JSON Signing and Encryption#
Janssen uses keys for signing and encryption, primarily concerning JSON documents. There are six IETF RFCs that provide considerable detail:
- RFC 7515 JSON Web Signing (JWS)
- RFC 7516 JSON Web Encryption (JWE)
- RFC 7517 JSON Web Key (JWK)
- RFC 7518 JSON Web Algorithms (JWA)
- RFC 7519 JSON Web Signing (JWT)
- RFC 7520 Examples of Protecting Content Using JSON Object Signing and Encryption (JOSE)
Auth Server Supported Signing#
| JWT Type | Algorithms |
|---|---|
| DPOP | RS256, RS384, RS512, ES256, ES384, ES512, PS256, PS384, PS512 |
| Authorization | HS256, HS384, HS512, RS256, RS384, RS512, ES256, ES384, ES512, ES512, PS256, PS384, PS512 |
| Request Object | HS256, HS384, HS512, RS256, RS384, RS512, ES256, ES384, ES512, PS256, PS384, PS512 |
| Userinfo | HS256, HS384, HS512, RS256, RS384, RS512, ES256, ES384, ES512, PS256, PS384, PS512 |
| Token Endpoint Auth | HS256, HS384, HS512, RS256, RS384, RS512, ES256, ES384, ES512, PS256, PS384, PS512 |
| ID Token | HS256, HS384, HS512, RS256, RS384, RS512, ES256, ES384, ES512, PS256, PS384, PS512 |
Auth Server Supported Encryption#
| Encryption Methods | Algorithms |
|---|---|
| Authorization | A128CBC+HS256, A256CBC+HS512, A128GCM, A256GCM |
| id_token | A128CBC+HS256, A256CBC+HS512, A128GCM, A256GCM |
| Request object | A128CBC+HS256, A256CBC+HS512, A128GCM, A256GCM |
| Userinfo | A128CBC+HS256, A256CBC+HS512, A128GCM, A256GCM |
| Encryption Algorithms | Algorithms |
|---|---|
| Userinfo | RSA1_5, RSA-OAEP, A128KW, A256KW |
| id_token | RSA1_5, RSA-OAEP, A128KW, A256KW |
| authorization | RSA1_5, RSA-OAEP, A128KW, A256KW |
| request object | RSA1_5, RSA-OAEP, A128KW, A256KW |
Java Cryptographic Engine (JCE)#
Janssen projects ships and tests with the Bouncy Castle Crypto API's JCE. However, you may substitute your own JCE as long as it has implementations for the algorithms used by Auth Server.
Key Rotation#
OpenID Connect clients must support the rotation of both signing and encryption keys. The best practice is to rotate often--the default configuration in a VM installation of Auth Server is every two days. The reason for such a frequent rotation is to make sure developer account for rotation at the time they create applications--lest they forget and their software breaks a year later when rotation happens.
In a single VM deployment, key rotation is controlled by Auth Server. But in a clustered deployment, key rotation has to happen centrally. Janssen includes a key rotation service for cloud deployments.
Certificates#
X.509 is used extensively for web server TLS. But it is also used for Mutual Transport Layer Security (MTLS), either initiated by a software client, or presented by a person (i.e. a personal certificate). MTLS is generally implemented in the web tier.
FIPS#
To support FIPS 140-2 conformance, you must use a FIPS approved JCE, and preferably, use an operating system that has FIPS Enforcement, like RHEL 8.
Created: 2022-07-21
