Replying personally:
I'm a nobody, and you have no reason to know me - but wanted to thank you for
the input you give here.
You're nearly always quite thoughtful, careful in what you say, respectful, and
give such [IMO] good insightful feedback and information to people looking for
help. I follow quite a number of lists, and IMO, it's a rare breed of
individuals who do such a fine job.
Perhaps you care nothing for such accolades, and I'm truly a "nobody" in giving
them - but still I wanted to recognize excellence when I see it.
So, Thanks!
-Greg
JB> On 16/08/2017 16:32, Tom Browder wrote:
>> On Wed, Aug 16, 2017 at 08:36 Salz, Rich via openssl-users
>> <openssl-users@openssl.org <mailto:openssl-users@openssl.org>> wrote:
>> ➢ So, in summary, do I need to ensure cert serial numbers are
>> unique for my CA?
>> Why would you not? The specifications require it, but those
>> specifications are for interoperability. If nobody is ever going
>> to see your certs, then who cares what’s in them?
>> Well, I do like to abide by specs, and they will be used in various
>> browsers, so I think I will continue the unique serial numbering.
>> Thanks, Rich.
JB> Modern browsers increasingly presume that such private CAs behave exactly
JB> like the public CAs regulated through the CA/Browsers Forum (CAB/F) and
JB> the per-browser root CA inclusion programs (the administrative processes
JB> that determine which CAs are listed in browsers by default).
JB> Among the relevant requirements now needed:
JB> - Serial numbers are *exactly* 20 bytes (153 to 159 bits) both as
JB> standalone
JB> numbers and as DER-encoded numbers. Note that this is not the default in
JB> the openssl ca program.
JB> - Serial numbers contain cryptographically strong random bits, currently at
JB> least 64 random bits, though it is best if the entire serial number looks
JB> random from the outside. This is not implemented by the openssl ca
JB> program.
JB> - Certificates are valid for at most 2 years (actually 825 days).
JB> - SHA-1 (and other weak algorithms such as MD5) are no longer permitted and
JB> is already disappearing from Browser code.
JB> - RSA shorter than 2048 bits (and other weak settings such as equally short
JB> DSA keys) are no longer permitted and is already disappearing from
JB> Browser
JB> code.
JB> - If the certificate is issued to an e-mail address, that e-mail address
JB> must
JB> also be listed as an rfc822Name in a "Subject Alternative Name"
JB> certificate
JB> extension.
JB> - End user certificates must be issued from an Intermediary CA whose
JB> certificate is is in turn issued from a longer term root CA.
JB> - If revocation is implemented (it should be, just in case someone gets
JB> their
JB> computer or other key storage hacked/stolen), it needs to support
JB> OCSP, but
JB> should ideally do so without having the actual CA keys online
JB> (standard trick:
JB> Issue 3-month non-revocable OCSP-signing certificates and provide the
JB> corresponding private key to the server running the OCSP responder
JB> program).
JB> I would recommend to also implement traditional CRLs, since for
JB> smaller CAs
JB> it is a better solution for browsers and servers that support it.
JB> Enjoy
JB> Jakob
JB> --
JB> Jakob Bohm, CIO, Partner, WiseMo A/S. https://www.wisemo.com
JB> Transformervej 29, 2860 Søborg, Denmark. Direct +45 31 13 16 10
JB> This public discussion message is non-binding and may contain errors.
JB> WiseMo - Remote Service Management for PCs, Phones and Embedded
--
Gregory Sloop, Principal: Sloop Network & Computer Consulting
Voice: 503.251.0452 x82
EMail: gr...@sloop.net
http://www.sloop.net
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