Re: [OAUTH-WG] question about the b64token syntax in draft-ietf-oauth-v2-bearer

[Justin Richer <[e-mail]>]

Makes sense to me, except that I think the token_type value is typically 
lowercase "bearer", though it's defined to be case insensitive in 
Oauth-v2-23 section 5.1. Come to think of it, I'm not sure that the 
value of this field for the Bearer token type ever got defined anywhere. 
Section 7.1 references the bearer spec as defining the value of the 
"token_type" parameter, and passes its example as if by reference. Would 
be worthwhile giving an example of a token endpoint response, such as 
what's found in OAuth-v2-23 section 5.1.

  -- Justin

On 03/07/2012 12:16 PM, Brian Campbell wrote:
> I'd like to propose the following changes and additions, derived
> largely from Bill and James suggestions, to
> draft-ietf-oauth-v2-bearer-17.  These changes have no normative impact
> and only aim to add additional clarity and explanation the workings
> and implications of the current spec.  I'm definitely open to changes
> or improvements in the wording here (not my strong suit by any means)
> but I think it's important that these general ideas be conveyed in the
> draft.
>
>
> ==>  Insert the following text at the beginning of §2:
>
> To make a protected resource request, the client must be in possession
> of a valid bearer token. Typically a bearer token is returned to the
> client as part of an access token response as defined in OAuth 2.0
> [I-D.ietf-oauth-v2]. When the "token_type" parameter of the access
> token response is "Bearer", the string value of the "access_token"
> parameter becomes the bearer access token used to make protected
> resource requests.
>
> ==>  Change the value of the token in the Authorization header example to this:
>
> Authorization: Bearer vF_9.5dCf-t4.qbcmT_k1b
>
> ==>  Insert the following text before the last paragraph of §2.1:
>
> Note that the name b64token does not imply base64 encoding but rather
> is the name for an ABNF syntax definition from HTTP/1.1, Part 7
> [I-D.ietf-httpbis-p7-auth]. Because of its use, the "access_token"
> string value from an access token response MUST match the b64token
> ABNF so it can be used with the Bearer HTTP scheme.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Brian
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 6, 2012 at 11:45 AM, William Mills<[e-mail]>  wrote:
>> Yeah, something as simple as, "Note that the name 'b64token' does not imply
>> base64 encoding, see the definition in [[INSERT REFERENCE HERE]]." would do
>> it.
>>
>> -bill
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: Brian Campbell<[e-mail]>
>> To: Mike Jones<[e-mail]>
>> Cc: oauth<[e-mail]>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 8:23 AM
>>
>> Subject: Re: [OAUTH-WG] question about the b64token syntax in
>> draft-ietf-oauth-v2-bearer
>>
>> Thanks Mike, I think changing the example would be helpful.
>>
>> However I think that including some text along the lines of what James
>> suggested would also be very valuable. I agree that the connection
>> between OAuth and Bearer could and should be made more explicit. And
>> that the implications of the b64token syntax, particularly on what AS
>> can use to construct ATs, could/should be made more clear.
>>
>> I can propose some specific text (building on James') if others in the WG
>> agree?
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 5, 2012 at 5:32 PM, Mike Jones<[e-mail]>
>> wrote:
>>> I'm fine with changing the example to make it clearer that b64token allows
>>> a wider range of characters than just those legal for base64 and base64url
>>> encodings of data values.
>>>
>>> I'll add it to my to-do list for any additional edits for the Bearer spec.
>>>
>>>                                 -- Mike
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: [e-mail] [mailto:[e-mail]] On Behalf Of
>>> Manger, James H
>>> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2012 3:33 PM
>>> To: Brian Campbell; oauth
>>> Subject: Re: [OAUTH-WG] question about the b64token syntax in
>>> draft-ietf-oauth-v2-bearer
>>>
>>> Brian,
>>>
>>>> On casual reading of "The OAuth 2.0 Authorization Protocol: Bearer
>>>> Tokens"* I've encountered several people (including myself) who have
>>>> made the assumption that the name b64token implies that some kind of
>>>> base64 encoding/decoding on the access token is taking place between
>>>> the client and RS.
>>>>
>>>> Digging a bit deeper in to "HTTP/1.1, part 7: Authentication"**,
>>>> however, I see that b64token is just an ABNF syntax definition
>>>> allowing for characters typically used in base64, base64url, etc.. So
>>>> the b64token doesn't define any encoding or decoding but rather just
>>>> defines what characters can be used in the part of the Authorization
>>>> header that will contain the access token.
>>>>
>>>> Do I read this correctly?
>>> Yes.
>>>
>>>> If so, I feel like some additional clarifying text in the Bearer
>>>> Tokens draft might help avoid what is (based on my small sample) a
>>>> common point of misunderstanding.
>>> Changing the example bearer token should be a simple way to avoid some
>>> confusion by showing that it does not have to be base64 encoding. How about
>>> changing:
>>>   Authorization: Bearer vF9dft4qmT
>>> to
>>>   Authorization: Bearer vF9.dft4.qmT
>>>
>>> The Bearer spec has lots of (unnecessary) text about OAuth, but doesn't
>>> quite manage to be precise about how OAuth and Bearer connect. It could
>>> explicitly state that the string value of the "access_token" member of an
>>> access token response is the bearer token. The "access_token" string value
>>> (after unescaping any JSON-escapes) MUST match the b64token ABNF so it can
>>> be used with the Bearer HTTP scheme. Such text could be put in §5.1.1 where
>>> the "Bearer" OAuth access token type is defined.
>>>
>>>
>>>> Also, does the use of b64token implicitly limit the allowed characters
>>>> that an AS can use to construct a bearer access token?
>>> Yes.
>>>
>>>
>>>> * http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-oauth-v2-bearer-17#section-2.1
>>>> **
>>>> http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-ietf-httpbis-p7-auth-18#section-2.1
>>> --
>>> James Manger
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OAuth mailing list
>>> [e-mail]
>>> https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/oauth
>>>
>>>
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