RE: D-AG006 Security

RE: D-AG006 SecurityI wonder if it will take another 9 months to get this
working group started.
  -----Original Message-----
  From: www-ws-arch-request@w3.org [mailto:www-ws-arch-request@w3.org]On
Behalf Of Abbie Barbir
  Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 9:29 AM
  To: Allen Brown; David Orchard
  Cc: www-ws-arch@w3.org
  Subject: RE: D-AG006 Security


  Allen,

  i do second your remark.
  The discussion on security clearly indicate that there is the need for
having a WG that sepcifically deals with the subject.

  I think that the birth of the security group should come out as a result
of the WG work.

  abbie



  > -----Original Message-----
  > From: Allen Brown [mailto:allenbr@microsoft.com]
  > Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2002 3:10 PM
  > To: David Orchard
  > Cc: www-ws-arch@w3.org
  > Subject: RE: D-AG006 Security
  >
  >
  > Dave,
  >
  > Indeed, this is exactly the sort of thread I'd expect to evolve in
  > chartering, setting goals for, and setting requirements for a Web
  > Services Security WG.
  >
  > I'd add to your qualitative facets of security: supporting end-to-end
  > security for both seeking and providing Web Services.
  >
  > Allen
  >
  > -----Original Message-----
  > From: David Orchard [mailto:david.orchard@bea.com]
  > Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 1:52 PM
  > To: www-ws-arch@w3.org
  > Subject: RE: D-AG006 Security
  >
  >
  > This discussion is getting into requirements, WSA process, artifacts,
  > etc. and not goals.
  >
  > Why not keep the security goals pretty simple, like listing
  > the typical
  > facets of authentication, authorization, etc?  And say that
  > the security
  > facets apply to web service message exchange, interface definition and
  > discovery?
  >
  > Remember, goals not requirements.
  >
  > Cheers,
  > Dave
  >
  >
  >
  > > -----Original Message-----
  > > From: www-ws-arch-request@w3.org
  > [mailto:www-ws-arch-request@w3.org]On
  > > Behalf Of Joseph Hui
  > > Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 11:04 AM
  > > To: Damodaran, Suresh; www-ws-arch@w3.org
  > > Subject: RE: D-AG006 Security
  > >
  > >
  > > Hi Suresh,
  > >
  > > So there's the apparent agreement that listing use cases
  > exhaustively
  > > is not the way to go, i.e. a few well thought-out examples will do.
  > >
  > > In my view the system boundaries may indeed vary between
  > applications.
  >
  > > In fact, in some cases, say XML-Encryption, the notion of system
  > > boundaries in the tradition sense is immaterial, and may
  > even get in
  > > the way.  Perhaps in WSsec the notion of "system
  > boundaries" should be
  >
  > > re-invented to be "security boundaries," which will enclose the
  > > security policies of the union of (the sets) of security policies
  > > of all WS endpoints involved in a transaction.  Note that
  > > in WSsec each WS endpoint can have its own security policy.
  > >
  > > I agree we should indeed try not to delve into too much detail,
  > > especially mechanisms -- none at all if possible at this
  > juncture.  So
  >
  > > we can stay focused on our more immediate objectives.
  > >
  > > For the long term, there's a set of steps I'm thinking of
  > > to approach this WSsec deal methodically:
  > >   1) develop a WS-Arch security policy -- the policy
  > >      of all policies (of all WS endpoints);
  > >   2) develop a model that captures the policy;
  > >   3) translate the model into WS architectural elements,
  > >      aka "modules" in WSAWA charter's nomenclature; and
  > >   4) implement the modules with mechanisms.  (Note that
  > >      a WS endpoint only needs to implement/deploy a subset
  > >      of the modules according to its own security policy.) (Steps 1
  > > through 3 are the WSAWG's gig.  Step 4 will be left to the
  > > implementers/vendors.) Does this sound reasonable to you?
  > And to the
  > > group?
  > >
  > > BTW, do you find the D-AG006 goal statement as-is
  > acceptable? (I do,
  > > BTW.)  Care to share any thoughts on it?
  > >
  > > Cheers,
  > >
  > > Joe
  > > =================
  > > > -----Original Message-----
  > > > From: Damodaran, Suresh [mailto:Suresh_Damodaran@stercomm.com]
  > > > Sent: Monday, March 11, 2002 9:12 AM
  > > > To: Joseph Hui; www-ws-arch@w3.org
  > > > Subject: RE: D-AG006 Security
  > > >
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > Joseph,
  > > >
  > > > More comments below.
  > > > I have some additional thoughts that I will send separately, when
  > > > ready. This is a hard topic, and it is a challenge for us
  > to get the
  >
  > > > right "stuff" done for the WS-Sec
  > > >
  > > > -----Original Message-----
  > > > From: Joseph Hui [mailto:jhui@digisle.net]
  > > > Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 8:11 PM
  > > > To: Damodaran, Suresh; www-ws-arch@w3.org
  > > > Subject: RE: D-AG006 Security
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > > -----Original Message-----
  > > > > From: Damodaran, Suresh [mailto:Suresh_Damodaran@stercomm.com]
  > > > [snip]
  > > > > 2. You have described the techniques one may use to secure
  > > > > *any* web service usage scenario. It would be useful to see
  > > > > whether there are categories of usage scenarios where some
  > > > > specific combination of techniques will make sense. For
  > example,
  > > > > should accessing a "weather info service," be secured using
  > > > > authorization, authentication? Should the
  > > > > weather info be ensured to be authentic and unaltered?
  > > > Whether should or should not depends on the weather info
  > > > WS provider and consumer.  It'll be their choice.
  > > > We should only concern ourselves with the "can" factor -- can our
  > > > WSsec ensure the weather info to be authentic and unaltered?  By
  > > > obligating ourselves to address authc, authz, and
  > integrity, we can
  > > > say: "yes, the WS-Arch can." Just to ensure potential
  > skeptics who
  > > > may think the "can" is easier said then done, I'm giving concrete
  > > > answers to your two questions, replacing "should" with "can".
  > > > For the first Q, the provider needs to keep an ACL, then the
  > > > two can either use Kerberos or SSL/TLS with client
  > > > authentication to take care of the Authz part.  For
  > > > the Auchc part, use HMAC.
  > > > For the second Q, HMAC will also do nicely.
  > > >
  > > > <sd>
  > > > I agree with "can" part. We might document this thought in the
  > > > proposal for clarification. Indeed, my suggestion for
  > categorization
  > > > was to lead to a "proof" that WSA cannot foresee all possible
  > > > scenarios, and would possibly have to limit to suggesting
  > > > "toolkit standards" (i.e., standards that are applicable
  > > > for generic techniques, say signing). Is this an agreeable
  > > > thought to all? One possible class of exceptions to this
  > > > rule is a set of combinations of techniques that are
  > > > widely useful in the applications that use WS-Arch.
  > > > E.g., Ensuring confidentiality and integrity of
  > > > a message send from point-to-point (i.e., when there is no
  > > > intermediary),
  > > > WSSec may suggest signing/encryption sequence with appropriate
  > > > security considerations. At this time, I am not even
  > > > sure we need to get to this level. Others might have some opinions
  > > > on this, especially since different application
  > > > domains/products may choose
  > > > to do these differently.
  > > > </sd>
  > > >
  > > > > Same questions for sending in a bill payment to a bank from a
  > > > > customer. If there are many categories, then we may see how to
  > > > > satisfy all of them in a generic way. Alternately, we
  > may suggest
  > > > > techniques that may be generically adopted.
  > > >
  > > > The use case list doesn't have to be exhaustive.
  > > > We only need exemplary cases to show the need for addressing the
  > > > security concerns being brought forward. Hopefully
  > someone on this
  > > > mailing list would pitch in some as we progress.  Regardless, I
  > > > believe limited empirical input will not stop us from
  > coming up with
  > > > a well designd WSsec.
  > > >
  > > > <sd>
  > > > As you would agree, given the combinations possible, keeping an
  > > > exhaustive use case list will be pretty hard, if not
  > theoretically
  > > > impossible. The hard part is in showing that the use
  > cases we have
  > > > are sufficient. </sd>
  > > >
  > > > > 3. It would be good to define the "end points" of whatever
  > > > > scenarios we are securing. What are the boundaries of
  > whatever we
  > > > > are securing?
  > > >
  > > > Indeed.  I believe there are well established definitions in
  > > > existence.  We just have to scrounge for them going forward. The
  > > > endpoint has to be understood to be the WS provider and
  > consumer.
  > > > (There can be intermediaries, of course, which complicate
  > to great
  > > > extent the end-to-end argument that most security models
  > assume.)
  > > > Boundary, or the sense of it that calls out for Accessibility and
  > > > Authorization, is relatively less significant in WSsec than in
  > > > system security. Nonetheless, it'd be good if one can be
  > vigorously
  > > > defined for WS.
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > > Is it from a s/w client to the web service?
  > > >
  > > > It's the WS implementer's choice, e.g. client sends plaintext
  > > > request and gets encrypted response in return. The WSsec doesn't
  > > > care.  It doesn't have to, as long as its security semantics are
  > > > complete, thus its repertoire of security primitives -- symmetric
  > > > key encryption for bulk data, asymmetric key encryption for
  > > > symmetric key exchange and for digital signature, message digest,
  > > > just to name a few -- can be sufficient to deal with just about
  > > > the most challenging WS use case anyone may come up with.
  > > >
  > > > <sd>
  > > > Are you saying that the implementer of the web service
  > decides the
  > > > boundary? I am a bit intrigued by the term "security
  > semantics are
  > > > complete" (This idea does sound promising) What does it
  > mean to you?
  > > > Can we define security semantics to any scenarios, or even
  > > > abstract security semantics?
  > > >
  > > > Friendly ASIDE:
  > > >   As for the repertoire of security primitives being sufficient to
  >
  > > > deal
  > > >   with WS- use cases, I would say, in theory yes, but in practice,
  > > >   to achieve "interoperable security" the parties involved have to
  > > >   go through a "hell of a journey" to make it work. WS-Sec may
  > > >   safely stay away from that hell by only prescribing primitives.
  > > > </sd>
  > > >
  > > > > Or, is it from the human client to the web service provider?
  > > >
  > > > The human factor should be kept to a minimum, say confining human
  > > > involvement in WS endpoints to no more than private key
  > > > storage/retrieval, e.g. a system administrator may be
  > needed to type
  >
  > > > in a password to retrieve and decrypt an encrypted private key
  > > > needed for public key ciphers during a WS server start-up.
  > > >
  > > > <sd>
  > > >
  > > > If the boundary is defined by the implementer, may be it doesn't
  > > > matter, because, the implementer would have defined the roles of
  > > > humans and their actions within the scenario. Otherwise, it would
  > > > make sense to define the role of humans and security
  > > > implications in WSSec.
  > > > </sd>
  > > >
  > > > Cheers,
  > > > -Suresh
  > > >
  > > > Cheers,
  > > >
  > > > Joe Hui
  > > > Exodus, a Cable & Wireless service
  > > > ==============================================
  > > >
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > Cheers,
  > > > > -Suresh
  > > > >
  > > > > -----Original Message-----
  > > > > From: Joseph Hui [mailto:jhui@digisle.net]
  > > > > Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2002 7:40 PM
  > > > > To: www-ws-arch@w3.org
  > > > > Subject: D-AG006 Security
  > > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > Hi all,
  > > > >
  > > > > As the volunteered "champion" (during today's telecon) for
  > > > one of the
  > > > > WSAWG goals, "AG006 -- addresses the security of web
  > > services across
  > > > > distributed domains and platforms," I wish to solicit
  > > your interest
  > > > > in starting and sustaining a "spirited" discussion on
  > web services
  >
  > > > > security.  The primary objective (of the discussion) is
  > to confirm
  >
  > > > > the stated goal by *rough* consensus, and refine it
  > (the goal, not
  >
  > > > > the consensus ;-) if necessary.  The secondary objective is to
  > > > > harvest the upshot of the discussion and turn it into
  > something we
  >
  > > > > can use in near term for identifying "Critical Success
  > Factors" --
  >
  > > > > whatever that may mean to you -- and requirements.
  > Hopefully, by
  > > > > being mindful of the objectives, we can keep this thread
  > > > > reasonably focused.  However, please don't let the objectives
  > > > > adversely constrain your will to express.  You're welcome to
  > > > > disregard the objectives and throw in whatever you see
  > fit in the
  > > > > spirit of doing good for web services security.
  > > > >
  > > > > To get the ball rolling, let me start with the goal
  > > > statement itself:
  > > > >
  > > > >    AG006 -- addresses the security of web services across
  > > > >             distributed domains and platforms.
  > > > >
  > > > > Q to all: Is the goal set to your satisfaction?
  > > > >           Too broad, too narrow, too ...?
  > > > >
  > > > > Answers/comments?
  > > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > To flesh out AG006 a bit more in terms of its
  > implications, we can
  >
  > > > > give it another whack at what addressing the web
  > services security
  >
  > > > > (WSsec) should entail in the architecture
  > > > > WS-Arch) to be designed.  Based on some previous discussions
  > > > > fragmented across several threads in www-ws-arch@w3.org, an
  > > > > assertion can be made that attaining goal AG006 entails
  > addressing
  >
  > > > > six security aspects in computing:
  > > > >    1) Accessibility;
  > > > >    2) Authentication (of ID and data/messages);
  > > > >    3) Authorization;
  > > > >    4) Confidentiality;
  > > > >    5) (data) Integrity; and
  > > > >    6) Non-repudiation.
  > > > >
  > > > > Comments?
  > > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > Closely related to security is (the issue of) "trust."
  > > > > We shall have a security framework alright. The question is:
  > > > > should we include trust modeling as a part of the framework's
  > > > > design, (e.g.. what trust model(s) to recommend or adopt for web
  > > > > services,) thus trust is a part of AG006; or should we
  > > deem "trust"
  > > > > outside the scope of AG006, thus we may need a separate goal?
  > > > >
  > > > > Answers/comments?
  > > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > Also, there was the mention of "privacy" in the charter, right
  > > > > next to security.  Privacy can mean different things in
  > different
  > > > > contexts, ranging from preventing one's home address
  > disclosed to
  > > > > a web merchant from being sold to junkmailers to
  > keeping one's ID
  > > > > anonymous in transactions. I wasn't at the WS workshop
  > last April,
  >
  > > > > so have no clue what that was about.  Can someone shed
  > some light
  > > > > on what the "privacy" is supposed to mean in our
  > WS-Arch context,
  > > > > so we can determine whether it will be appropriate to
  > lump it into
  > > > > AG006, or set a separate goal for it, or whatever?
  > > > >
  > > > > Answers/comments?
  > > > >
  > > > >
  > > > > Please chime in.
  > > > >
  > > > > Thanks,
  > > > >
  > > > > Joe Hui
  > > > > Exodus, a Cable & Wireless service
  > > > >
  > > >
  > >
  > >
  >
  >