, what does it add beyond conditions (a) and (b)?
> 
> I guess an alternative could be:
> 
> "Signatures must ("MUST"?) be deemed invalid when the truncation length is less than the greater of half the underlying hash algorithm's output length or 80 bits."
> 
> But that still seems a bit convoluted. Why not just
> 
> "Signatures must ("MUST"?) be deemed invalid when the truncation length is less than half the underlying hash algorithm's output length.
> 
> (Assuming the use of hash algorithms with output length <160 bits will go away)

While that assumption doesnt' seem unreasonable, I wouldn't want to make it *implicit*, as you seem to suggest.  I suppose I'm biased in favor of the current text since I wrote it, but I wouldn't want to loose either of the two lower bounds from the spec.

Received on Thursday, 31 December 2009 17:36:42 UTC