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* Renaming and reordering to help users navigate the Networks section. * Split of pages between bootstrapped, existing and dynamic compatibility zones. Reintegrates Mike H content about creating a dynamic zone. * Address review feedback except BNO point. * Documents BNO app. * Better docs of networkServices config option. Better comments of NetworkParameters fields. * Documents additional network map protocol endpoint. * Address review feedback. * Addresses Kostas review feedback. * Update protocol due to bug. * Addresses Kostas's review feedback. * Addresses Kostas's review feedback.
91 lines
4.8 KiB
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91 lines
4.8 KiB
ReStructuredText
.. highlight:: kotlin
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.. raw:: html
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<script type="text/javascript" src="_static/jquery.js"></script>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="_static/codesets.js"></script>
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Network certificates
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====================
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.. contents::
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Certificate hierarchy
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---------------------
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A Corda network has three types of certificate authorities (CAs):
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* The **root network CA** that defines the extent of a compatibility zone
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* The **doorman CA** that is used instead of the root network CA for day-to-day key signing to reduce the risk of the root
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network CA's private key being compromised. This is equivalent to an intermediate certificate in the web PKI
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* Each node also serves as its own CA, issuing the child certificates that it uses to sign its identity keys and TLS
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certificates
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Each certificate contains an X.509 extension that defines the certificate/key's role in the system (see below for details).
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It also uses X.509 name constraints to ensure that the X.500 names that encode human meaningful identities are propagated
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to all the child certificates properly. The following constraints are imposed:
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* Doorman certificates are issued by a network root. Network root certs do not contain a role extension
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* Node certificates are signed by a doorman certificate (as defined by the extension)
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* Legal identity/TLS certificates are issued by a certificate marked as node CA
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* Confidential identity certificates are issued by a certificate marked as well known legal identity
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* Party certificates are marked as either a well known identity or a confidential identity
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The structure of certificates above the doorman/network map is intentionally left untouched, as they are not relevant to
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the identity service and therefore there is no advantage in enforcing a specific structure on those certificates. The
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certificate hierarchy consistency checks are required because nodes can issue their own certificates and can set
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their own role flags on certificates, and it's important to verify that these are set consistently with the
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certificate hierarchy design. As a side-effect this also acts as a secondary depth restriction on issued
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certificates.
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We can visualise the permissioning structure as follows:
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.. image:: resources/certificate_structure.png
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:scale: 55%
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:align: center
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Key pair and certificate formats
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--------------------------------
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The required key pairs and certificates take the form of the following Java-style keystores (this may change in future to
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support PKCS#12 keystores) in the node's ``<workspace>/certificates/`` folder:
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* ``network-root-truststore.jks``, the network/zone operator's root certificate as provided by them with a standard password. Can be deleted after initial registration
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* ``truststore.jks``, the network/zone operator's root certificate in keystore with a locally configurable password as protection against certain attacks
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* ``nodekeystore.jks``, which stores the node’s identity key pairs and certificates
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* ``sslkeystore.jks``, which stores the node’s TLS key pair and certificate
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The key pairs and certificates must obey the following restrictions:
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1. The certificates must follow the `X.509v3 standard <https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5280>`__
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2. The TLS certificates must follow the `TLS v1.2 standard <https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc5246>`__
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3. The root network CA, doorman CA, and node CA keys, as well as the node TLS keys, must follow one of the following schemes:
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* ECDSA using the NIST P-256 curve (secp256r1)
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* ECDSA using the Koblitz k1 curve (secp256k1)
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* RSA with 3072-bit key size or higher
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4. The node CA certificates must have the basic constraints extension set to true
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5. The TLS certificates must have the basic constraints extension set to false
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Certificate role extension
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--------------------------
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Corda certificates have a custom X.509v3 extension that specifies the role the certificate relates to. This extension
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has the OID ``1.3.6.1.4.1.50530.1.1`` and is non-critical, so implementations outside of Corda nodes can safely ignore it.
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The extension contains a single ASN.1 integer identifying the identity type the certificate is for:
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1. Doorman
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2. Network map
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3. Service identity (currently only used as the shared identity in distributed notaries)
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4. Node certificate authority (from which the TLS and well-known identity certificates are issued)
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5. Transport layer security
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6. Well-known legal identity
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7. Confidential legal identity
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In a typical installation, node administrators need not be aware of these. However, if node certificates are to be
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managed by external tools, such as those provided as part of an existing PKI solution deployed within an organisation,
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it is important to recognise these extensions and the constraints noted above.
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Certificate path validation is extended so that a certificate must contain the extension if the extension was present
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in the certificate of the issuer.
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