On Tue 14/Dec/2021 08:30:11 +0100 Sebastian Nielsen via mailop wrote:
Note that to validate the message, the app needs access to not only the signed 
header fields, but also the body, that the value of bh= is based upon.

Of course. That’s why I suggested that content validation should be ignored. 
Only headers should be validated.
Since the content is "signed" using bh= hash, the hash can be ignored and 
everything else can be validated.

This of course puts some responsibility on the user that is scanning the QR code, to 
ensure the details (from, to, date, subject) matches up with the email they are seeing on 
the screen, and that "date" is not too far in the past, so the QR code is not 
stolen from a legitimate email.

Since the To: header field is included in DKIM and QR code, it would mean a 
fraudster somehow needs to be able to gain access to the victim's mailbox to be 
able to mint a email that matches a QR code.

The idea here is that a end-user should be able to scan'n'verify a email by QR-code and 
not have to worry about phishing. Since the details about who signed the email and the 
data in email comes out in clear, it will be very evident if a emai from a bank is signed 
by "russianwebhost.ru" or similar and thus alert the user about phishing.


The risk, in that scenario, is due to the nature of email, which sends a message through various hops until it gets stored in the recipient's mailbox. Encryption between hops is not always granted, and, even if it were, messages are queued in clear text on all intermediate servers. This provides for occasions to alter the text of the message. For example, someone can modify just the payee account number in an invoice. That fraud would be revealed checking bh=.


can implement new standards

[...] people would look up "Why does all email from Paypal now include a QR 
code" and they find out about the verification.


Could a footer like "This message is DKIM signed" sort the same effect?


Are there still so many MUAs with no DKIM add-on?

MUAs need to include it per default for it to get traction.


Again, why is that so for MUAs but not for smartphone apps?


Best
Ale
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