Question about Basic Authentication Scheme

Stefan_Salzmann/HAM/Lotus@lotus.com Tue, 13 October 1998 16:40 UTC

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From: Stefan_Salzmann/HAM/Lotus@lotus.com
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Date: Tue, 13 Oct 1998 15:32:51 +0200
Subject: Question about Basic Authentication Scheme
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Hello,

In draft-ietf-pkix-ipki3cmp-08.txt  Certification Management Protocol the basic
authentication scheme is described as:
 End entity                                          RA/CA
      ==========                                      =============
           out-of-band distribution of Initial Authentication
           Key (IAK) and reference value (RA/CA -> EE)
      Key generation
      Creation of certification request
      Protect request with IAK
                    -->>--certification request-->>--
                                                     verify request
                                                     process request
                                                     create response
                    --<<--certification response--<<--
      handle response
      create confirmation
                    -->>--confirmation message-->>--
                                                     verify confirmation

The Initial Authentication Key (IAK) distributed by the CA/RA is not used in
PKCS#10 described in RFC 2314. In that RFC the process of designing a
certification request will be carried out without the IAK. So why use it?? IsnĀ“t
it better to use the private key for encrypting the certificate request message
rather than using the IAK?

Thanks for answering,
Stefan