RFC 8037 PROPOSED STANDARD SECURITY · JOSE · CRYPTOGRAPHY

CFRG Curves in JOSE: CFRG Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) and Signatures in JSON Object Signing and Encryption (JOSE)

How JOSE carries the modern X25519, X448, Ed25519 and Ed448 algorithms: one new key type and one new signature name.

On rfc-editor.org ↗
PUBLISHED
January 2017
AUTHORS
I. Liusvaara
STREAM
IETF
UPDATED BY
RFC 9864 — Fully-specified algs
NEW KEY TYPE
OKP, Octet Key Pair
SIGNATURE ALGORITHM NAME
EdDSA
THUMBPRINT HASH FIELDS
crv, kty and x, in lexicographic order
X25519 NOMINAL SECURITY STRENGTH
About 126 bits
X448 NOMINAL SECURITY STRENGTH
About 223 bits
SYMMETRIC KEY SIZE RECOMMENDED WITH X448
256 bits
DOI
10.17487/RFC8037
ERRATA
Reported errata

RFC text

Contents
Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                      I. Liusvaara
Request for Comments: 8037                                   Independent
Category: Standards Track                                   January 2017
ISSN: 2070-1721


        CFRG Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) and Signatures
              in JSON Object Signing and Encryption (JOSE)

Abstract

   This document defines how to use the Diffie-Hellman algorithms
   "X25519" and "X448" as well as the signature algorithms "Ed25519" and
   "Ed448" from the IRTF CFRG elliptic curves work in JSON Object
   Signing and Encryption (JOSE).

Status of This Memo

   This is an Internet Standards Track document.

   This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
   (IETF).  It represents the consensus of the IETF community.  It has
   received public review and has been approved for publication by the
   Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG).  Further information on
   Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 7841.

   Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
   and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
   http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8037.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2017 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
   publication of this document.  Please review these documents
   carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
   to this document.  Code Components extracted from this document must
   include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1.  Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
     1.1.  Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   2.  Key Type "OKP"  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
   3.  Algorithms  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.1.  Signatures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       3.1.1.  Signing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       3.1.2.  Verification  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
     3.2.  ECDH-ES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       3.2.1.  Performing the ECDH Operation . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   4.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
   5.  IANA Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
   6.  References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     6.1.  Normative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
     6.2.  Informative References  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
   Appendix A.  Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     A.1.  Ed25519 Private Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     A.2.  Ed25519 Public Key  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     A.3.  JWK Thumbprint Canonicalization . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
     A.4.  Ed25519 Signing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
     A.5.  Ed25519 Validation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     A.6.  ECDH-ES with X25519 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
     A.7.  ECDH-ES with X448 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   Acknowledgements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
   Author's Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14

1.  Introduction

   The Internet Research Task Force (IRTF) Crypto Forum Research Group
   (CFRG) selected new Diffie-Hellman algorithms ("X25519" and "X448";
   [RFC7748]) and signature algorithms ("Ed25519" and "Ed448";
   [RFC8032]) for asymmetric key cryptography.  This document defines
   how to use those algorithms in JOSE in an interoperable manner.

   This document defines the conventions to use in the context of
   [RFC7515], [RFC7516], and [RFC7517].

   While the CFRG also defined two pairs of isogenous elliptic curves
   that underlie these algorithms, these curves are not directly
   exposed, as the algorithms laid on top are sufficient for the
   purposes of JOSE and are much easier to use.

   All inputs to and outputs from the Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman
   (ECDH) and signature functions are defined to be octet strings, with
   the exception of outputs of verification functions, which are
   booleans.

1.1.  Terminology

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this
   document are to be interpreted as described in [RFC2119].

   "JWS Signing Input" and "JWS Signature" are defined by [RFC7515].

   "Key Agreement with Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral Static"
   is defined by Section 4.6 of [RFC7518].

   The JOSE key format ("JSON Web Key (JWK)") is defined by [RFC7517]
   and thumbprints for it ("JSON Web Key (JWK) Thumbprint") in
   [RFC7638].

2.  Key Type "OKP"

   A new key type (kty) value "OKP" (Octet Key Pair) is defined for
   public key algorithms that use octet strings as private and public
   keys.  It has the following parameters:

   o  The parameter "kty" MUST be "OKP".

   o  The parameter "crv" MUST be present and contain the subtype of the
      key (from the "JSON Web Elliptic Curve" registry).

   o  The parameter "x" MUST be present and contain the public key
      encoded using the base64url [RFC4648] encoding.

   o  The parameter "d" MUST be present for private keys and contain the
      private key encoded using the base64url encoding.  This parameter
      MUST NOT be present for public keys.

   Note: Do not assume that there is an underlying elliptic curve,
   despite the existence of the "crv" and "x" parameters.  (For
   instance, this key type could be extended to represent Diffie-Hellman
   (DH) algorithms based on hyperelliptic surfaces.)

   When calculating JWK Thumbprints [RFC7638], the three public key
   fields are included in the hash input in lexicographic order: "crv",
   "kty", and "x".

3.  Algorithms

3.1.  Signatures

   For the purpose of using the Edwards-curve Digital Signature
   Algorithm (EdDSA) for signing data using "JSON Web Signature (JWS)"
   [RFC7515], algorithm "EdDSA" is defined here, to be applied as the
   value of the "alg" parameter.

   The following key subtypes are defined here for use with EdDSA:

      "crv"             EdDSA Variant
      Ed25519           Ed25519
      Ed448             Ed448

   The key type used with these keys is "OKP" and the algorithm used for
   signing is "EdDSA".  These subtypes MUST NOT be used for Elliptic
   Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral Static (ECDH-ES).

   The EdDSA variant used is determined by the subtype of the key
   (Ed25519 for "Ed25519" and Ed448 for "Ed448").

3.1.1.  Signing

   Signing for these is performed by applying the signing algorithm
   defined in [RFC8032] to the private key (as private key), public key
   (as public key), and the JWS Signing Input (as message).  The
   resulting signature is the JWS Signature.  All inputs and outputs are
   octet strings.

3.1.2.  Verification

   Verification is performed by applying the verification algorithm
   defined in [RFC8032] to the public key (as public key), the JWS
   Signing Input (as message), and the JWS Signature (as signature).
   All inputs are octet strings.  If the algorithm accepts, the
   signature is valid; otherwise, the signature is invalid.

3.2.  ECDH-ES

   The following key subtypes are defined here for purpose of "Key
   Agreement with Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral Static"
   (ECDH-ES):

      "crv"             ECDH Function Applied
      X25519            X25519
      X448              X448
   The key type used with these keys is "OKP".  These subtypes MUST NOT
   be used for signing.

   Section 4.6 of [RFC7518] defines the ECDH-ES algorithms
   "ECDH-ES+A128KW", "ECDH-ES+A192KW", "ECDH-ES+A256KW", and "ECDH-ES".

3.2.1.  Performing the ECDH Operation

   The "x" parameter of the "epk" field is set as follows:

   Apply the appropriate ECDH function to the ephemeral private key (as
   scalar input) and the standard base point (as u-coordinate input).
   The base64url encoding of the output is the value for the "x"
   parameter of the "epk" field.  All inputs and outputs are octet
   strings.

   The Z value (raw key agreement output) for key agreement (to be used
   in subsequent Key Derivation Function (KDF) as per Section 4.6.2 of
   [RFC7518]) is determined as follows:

   Apply the appropriate ECDH function to the ephemeral private key (as
   scalar input) and receiver public key (as u-coordinate input).  The
   output is the Z value.  All inputs and outputs are octet strings.

4.  Security Considerations

   Security considerations from [RFC7748] and [RFC8032] apply here.

   Do not separate key material from information about what key subtype
   it is for.  When using keys, check that the algorithm is compatible
   with the key subtype for the key.  To do otherwise opens the system
   up to attacks via mixing up algorithms.  It is particularly dangerous
   to mix up signature and Message Authentication Code (MAC) algorithms.

   Although for Ed25519 and Ed448, the signature binds the key used for
   signing, do not assume this, as there are many signature algorithms
   that fail to make such a binding.  If key-binding is desired, include
   the key used for signing either inside the JWS protected header or
   the data to sign.

   If key generation or batch signature verification is performed, a
   well-seeded cryptographic random number generator is REQUIRED.
   Signing and non-batch signature verification are deterministic
   operations and do not need random numbers of any kind.

   The JSON Web Algorithm (JWA) ECDH-ES KDF construction does not mix
   keys into the final shared secret.  In key exchange, such mixing
   could be a bad mistake; whereas here either the receiver public key
   has to be chosen maliciously or the sender has to be malicious in
   order to cause problems.  In either case, all security evaporates.

   The nominal security strengths of X25519 and X448 are ~126 and ~223
   bits.  Therefore, using 256-bit symmetric encryption (especially key
   wrapping and encryption) with X448 is RECOMMENDED.

5.  IANA Considerations

   The following has been added to the "JSON Web Key Types" registry:

   o  "kty" Parameter Value: "OKP"
   o  Key Type Description: Octet string key pairs
   o  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional
   o  Change Controller: IESG
   o  Specification Document(s): Section 2 of RFC 8037

   The following has been added to the "JSON Web Key Parameters"
   registry:

   o  Parameter Name: "crv"
   o  Parameter Description: The subtype of key pair
   o  Parameter Information Class: Public
   o  Used with "kty" Value(s): "OKP"
   o  Change Controller: IESG
   o  Specification Document(s): Section 2 of RFC 8037

   o  Parameter Name: "d"
   o  Parameter Description: The private key
   o  Parameter Information Class: Private
   o  Used with "kty" Value(s): "OKP"
   o  Change Controller: IESG
   o  Specification Document(s): Section 2 of RFC 8037

   o  Parameter Name: "x"
   o  Parameter Description: The public key
   o  Parameter Information Class: Public
   o  Used with "kty" Value(s): "OKP"
   o  Change Controller: IESG
   o  Specification Document(s): Section 2 of RFC 8037
   The following has been added to the "JSON Web Signature and
   Encryption Algorithms" registry:

   o  Algorithm Name: "EdDSA"
   o  Algorithm Description: EdDSA signature algorithms
   o  Algorithm Usage Location(s): "alg"
   o  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional
   o  Change Controller: IESG

   o  Specification Document(s): Section 3.1 of RFC 8037
   o  Algorithm Analysis Documents(s): [RFC8032]

   The following has been added to the "JSON Web Key Elliptic Curve"
   registry:

   o  Curve Name: "Ed25519"
   o  Curve Description: Ed25519 signature algorithm key pairs
   o  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional
   o  Change Controller: IESG
   o  Specification Document(s): Section 3.1 of RFC 8037

   o  Curve Name: "Ed448"
   o  Curve Description: Ed448 signature algorithm key pairs
   o  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional
   o  Change Controller: IESG
   o  Specification Document(s): Section 3.1 of RFC 8037

   o  Curve name: "X25519"
   o  Curve Description: X25519 function key pairs
   o  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional
   o  Change Controller: IESG
   o  Specification Document(s): Section 3.2 of RFC 8037
   o  Analysis Documents(s): [RFC7748]

   o  Curve Name: "X448"
   o  Curve Description: X448 function key pairs
   o  JOSE Implementation Requirements: Optional
   o  Change Controller: IESG
   o  Specification Document(s): Section 3.2 of RFC 8037
   o  Analysis Documents(s): [RFC7748]

6.  References

6.1.  Normative References

   [RFC2119]  Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC2119, March 1997,
              <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc2119>.

   [RFC4648]  Josefsson, S., "The Base16, Base32, and Base64 Data
              Encodings", RFC 4648, DOI 10.17487/RFC4648, October 2006,
              <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc4648>.

   [RFC7515]  Jones, M., Bradley, J., and N. Sakimura, "JSON Web
              Signature (JWS)", RFC 7515, DOI 10.17487/RFC7515, May
              2015, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7515>.

   [RFC7517]  Jones, M., "JSON Web Key (JWK)", RFC 7517,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC7517, May 2015,
              <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7517>.

   [RFC7518]  Jones, M., "JSON Web Algorithms (JWA)", RFC 7518,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC7518, May 2015,
              <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7518>.

   [RFC7638]  Jones, M. and N. Sakimura, "JSON Web Key (JWK)
              Thumbprint", RFC 7638, DOI 10.17487/RFC7638, September
              2015, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7638>.

   [RFC7748]  Langley, A., Hamburg, M., and S. Turner, "Elliptic Curves
              for Security", RFC 7748, DOI 10.17487/RFC7748, January
              2016, <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7748>.

   [RFC8032]  Josefsson, S. and I. Liusvaara, "Edwards-Curve Digital
              Signature Algorithm (EdDSA)", RFC 8032,
              DOI 10.17487/RFC8032, January 2017,
              <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc8032>.

6.2.  Informative References

   [RFC7516]  Jones, M. and J. Hildebrand, "JSON Web Encryption (JWE)",
              RFC 7516, DOI 10.17487/RFC7516, May 2015,
              <http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7516>.

Appendix A.  Examples

   To the extent possible, these examples use material taken from test
   vectors of [RFC7748] and [RFC8032].

A.1.  Ed25519 Private Key

   {"kty":"OKP","crv":"Ed25519",
   "d":"nWGxne_9WmC6hEr0kuwsxERJxWl7MmkZcDusAxyuf2A",
   "x":"11qYAYKxCrfVS_7TyWQHOg7hcvPapiMlrwIaaPcHURo"}

   The hexadecimal dump of private key is:

   9d 61 b1 9d ef fd 5a 60 ba 84 4a f4 92 ec 2c c4
   44 49 c5 69 7b 32 69 19 70 3b ac 03 1c ae 7f 60

   And of the public key is:

   d7 5a 98 01 82 b1 0a b7 d5 4b fe d3 c9 64 07 3a
   0e e1 72 f3 da a6 23 25 af 02 1a 68 f7 07 51 1a

A.2.  Ed25519 Public Key

   This is the public part of the previous private key (which just omits
   "d"):

   {"kty":"OKP","crv":"Ed25519",
   "x":"11qYAYKxCrfVS_7TyWQHOg7hcvPapiMlrwIaaPcHURo"}

A.3.  JWK Thumbprint Canonicalization

   The JWK Thumbprint canonicalization of the two examples above (with a
   linebreak inserted for formatting reasons) is:

   {"crv":"Ed25519","kty":"OKP","x":"11qYAYKxCrfVS_7TyWQHOg7hcvPapiMlrwI
   aaPcHURo"}

   Which has the SHA-256 hash (in hexadecimal) of
   90facafea9b1556698540f70c0117a22ea37bd5cf3ed3c47093c1707282b4b89,
   which results in the base64url encoded JWK Thumbprint representation
   of "kPrK_qmxVWaYVA9wwBF6Iuo3vVzz7TxHCTwXBygrS4k".

A.4.  Ed25519 Signing

   The JWS protected header is:

   {"alg":"EdDSA"}

   This has the base64url encoding of:

   eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSJ9

   The payload is (text):

   Example of Ed25519 signing

   This has the base64url encoding of:

   RXhhbXBsZSBvZiBFZDI1NTE5IHNpZ25pbmc

   The JWS signing input is (a concatenation of base64url encoding of
   the (protected) header, a dot, and base64url encoding of the payload)
   is:

   eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSJ9.RXhhbXBsZSBvZiBFZDI1NTE5IHNpZ25pbmc

   Applying the Ed25519 signing algorithm using the private key, public
   key, and the JWS signing input yields the signature (hex):

   86 0c 98 d2 29 7f 30 60 a3 3f 42 73 96 72 d6 1b
   53 cf 3a de fe d3 d3 c6 72 f3 20 dc 02 1b 41 1e
   9d 59 b8 62 8d c3 51 e2 48 b8 8b 29 46 8e 0e 41
   85 5b 0f b7 d8 3b b1 5b e9 02 bf cc b8 cd 0a 02

   Converting this to base64url yields:

   hgyY0il_MGCjP0JzlnLWG1PPOt7-09PGcvMg3AIbQR6dWbhijcNR4ki4iylGjg5BhVsPt
   9g7sVvpAr_MuM0KAg

   So the compact serialization of the JWS is (a concatenation of
   signing input, a dot, and base64url encoding of the signature):

   eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSJ9.RXhhbXBsZSBvZiBFZDI1NTE5IHNpZ25pbmc.hgyY0il_MGCj
   P0JzlnLWG1PPOt7-09PGcvMg3AIbQR6dWbhijcNR4ki4iylGjg5BhVsPt9g7sVvpAr_Mu
   M0KAg

A.5.  Ed25519 Validation

   The JWS from the example above is:

   eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSJ9.RXhhbXBsZSBvZiBFZDI1NTE5IHNpZ25pbmc.hgyY0il_MGCj
   P0JzlnLWG1PPOt7-09PGcvMg3AIbQR6dWbhijcNR4ki4iylGjg5BhVsPt9g7sVvpAr_Mu
   M0KAg

   This has 2 dots in it, so it might be valid a JWS.  Base64url
   decoding the protected header yields:

   {"alg":"EdDSA"}

   So this is an EdDSA signature.  Now the key has: "kty":"OKP" and
   "crv":"Ed25519", so the signature is Ed25519 signature.

   The signing input is the part before the second dot:

   eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSJ9.RXhhbXBsZSBvZiBFZDI1NTE5IHNpZ25pbmc

   Applying the Ed25519 verification algorithm to the public key, JWS
   signing input, and the signature yields true.  So the signature is
   valid.  The message is the base64url decoding of the part between the
   dots:

   Example of Ed25519 Signing

A.6.  ECDH-ES with X25519

   The public key to encrypt to is:

   {"kty":"OKP","crv":"X25519","kid":"Bob",
   "x":"3p7bfXt9wbTTW2HC7OQ1Nz-DQ8hbeGdNrfx-FG-IK08"}

   The public key from the target key is (hex):

   de 9e db 7d 7b 7d c1 b4 d3 5b 61 c2 ec e4 35 37
   3f 83 43 c8 5b 78 67 4d ad fc 7e 14 6f 88 2b 4f

   The ephemeral secret happens to be (hex):

   77 07 6d 0a 73 18 a5 7d 3c 16 c1 72 51 b2 66 45
   df 4c 2f 87 eb c0 99 2a b1 77 fb a5 1d b9 2c 2a

   So the ephemeral public key is X25519(ephkey, G) (hex):

   85 20 f0 09 89 30 a7 54 74 8b 7d dc b4 3e f7 5a
   0d bf 3a 0d 26 38 1a f4 eb a4 a9 8e aa 9b 4e 6a
   This is represented as the ephemeral public key value:

   {"kty":"OKP","crv":"X25519",
   "x":"hSDwCYkwp1R0i33ctD73Wg2_Og0mOBr066SpjqqbTmo"}

   So the protected header could be, for example:

   {"alg":"ECDH-ES+A128KW","epk":{"kty":"OKP","crv":"X25519",
   "x":"hSDwCYkwp1R0i33ctD73Wg2_Og0mOBr066SpjqqbTmo"},
   "enc":"A128GCM","kid":"Bob"}

   And the sender computes the DH Z value as X25519(ephkey, recv_pub)
   (hex):

   4a 5d 9d 5b a4 ce 2d e1 72 8e 3b f4 80 35 0f 25
   e0 7e 21 c9 47 d1 9e 33 76 f0 9b 3c 1e 16 17 42

   The receiver computes the DH Z value as X25519(seckey, ephkey_pub)
   (hex):

   4a 5d 9d 5b a4 ce 2d e1 72 8e 3b f4 80 35 0f 25
   e0 7e 21 c9 47 d1 9e 33 76 f0 9b 3c 1e 16 17 42

   This is the same as the sender's value (both sides run this through
   the KDF before using it as a direct encryption key or AES128-KW key).

A.7.  ECDH-ES with X448

   The public key to encrypt to (with a linebreak inserted for
   formatting reasons) is:

   {"kty":"OKP","crv":"X448","kid":"Dave",
   "x":"PreoKbDNIPW8_AtZm2_sz22kYnEHvbDU80W0MCfYuXL8PjT7QjKhPKcG3LV67D2
   uB73BxnvzNgk"}

   The public key from the target key is (hex):

   3e b7 a8 29 b0 cd 20 f5 bc fc 0b 59 9b 6f ec cf
   6d a4 62 71 07 bd b0 d4 f3 45 b4 30 27 d8 b9 72
   fc 3e 34 fb 42 32 a1 3c a7 06 dc b5 7a ec 3d ae
   07 bd c1 c6 7b f3 36 09

   The ephemeral secret happens to be (hex):

   9a 8f 49 25 d1 51 9f 57 75 cf 46 b0 4b 58 00 d4
   ee 9e e8 ba e8 bc 55 65 d4 98 c2 8d d9 c9 ba f5
   74 a9 41 97 44 89 73 91 00 63 82 a6 f1 27 ab 1d
   9a c2 d8 c0 a5 98 72 6b
   So the ephemeral public key is X448(ephkey, G) (hex):

   9b 08 f7 cc 31 b7 e3 e6 7d 22 d5 ae a1 21 07 4a
   27 3b d2 b8 3d e0 9c 63 fa a7 3d 2c 22 c5 d9 bb
   c8 36 64 72 41 d9 53 d4 0c 5b 12 da 88 12 0d 53
   17 7f 80 e5 32 c4 1f a0

   This is packed into the ephemeral public key value (a linebreak
   inserted for formatting purposes):

   {"kty":"OKP","crv":"X448",
   "x":"mwj3zDG34-Z9ItWuoSEHSic70rg94Jxj-qc9LCLF2bvINmRyQdlT1AxbEtqIEg1
   TF3-A5TLEH6A"}

   So the protected header could be, for example (a linebreak inserted
   for formatting purposes):

   {"alg":"ECDH-ES+A256KW","epk":{"kty":"OKP","crv":"X448",
   "x":"mwj3zDG34-Z9ItWuoSEHSic70rg94Jxj-qc9LCLF2bvINmRyQdlT1AxbEtqIEg1
   TF3-A5TLEH6A"},"enc":"A256GCM","kid":"Dave"}

   And the sender computes the DH Z value as X448(ephkey,recv_pub)
   (hex):

   07 ff f4 18 1a c6 cc 95 ec 1c 16 a9 4a 0f 74 d1
   2d a2 32 ce 40 a7 75 52 28 1d 28 2b b6 0c 0b 56
   fd 24 64 c3 35 54 39 36 52 1c 24 40 30 85 d5 9a
   44 9a 50 37 51 4a 87 9d

   The receiver computes the DH Z value as X448(seckey, ephkey_pub)
   (hex):

   07 ff f4 18 1a c6 cc 95 ec 1c 16 a9 4a 0f 74 d1
   2d a2 32 ce 40 a7 75 52 28 1d 28 2b b6 0c 0b 56
   fd 24 64 c3 35 54 39 36 52 1c 24 40 30 85 d5 9a
   44 9a 50 37 51 4a 87 9d

   This is the same as the sender's value (both sides run this through
   KDF before using it as the direct encryption key or AES256-KW key).

Acknowledgements

   Thanks to Michael B. Jones for his comments on an initial draft of
   this document and editorial help.

   Thanks to Matt Miller for some editorial help.

Author's Address

   Ilari Liusvaara
   Independent

   Email: ilariliusvaara@welho.com

ISO Plain Language

On this page
PROBLEMJOSE, the JSON-based framework for signing and encryption, had no way to use the newer elliptic curve algorithms that the IRTF Crypto Forum Research Group had chosen, because those algorithms work on raw byte strings rather than on the point formats JOSE already knew.
MECHANISMThe RFC defines a new JSON Web Key type, "OKP", for octet string key pairs, and registers the signature algorithm name "EdDSA" with the key subtypes Ed25519 and Ed448, alongside the ECDH-ES key subtypes X25519 and X448.
WHY IT MATTERSThe result is that JOSE documents and libraries can carry the modern curves without pretending they sit on a named elliptic curve. RFC 8037 is a Proposed Standard that has been updated by RFC 9864.

§1Bringing the New Curves to JOSE

The IRTF Crypto Forum Research Group (CFRG) selected new Diffie-Hellman algorithms, X25519 and X448, and new signature algorithms, Ed25519 and Ed448, for asymmetric key cryptography. This document defines how to use those algorithms in JOSE in an interoperable manner, following the conventions used in the context of RFC 7515, RFC 7516 and RFC 7517.

One design decision is worth spelling out. The CFRG also defined two pairs of isogenous elliptic curves that underlie these algorithms, but those curves are not directly exposed, because the algorithms laid on top are sufficient for the purposes of JOSE and are much easier to use.

All inputs to and outputs from the Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) and signature functions are defined to be octet strings, with the exception of the outputs of verification functions, which are booleans.

The newer curves do arithmetic on raw byte strings, so they do not fit the shape JOSE expected of a curve key. This RFC says how to wrap them so that everything still fits.

§2The OKP Key Type

A new key type value, kty of "OKP" for Octet Key Pair, is defined for public key algorithms that use octet strings as private and public keys. It has four parameters. The parameter kty MUST be "OKP". The parameter crv MUST be present and contain the subtype of the key, taken from the "JSON Web Elliptic Curve" registry. The parameter x MUST be present and contain the public key encoded using the base64url encoding. The parameter d MUST be present for private keys and contain the private key encoded using the base64url encoding, and MUST NOT be present for public keys.

The RFC adds a warning that is easy to miss. Do not assume that there is an underlying elliptic curve, despite the existence of the crv and x parameters. The key type could be extended to represent Diffie-Hellman algorithms based on hyperelliptic surfaces, for example.

One more rule concerns thumbprints. When calculating JWK Thumbprints as described in RFC 7638, the three public key fields are included in the hash input in lexicographic order: crv, kty and x.

A key of this kind is three or four strings: the kind of key, which variant it is, the public bytes and, for a private key, the private bytes. The thumbprint that identifies a key is computed from the three public ones, in a fixed order.

THE ED25519 PRIVATE KEY EXAMPLE FROM RFC 8037
An Ed25519 private key as a JSON Web Key
{"kty":"OKP","crv":"Ed25519",
 "d":"nWGxne_9WmC6hEr0kuwsxERJxWl7MmkZcDusAxyuf2A",
 "x":"11qYAYKxCrfVS_7TyWQHOg7hcvPapiMlrwIaaPcHURo"}

§3.1EdDSA Signatures

For the purpose of using the Edwards-curve Digital Signature Algorithm (EdDSA) for signing data with the JSON Web Signature format, the algorithm name "EdDSA" is defined, to be applied as the value of the alg parameter. Two key subtypes are defined for use with EdDSA: the curve name "Ed25519" for the Ed25519 variant and "Ed448" for the Ed448 variant. The key type used with these keys is "OKP" and the algorithm used for signing is "EdDSA".

These subtypes MUST NOT be used for Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral Static (ECDH-ES). The EdDSA variant used is determined by the subtype of the key.

Signing is performed by applying the signing algorithm defined in RFC 8032 to the private key, the public key and the JWS Signing Input, which is the message. The resulting signature is the JWS Signature. Verification is performed by applying the verification algorithm of RFC 8032 to the public key, the JWS Signing Input and the signature. All inputs and outputs are octet strings. If the algorithm accepts, the signature is valid; otherwise it is invalid.

Signing works exactly as it does in the original specification of these curves. The only new thing is the name that goes in the algorithm field of the document, so that a receiver knows which curve was used.

THE FOUR KEY SUBTYPES DEFINED BY RFC 8037
crvUsed forKey typeAlgorithm
Ed25519 THIS RFCSigningOKPEdDSA
Ed448SigningOKPEdDSA
X25519Key agreementOKPECDH-ES
X448Key agreementOKPECDH-ES

§3.2ECDH-ES Key Agreement

Two key subtypes are defined for the purpose of Key Agreement with Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral Static (ECDH-ES): the curve name "X25519" for the X25519 function and "X448" for the X448 function. The key type used with these keys is "OKP", and these subtypes MUST NOT be used for signing. Section 4.6 of RFC 7518 defines the ECDH-ES algorithms "ECDH-ES+A128KW", "ECDH-ES+A192KW", "ECDH-ES+A256KW" and "ECDH-ES".

Performing the ECDH operation has two halves. The "x" parameter of the ephemeral public key is set by applying the appropriate ECDH function to the ephemeral private key as scalar input and the standard base point as u-coordinate input; the base64url encoding of the output is the value for the "x" parameter of the epk field. The Z value, the raw key agreement output used in the subsequent Key Derivation Function as per Section 4.6.2 of RFC 7518, is determined by applying the appropriate ECDH function to the ephemeral private key as scalar input and the receiver's public key as u-coordinate input. All inputs and outputs are octet strings.

For key agreement the sender makes up a temporary key pair, puts the public half in the message, and combines it with the recipient's public key to get a shared secret. The shared secret is then stretched into the encryption key by the usual JOSE derivation function.

§4Security Considerations

The security considerations from RFC 7748 and RFC 8032 apply.

The RFC then adds rules of its own. Do not separate key material from information about what key subtype it is for: when using keys, check that the algorithm is compatible with the key subtype for the key, because doing otherwise opens the system up to attacks that mix up algorithms. It is particularly dangerous to mix up signature and Message Authentication Code (MAC) algorithms.

Although for Ed25519 and Ed448 the signature binds the key used for signing, do not assume this in general, because there are many signature algorithms that fail to make such a binding. If key binding is desired, include the key used for signing either inside the JWS protected header or in the data to sign.

If key generation or batch signature verification is performed, a well-seeded cryptographic random number generator is REQUIRED. Signing and non-batch signature verification are deterministic operations and do not need random numbers of any kind.

Two further points concern key agreement. The JWA ECDH-ES KDF construction does not mix keys into the final shared secret. In key exchange such mixing could be a bad mistake, whereas here either the receiver's public key has to be chosen maliciously or the sender has to be malicious in order to cause problems, and in either case all security evaporates. The nominal security strengths of X25519 and X448 are about 126 and about 223 bits, so using 256-bit symmetric encryption, especially key wrapping and encryption, with X448 is RECOMMENDED.

Keep the algorithm and the key type matched, or an attacker may try to use one in place of the other. And because X448 is stronger than X25519, the RFC recommends the larger symmetric key when you use it.

§5IANA Considerations

Four registries are extended. The "JSON Web Key Types" registry gains the kty value "OKP", described as octet string key pairs, with JOSE implementation requirements Optional and the change controller IESG. The "JSON Web Key Parameters" registry gains three parameters: "crv", the subtype of key pair, which is public and used with the "OKP" key type; "d", the private key, which is private and used with "OKP"; and "x", the public key, which is public and used with "OKP".

The "JSON Web Signature and Encryption Algorithms" registry gains the algorithm name "EdDSA", for EdDSA signature algorithms, with usage location "alg" and JOSE implementation requirements Optional. The "JSON Web Elliptic Curve" registry gains four curve names: "Ed25519" and "Ed448", described as signature algorithm key pairs, and "X25519" and "X448", described as function key pairs.

IANA keeps the lists of key types, key parameters, algorithms and curve names. This RFC adds the new key type, its parameters, the new signature name and the four curve names.

§6Worked Examples

Appendix A works through a complete example, using material taken from the test vectors of RFC 7748 and RFC 8032 wherever possible.

The first example is an Ed25519 private key as a JSON Web Key, with the kind "OKP", the curve "Ed25519", the private key in the "d" parameter and the public key in the "x" parameter. The second example is the public part of that key, which simply omits "d". The third example is the thumbprint canonicalization of those two, which is the three public fields in the order crv, kty and x, with a line break inserted for formatting. The RFC gives the SHA-256 hash of that canonicalization in hexadecimal and the resulting base64url encoded thumbprint.

The fourth example signs a message. The protected header is {"alg":"EdDSA"} and the payload is the text "Example of Ed25519 signing". The JWS signing input is the concatenation of the base64url encoding of the header, a dot, and the base64url encoding of the payload. Applying the Ed25519 signing algorithm with the private key, the public key and that signing input yields a signature, which the RFC gives in hexadecimal and then in base64url. The compact serialization of the JWS is the signing input, a dot, and the base64url encoding of the signature. The fifth example verifies the same JWS: it has two dots in it, the base64url decoding of the protected header yields {"alg":"EdDSA"}, and since the key has the kind "OKP" and the curve "Ed25519", it is an Ed25519 signature. Applying the Ed25519 verification algorithm to the public key, the signing input and the signature yields true, so the signature is valid.

Two more examples cover key agreement, with ECDH-ES over X25519 and over X448.

The appendix carries the whole thing through: a key, its thumbprint, a signed message and a check that the signature is good. The values come from the published test vectors of the two curve documents.

THE COMPACT JWS FROM THE ED25519 SIGNING EXAMPLE IN RFC 8037
A signed JWS in compact serialization
eyJhbGciOiJFZERTQSJ9.RXhhbXBsZSBvZiBFZDI1NTE5IHNpZ25pbmc.hgyY0il_MGCjP0JzlnLWG1PPOt7-09PGcvMg3AIbQR6dWbhijcNR4ki4iylGjg5BhVsPt9g7sVvpAr_MuM0KAg

§8References