Re: [websec] HSTS ABNF still broken: requires leading semi-colon

[Julian Reschke <[e-mail]>]

On 2012-03-24 00:01, =JeffH wrote:
> [e-mail] wrote:
>  >
>  > The ABNF for the Strict-Transport-Security header looks wrong. It now
>  > *requires* a leading ";" before the first directive.
>
> yes, it's broken as you indicate, and you aren't the only person to have
> noticed it.
>
> I apologize (to all), I didn't thoroughly vet the suggested change to
> the ABNF before incorporating it. doh.
>
> I suspect Julian just didn't look closely at his suggestion before
> posting it..
>
> https://www.ietf.org/mail-archive/web/websec/current/msg01020.html
>
>
>  > I suggest the following ABNF.
>  >
>  > Strict-Transport-Security = "Strict-Transport-Security" ":"
>  > directive *( ";" directive )
>  >
>  > directive = [ token [ "=" ( token | quoted-string ) ] ]
>
>
> Well, I've been counseled in the past (and agree with it) that having an
> ABNF production that is potentially totally null is not such a good idea.

Why? (want to know :-)

> Perhaps this approach addresses this problem and is closer to what
> Julian intended..
>
> Strict-Transport-Security = "Strict-Transport-Security" ":"
> [ directive ] *( ";" [ directive ] )
>
> directive = token [ "=" ( token | quoted-string ) ]
>
> ?
> ...

Works for me.

Reminder: if the separator character would have been "," in the first 
place, you wouldn't need to think about this (-> 
<http://greenbytes.de/tech/webdav/draft-ietf-httpbis-p1-messaging-19.html#rfc.section.3.2.5>)

Best regards, Julian