- From: Priestley, Mark, VF-Group <Mark.Priestley@vodafone.com>
- Date: Tue, 7 Apr 2009 08:27:15 +0200
- To: "Arthur Barstow" <art.barstow@nokia.com>, "public-webapps" <public-webapps@w3.org>
Hi Art, All, Please find below my editorial comments and requests for clarifications based on the new WD [1]. While it is a long list the comments are all minor and so hopefully easily addressed. Overall I think the spec is looking good, for which a lot of thanks must go to Frederick and Marcos! That said, I have a couple of more substantive comments that I will send in the next couple of days. Many thanks, Mark [1] http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/WD-widgets-digsig-20090331/ ----- COMMENTS ----- 1.0 "A widget package can be signed by the author of the widget producing an [XMLDSIG11] signature that cryptographically includes all of the file entries other than signature files. A widget package can also be signed by one or more distributors, with XML signatures that each cryptographically includes all of the non-signature file entries as well as any author signature." Change the last sentence for consistency between definitions, ie: "... A widget package can also be signed by one or more distributors <change> of the widget, producing [XMLDSIG11] </change> signatures that each cryptographically includes all of the non-signature file entries as well as any author signature." ----- Can we remove the following sentence? This is a general property of signatures which I'm not sure we need to include. "Digitally signing implies use of private key material only known by the signer, thus enabling verification of integrity and signature source." ----- 1.1 We don't actually define any XML elements in the "http://www.w3.org/ns/widgets-digsig" namespace... is this worth noting this and/or removing the "wsig" prefix? ----- The terms "XML elements" and "resources" seem to be used interchangeably? Is there a difference? ----- "Algorithms used by XML Security are defined in a number of places..." - could we tighten up this sentence, eg something like "This specification references algorithms defined in [XMLSecAlgs] and [XMLDSIG11]" ? ----- 1.2 "compressed (or Stored)" - either remove capitalisation of Stored or add it to compressed ----- "physical file" -> file ? ----- "top-most path level" - is there a better way of saying this? ----- "which MAY logically contain" - if the configuration file is made mandatory then the MAY should be a MUST ----- Question: is a file entry the same as a file? If so then we should always use "file entry" in place of "file". If not then perhaps we should define file? ----- "(i.e., a third party that is distributing the widget on behalf of the author)." - in some cases the author may also be (one of) the distributor(s). suggest changing "i.e." to "e.g." ----- 3 "As well as sections marked as non-normative, examples and notes in this specification are non-normative. Everything else in this specification is normative. The security considerations section is non-normative." Suggest change to the following for readability: "As well as sections marked as non-normative, the examples and notes, and security considerations in this specification are non-normative. Everything else in this specification is normative." ----- 4 "This section defines how to locate digital signatures in a widget package for processing. An implementation MUST achieve the same result as the following algorithm used to locate digital signatures in a widget package:" In the sentence above, change "digital signatures" to "signature files" (in both cases) ----- "This MAY be determined by the security policy used by the user agent." Can we say will or, better yet, SHOULD or MUST? Otherwise, what do we mean when we say MAY? Who (what) else may enforce security policy? ----- "Thus the highest numbered distributor signature would be validated first." Change to: "Thus in the case that one or more distributor signatures were validated, the highest numbered distributor signature would be validated first." ----- 5.1 "A widget package MAY be digitally signed using XML Signature [XMLDSIG11]." don't we mean: "A widget package MAY be digitally signed using the profile of XML Signature [XMLDSIG11] defined by this specification." ? ----- As this section is talking about generating a signature, I suggest that we remove "and validated" in the following sentence: "Each signature file MUST be generated and validated in" ----- 5.2 As per previous email exchange we need to re-work author signature definition ----- "zero or one author signatures." - remove final "s" ----- "This represents the digital signature of the author of the widget package." add "signature file" ie "This signature file represents the digital signature of the author of the widget package." ----- 5.3 "This represents the digital signature of a distributor of the widget package." add "signature file" ie "This signature file represents the digital signature of a distributor of the widget package." ----- 5.3.1 "Within a widget package these signature files MUST be ordered based on the numeric portion of the signature file name. Thus, for example, signature2.xml precedes signature11.xml." Question: what does this mean? What is it requiring from a widget package? ----- 5.4 "Implementations MUST be prepared to accept X.509 v3 certificates [RFC5280]." Can we say "User agents" rather than implementations ----- 5.5 "It MUST be unique for a given signer." Do we need to make it clear that we are not expecting the UA to check this? I take it we're not asking the UA to check this, right? ----- 7.1 "Each ds:Signature property" -> "Each ds:SignatureProperty" ? ----- In step 5 there is no bullet for digest algorithms, which there probably should be. ----- 7.2 "This MUST be a unique signing string for all signature files created by the signer." - same comment as 5.5. ie - Do we need to make it clear that we are not expecting the UA to check this? ----- 7.3 "If signature file validation fails for any reason, any external entities (e.g., a user agent that implements [Widgets Packaging]) relying on the validation of the signature file MUST be notified of the failure..." Maybe we should say that notification of successful validation must also be provided? ----- 8 "A signature file may also be renamed, which can affect processing." suggest modification to "...which can affect the order in which distributor signatures are processed" ----- 9.1.1 "Upon signature generation, if this property is used, the value is set to ..." Is inconsistent with the sentence from 5.1 which states: "Each signature file MUST contain a dsp:Identifier signature properties element compliant with XML Signature Properties [XMLDSIG-Properties] and this specification." Suggest deletion of ", if this property is used," from the first sentence ----- 9.1.2 "Profiles MUST specify details of the identifier property value creation and interpretation." What does "Profiles" mean in this sentence ----- "If multiple instances of this property are found on a single signature, then applications MUST NOT deem any of these properties valid." - which would in turn mean that the signature was invalid, right? We may want to state this? ----- 9.2 Note that the same comments may apply to 9.2.1 and 9.2.2 dependent on the discussions on the mandatory/optional status of this property. >-----Original Message----- >From: public-webapps-request@w3.org >[mailto:public-webapps-request@w3.org] On Behalf Of Arthur Barstow >Sent: 02 April 2009 17:21 >To: public-webapps >Subject: [widgets] New WD of Widgets 1.0: Digital Signatures >spec published on March 31 > >On March 31 a new WD of the Widgets 1.0 Digital Signature spec >was published and announced on the W3C's home page: > >[[ >2009-03-31: The Web Applications Working Group has published a >Working Draft of Widgets 1.0: Digital Signatures. This >document defines a profile of the XML Signature Syntax and >Processing 1.1 specification to allow a widget package to be >digitally signed. >Widget authors and distributors can digitally sign widgets as >a trust and quality assurance mechanism. Prior to >instantiation, a user agent can use the digital signature to >verify the integrity of the widget package and perform source >authentication. This document specifies conformance >requirements on both widget packages and user agents. >]] > >Please review this new WD as soon as possible, preferably >within the next two weeks: > > <http://www.w3.org/TR/2009/WD-widgets-digsig-20090331/> > >-Regards, Art Barstow > >
Received on Tuesday, 7 April 2009 06:28:01 UTC