I actually considered scoping it to a particular EKU, and forcing code-signing 
certificates to only be for code signing.  I might actually do that.  I’m not a 
fan of the Swiss Army Knife certificates that are so common in the Web PKI (I 
remember one of my first reactions when looking inside a Web PKI certificate 
was “WTF is this client EKU doing in here?”).  I’d like to hear what other 
code-signing CAs think about that.

 

The problem of who is a Certificate Consumer for code signing is also an 
interesting question I had.  If Tim’s Homebrew Code Signature Verifier App has 
one user, am I a Certificate Consumer?

 

The only thing I can think of is having something vague like “produces widely 
used software that verifies code integrity and authorship by validating digital 
signatures created using certificates issued by Certificate Issuers” and have 
the Working Group police itself as far as what “widely used” means.  We already 
have a similar issue with “Tim’s ‘Totally Not Chrome’ Fork Of Chrome With A Few 
Small Changes” giving Tim CABF voting rights as a browser, but somehow the 
world hasn’t ended.  Yet.

 

It’s also a reason why I think “One Organization, One Vote” like most other 
standards bodies is probably a better voting model, instead of the two class 
model we have in the Server Certificate WG.  But I’m interested in hearing what 
other code-signing CAs and companies that are interested in participating as 
“Certificate Consumers” think.

 

-Tim

 

From: Ryan Sleevi [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2018 11:14 AM
To: Tim Hollebeek <[email protected]>; CA/Browser Forum Public 
Discussion List <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [cabfpub] For Discussion: Code Signing Working Group Charter

 

Given that the id-kp-codeSigning EKU is a context-dependent, and given that 
only one software vendor has ever participated in such a WG, does it make sense 
to either scope the activities of the WG to a defined product subset - or to a 
defined EKU? Alternatively, should there be a minimum amount of distinct and 
interoperable Certificate Consumers before undertaking such the work? This is 
far more relevant to code signing than any other of the recognized key usages - 
by definition, code-signing is specific to the platform(s) that execute that 
code, and these platforms are fundamentally incompatible.

 

On Tue, Apr 24, 2018 at 11:04 AM, Tim Hollebeek via Public <[email protected] 
<mailto:[email protected]> > wrote:

 

A rough first draft, based on text I blatantly stole from the Server 
Certificate Working Group Charter:

 

Code Signing Working Group Charter

 

Upon approval of the CAB Forum by ballot, the Code Signing Working Group 
(“Working Group”) is created to perform the activities as specified in this 
Charter, subject to the terms and conditions of the CA/Browser Forum Bylaws and 
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy, as such documents may change from 
time to time. The definitions found in the Forum’s Bylaws shall apply to 
capitalized terms in this Charter. 

 

SCOPE: The authorized scope of the Code Signing Working Group shall be as 
follows: 

 

1. To specify Code Signing Baseline Requirements [1], Extended Validation 
Guidelines [2], Network and Certificate System Security Requirements [3], and 
other acceptable practices for the issuance and management of code signing 
certificates used to sign executables, libraries, and apps. 

 

2. To update such requirements and guidelines from time to time, in order to 
address both existing and emerging threats, including responsibility for the 
maintenance of and future amendments to the current Code Signing Baseline 
Requirements, Extended Validation Requirements, and Network and Certificate 
System Security Requirements. 

 

3. To develop requirements for time stamping certificates and time stamping 
servers intended to be used in conjunction with code signing certificates.

 

4. To perform such other activities that are ancillary to the primary 
activities listed above. 

 

OUT OF SCOPE: The Code Signing Working Group will not address certificates 
intended to be used primarily for client or server authentication, S/MIME, 
VoIP, IM, or Web services. The Code Signing Working Group will not address the 
issuance, or management of certificates by enterprises that operate their own 
Public Key Infrastructure for internal purposes only, and for which the Root 
Certificate is not distributed by any Application Software Supplier. 

 

Anticipated End Date: None. 

 

Initial chairs and contacts: TBD [4]

 

Members eligible to participate: The Working Group shall consist of two classes 
of voting members [5], the Certificate Issuers and the Certificate Consumers. 
The CA Class shall consist of eligible Certificate Issuers and Root Certificate 
Issuers meeting the following criteria: 

 

(1) Certificate Issuer: The member organization operates a certification 
authority that has a current and successful WebTrust for CAs audit, or ETSI TS 
102042, ETSI 101456, or ETSI EN 319 411-1 audit report prepared by a 
properly-qualified auditor, and that actively issues code-signing certificates, 
such certificates being treated as valid when verified by software from a 
Certificate Consumer Member. Applicants that are not actively issuing 
certificates but otherwise meet membership criteria 7 may be granted Associate 
Member status under Bylaw Sec. 3.1 for a period of time to be designated by the 
Forum. 

 

(2) Root Certificate Issuer: The member organization operates a certification 
authority that has a current and successful WebTrust for CAs, or ETSI TS 
102042, ETSI TS 101456, ETSI EN 319 411-1 audit report prepared by a 
properly-qualified auditor, and that actively issues code-signing certificates 
to subordinate CAs that, in turn, actively issue code-signing certificates, 
such certificates being treated as valid when verified by software from a 
Certificate Consumer Member. Applicants that are not actively issuing 
certificates but otherwise meet membership criteria may be granted Associate 
Member status under Bylaw Sec. 3.1 for a period of time to be designated by the 
Forum. 

 

(3) A Certificate Consumer can participate in this Working Group if it produces 
a software product intended for use by the general public that can validate and 
execute signed code. The Working Group shall include Interested Parties and 
Associate Members as defined in the Bylaws. Voting structure [5]: In order for 
a ballot to be adopted by the Working Group, two-thirds or more of the votes 
cast by the Certificate Issuers must be in favor of the ballot and more than 
50% of the votes cast by the Certificate Consumers must be in favor of the 
ballot. At least one member of each class must vote in favor of a ballot for it 
to be adopted. Quorum is the average number of Member organizations 
(cumulative, regardless of Class) that have participated in the previous three 
Code Signing Working Group Meetings or Teleconferences (not counting 
subcommittee meetings thereof). If three meetings have not yet occurred, quorum 
is ten (10). 

 

Summary of the work that the WG plans to accomplish: As specified in Scope 
section above. 

 

Summary of major WG deliverables and guidelines: As specified in Scope section 
above. 

 

Primary means of communication: listserv-based email, periodic calls, and 
face-to-face meetings. 

 

IPR Policy: The CA/Browser Forum Intellectual Rights Policy, v. 1.3 or later, 
SHALL apply to all Working Group activity.

 

[1] Not a defined term in the Bylaws, so these are the Code Signing BRs, not 
the Server Certificate BRs.

[2] These would be intended to initially be the EV Code Signing Requirements, 
from two years ago.

[3] It is anticipated these would be kept in sync with the same requirements 
adopted by the Server Certificate WG, whenever possible.

[4] I’d actually like this to be the first topic for the WG to discuss, though 
I could be convinced we should pick one in advance.

[5] Do we want to keep this structure or change it?


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