annotate ace-key-groupcomm-review.txt @ 4:a88cd2ff0a89

done through section 9
author Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
date Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:31:55 +0100
parents 11c0afd7bad2
children b281db304428
Ignore whitespace changes - Everywhere: Within whitespace: At end of lines:
rev   line source
1
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
1 Document:
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
2 Intended RFC status: Proposed Standard
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
3 Review type: artart - Last Call review
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
4 Reviewer: Henry S. Thompson
3
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
5 Review Date: 2023-10-@@
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
6 Result: Ready with Issues
1
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
7
3
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
8 *Summary*
1
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
9
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
10 Caveat: I'm not familiar with the group comms family of RFCs or the
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
11 applications they support, so this review is from an outsider's
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
12 perspective.
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
13
3
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
14 *Substantive points*
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
15
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
16 Section 2. I'm seeing an inconsistency in the way the Dispatcher is
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
17 discussed. When introduced in the bullet points the last bullet says
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
18
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
19 "If it consists of an explicit entity such as a pub-sub Broker or a
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
20 message relayer, the Dispatcher is comparable to an _untrusted_
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
21 on-path intermediary, and as such it is _able to read_ the messages
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
22 sent by Clients in the group." [emphasis added]
1
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
23
3
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
24 But at the end of section 2 we find
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
25
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
26 "5. The joining node can communicate _securely_ with the other group
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
27 members, using the keying material provided in step 3."
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
28 [emphasis added]
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
29
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
30 If the Dispatcher is untrusted, how can communication be secure?
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
31 There is no discussion of the Dispatcher in the Security section.
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
32
4
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
33 Section 5: I don't see how authority to institute forced deletion is
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
34 established. Indeed the means for forced deletion don't appear to be
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
35 defined at all. Section 4.8 (and 4.8.3) explicitly requires that only
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
36 the Client can send a Delete request, and only for themselves.
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
37
3
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
38 *Minor points*
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
39
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
40 Section 1. I note that one of the two referenced examples of candidate
1
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
41 application profiles, "A publish-subscribe architecture for the
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
42 Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP)" [1], has expired. I'm not
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
43 sure how much it matters to have reasonably mature examples, but
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
44 without _some_ good reasons to suppose that there's a community out
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
45 there waiting to implement this framework, its future does seem a bit
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
46 shaky... There is of course a chicken-and-egg problem here which may
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
47 explain the lack of progress.
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
48
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
49 Section 2. This is the first point where the actual connection between
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
50 ACE and this document is made clear, that is, that the KDC is the
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
51 Resource Server _per ACE_. Simply adding ", per ACE," to "Resource
3
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
52 Server" in para 2 of Section 1 would fix this for me.
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
53
4
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
54 Section 6: It might be helpful to include ASCII-art diagrams of the
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
55 different communication pathways described for accomplishing rekeying.
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
56
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
57 Sections 3.1 & 7: The example scopes include Verifier and Monitor
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
58 roles. Although there is a parenthetical reference to the [Vv]erifier
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
59 role in Section 3.3.1, no other mention of Monitor is given, and in
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
60 general the role of roles is not explained anywhere. There is a
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
61 "Request inconsistent with the current roles" error code defined in
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
62 section 9, but no tabulation of roles allowed/required for particular
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
63 requests, which one might expect.
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
64
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
65 If all this is something defined in one of the many referenced specs,
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
66 and so familiar to likely readers, that's OK, otherwise perhaps
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
67 something should be added.
a88cd2ff0a89 done through section 9
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 3
diff changeset
68
3
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
69 *Nits*
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
70
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
71 Section 1 / Appendix A: The use of REQ[n] and OPT[n] in conjunction
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
72 with REQUIRED and MAY is not explained, nor are they linked to the
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
73 relevant text in Appendix A. There is an oblique reference to this
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
74 practice in para. 4 of Section 1, which could stand to be expanded to
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
75 explain your conventions.
1
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
76
3
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
77 Passim: Please do a thorough spell-check. The following were found in the
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
78 first 4 sections:
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
79 recommeded -> recommended
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
80 memebrs -> members
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
81 specificaton -> specification
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
82 acces -> access
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
83 trasferring -> transferring
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
84
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
85 ht
11c0afd7bad2 trying to get into Section 3
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents: 1
diff changeset
86 --
1
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
87
92618ff70952 getting started
Henry S. Thompson <ht@inf.ed.ac.uk>
parents:
diff changeset
88 [1] https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-ietf-core-coap-pubsub-12