Short Distribution Chain (SDC) Workflow and New OAuth Parameters for the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) Framework

Short Distribution Chain (SDC) Workflow and New OAuth Parameters for the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) Framework RISE AB

Isafjordsgatan 22 Kista 16440 Sweden marco.tiloca@ri.se

Ericsson AB

Torshamnsgatan 23 Kista 16440 Stockholm Sweden goran.selander@ericsson.com

Security ACE Working Group Internet-Draft This document updates the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments Framework (ACE, RFC 9200) as follows. (1) It defines the Short Distribution Chain (SDC) workflow that the authorization server (AS) can use for uploading an access token to a resource server on behalf of the client. (2) For the OAuth 2.0 token endpoint, it defines new parameters and encodings and it extends the semantics of the "ace_profile" parameter. (3) For the OAuth 2.0 authz-info endpoint, it defines a new parameter and its encoding. (4) It defines how the client and the AS can coordinate on the exchange of the client's and resource server's public authentication credentials, when those can be transported by value or identified by reference; this extends the semantics of the "rs_cnf" parameter for the OAuth 2.0 token endpoint, thus updating RFC 9201. (5) It extends the error handling at the AS, for which it defines a new error code. (6) It deprecates the original payload format of error responses conveying an error code, when CBOR is used to encode message payloads. For those responses, it defines a new payload format aligned with RFC 9290, thus updating in this respect also the profiles defined in RFC 9202, RFC 9203, and RFC 9431. (7) It amends two of the requirements on profiles of the framework. About This Document Status information for this document may be found at . Discussion of this document takes place on the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ace) Working Group mailing list (), which is archived at . Subscribe at . Source for this draft and an issue tracker can be found at .

Introduction The Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) framework defines an architecture to enforce access control for constrained devices. A client (C) requests an assertion of granted permissions from an authorization server (AS) in the form of an access token, then uploads the access token to the target resource server (RS), and finally accesses protected resources at the RS according to the permissions specified in the access token. The framework has as main building blocks the OAuth 2.0 framework , the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) for message transfer, Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) for compact encoding, and CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE) for self-contained protection of access tokens. In addition, separate profile documents define in detail how the participants in the ACE architecture communicate, especially as to the security protocols that they use. This document updates as follows.

It defines the Short Distribution Chain (SDC) workflow for the ACE framework (see ), according to which the AS uploads the access token to the RS on behalf of C and then informs C about the outcome. The SDC workflow is especially convenient in deployments where the communication leg between C and the RS is constrained, but the communication leg between the AS and the RS is not. The SDC workflow has no ambition to replace the original workflow defined in . The AS can use one workflow or the other depending, for example, on the specific RS for which an access token has been issued and the nature of the communication leg with that RS.
It defines new parameters and encodings for the OAuth 2.0 token endpoint at the AS (see ). These include:
- "token_upload", used by C to inform the AS that it opts in to use the SDC workflow and by the AS to inform C about the outcome of the token uploading to the RS per the SDC workflow.
- "token_hash", used by the AS to provide C with a token hash, which corresponds to an access token that the AS has issued for C and has successfully uploaded to the RS on behalf of C per the SDC workflow.
- "to_rs", used by C to provide the AS with information to relay to the RS, upon asking the AS to upload the access token to the RS per the SDC workflow. Its specific use with the OSCORE profile is also described, as effectively enabling the use of the SDC workflow for that profile.
- "from_rs", used by the AS to provide C with information to relay from the RS, after the AS has successfully uploaded the access token to the RS per the SDC workflow. Its specific use with the OSCORE profile is also described, as effectively enabling the use of SDC workflow for that profile.
- "rs_cnf2", used by the AS to provide C with the public keys of the RSs in the group-audience for which the access token is issued (see ).
- "audience2", used by the AS to provide C with the identifiers of the RSs in the group-audience for which the access token is issued.
- "anchor_cnf", used by the AS to provide C with the public keys of trust anchors, which C can use to validate the public key of an RS (e.g., as provided in the "rs_cnf" parameter defined in or in the "rs_cnf2" parameter defined in this document).
- "token_series_id", used by the AS to provide C with the identifier of a token series and by C to ask the AS for a new access token in the same token series that dynamically updates access rights. A corresponding access token claim, namely "token_series_id", is also defined.
- "updated_rights", used by the AS to provide the RS with an indication that an access token uploaded per the SDC workflow is not the first one of a new token series, i.e., that the AS has issued the access token for dynamically updating the access rights of C.
It extends the semantics of the "ace_profile" parameter for the OAuth 2.0 token endpoint at the authorization server defined in (see ).
It defines how C and the AS can coordinate on the exchange of the client's and resource server's public authentication credentials, when those can be transported by value or identified by reference in the access token request and response (see ). This extends the semantics of the "rs_cnf" parameter for the OAuth 2.0 token endpoint defined in and therefore updates .
It extends the error handling at the AS, for which it defines a new error code that the AS can use for error responses sent to the client, after failing to verify the proof of possession of the client's private key when processing an access token request (see ).
It deprecates the original payload format of error responses that convey an error code, when CBOR is used to encode message payloads in the ACE framework. For such error responses, it defines a new payload format according to the problem-details format specified in (see ). In this respect, it also updates the profiles of the ACE framework defined in , , and .
It amends two of the requirements on profiles of the ACE framework originally compiled in (see ).

Terminology The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP 14 when, and only when, they appear in all capitals, as shown here. Readers are expected to be familiar with the terms and concepts described in the ACE framework for Authentication and Authorization , as well as with terms and concepts related to CBOR Web Tokens (CWTs) and CWT Confirmation Methods . The terminology for entities in the considered architecture is defined in OAuth 2.0 . In particular, this includes client (C), resource server (RS), and authorization server (AS). Readers are also expected to be familiar with the terms and concepts related to CoAP , Concise Data Definition Language (CDDL) , CBOR , JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) , and COSE . Note that the term "endpoint" is used here following its OAuth definition , aimed at denoting resources such as /token and /introspect at the AS, and /authz-info at the RS. The CoAP definition, which is "[a]n entity participating in the CoAP protocol" , is not used in this document. Furthermore, this document uses the following terms.

Token series: a set of access tokens, all of which are bound to the same proof-of-possession (PoP) key and are sequentially issued by the same AS for the same pair (client, audience) per the same profile of ACE. A token series ends when the latest access token of that token series becomes invalid (e.g., when it expires or gets revoked). Profiles of ACE can provide their extended and specialized definition, e.g., by further taking into account the public authentication credentials of C and the RS.
Token hash: identifier of an access token, in binary format encoding. The token hash has no relation to other access token identifiers possibly used, such as the 'cti' (CWT ID) claim of CBOR Web Tokens (CWTs) .

CBOR and CDDL are used in this document. CDDL predefined type names, especially bstr for CBOR byte strings and tstr for CBOR text strings, are used extensively in this document. Examples throughout this document are expressed in CBOR diagnostic notation as defined in and . Diagnostic notation comments are often used to provide a textual representation of the parameters' keys and values. In the CBOR diagnostic notation used in this document, constructs of the form e'SOME_NAME' are replaced by the value assigned to SOME_NAME in the CDDL model shown in of . For example, {e'audience2' : ["rs1", "rs2"]} stands for {54 : ["rs1", "rs2"]}. Note to RFC Editor: Please delete the paragraph immediately preceding this note. Also, in the CBOR diagnostic notation used in this document, please replace the constructs of the form e'SOME_NAME' with the value assigned to SOME_NAME in the CDDL model shown in of . Finally, please delete this note.

The Short Distribution Chain (SDC) Workflow As defined in , the ACE framework relies on its basic protocol workflow shown in . That is, the client first sends an access token request to the token endpoint at the AS (Step A), specifying permissions that it seeks to obtain for accessing protected resources at the RS, possibly together with information on its own public authentication credential. Then, if the request has been successfully verified, authenticated, and authorized, the AS replies to the client (Step B), providing an access token and possibly additional parameters as access information including the actually granted permissions. Finally, the client uploads the access token to the RS and, consistently with the permissions granted according to the access token, accesses a resource at the RS (Step C), which replies with the result of the resource access (Step F). Details about what protocol the client and the RS use to establish a secure association, mutually authenticate, and secure their communications are defined in the specific profile of ACE used, e.g., . Further interactions are possible between the AS and the RS, i.e., the exchange of an introspection request and response where the AS validates a previously issued access token for the RS (Steps D and E).

ACE Basic Protocol Workflow. | | | | | Authorization | | |<--(B)-- Access Token ---------| Server | | | + Access Information | | | | + Refresh Token (optional) +---------------+ | | ^ | | | Introspection Request (D)| | | Client | Response | |(E) | | (optional exchange) | | | | | v | | +--------------+ | |---(C)-- Token + Request ----->| | | | | Resource | | |<--(F)-- Protected Resource ---| Server | | | | | +--------+ +--------------+ ]]> This section defines the alternative Short Distribution Chain (SDC) workflow shown in , which MAY be supported by the AS. Unlike in the original workflow defined in , the AS uploads the access token to the RS on behalf of the client and then informs the client about the outcome. If the token uploading has been successfully completed, the client typically does not need to obtain the access token from the AS altogether. That is, the client simply establishes a secure association with the RS (if that has not happened already) and then accesses protected resources at the RS, according to the permissions granted per the access token and specified by the AS as access information.

ACE Short Distribution Chain (SDC) Workflow. | | | | | Authorization | | |<--(B)-- Token Response -------| Server | | | + Access Information | | | | + Access Token (optional) +----------------------------+ | | + Refresh Token (optional) ^ | | ^ | | | | | | Token-Upload | | Introspection Request (D)| | (A1)| | Request | Client | Response | |(E) | |(A2) Response | | (optional exchange) | | | | | | | v v | | | +----------------------------+ | |---(C1)-- Token (Optional) --->| | | | | | | |---(C2)-- Protected Request -->| Resource | | | | Server | | |<--(F)--- Protected Resource --| | | | | | +--------+ +----------------------------+ ]]> More specifically, the SDC workflow consists of the following steps.

Step A - Like in the original workflow, the client sends an access token request to the token endpoint at the AS, with the additional indication that it opts in to use the SDC workflow. As defined in , this information is conveyed to the AS by means of the "token_upload" parameter. The parameter also specifies what the AS has to return in the access token response at Step B, following a successful uploading of the access token from the AS to the RS.
Step A1 - This new step consists of the AS uploading the access token to the RS, typically at the authz-info endpoint, just like the client does in the original workflow.
Step A2 - This new step consists of the RS replying to the AS, following the uploading of the access token at Step A1.
Step B - In the access token response, the AS tells the client that it has attempted to upload the access token to the RS, specifying the outcome of the token uploading based on the reply received from the RS at Step A2. As defined in , this information is conveyed to the client by means of the "token_upload" parameter included in the access token response. If the token uploading has failed, the access token response also includes the access token. Otherwise, the access token response includes information consistent with what was specified by the "token_upload" parameter of the access token request at Step A.
Step C1 - This step occurs only if the token uploading from the AS has failed, and the AS has provided the client with the access token at Step B. In such a case, the client uploads the access token to the RS just like at Step C of the original workflow.
Step C2 - The client attempts to access a protected resource at the RS, according to the permissions granted per the access token and specified by the AS as access information at Step B.
Steps D, E, and F are as in the original workflow.

The SDC workflow has no ambition to replace the original workflow defined in . The AS can use one workflow or the other depending, for example, on the specific RS for which the access token has been issued and the nature of the communication leg with that RS. When using the SDC workflow, all the communications between the AS and the RS MUST be protected, consistent with Sections and of . Unlike in the original workflow, this results in protecting also the uploading of the first access token in a token series, i.e., in addition to the uploading of the following access tokens in the token series for dynamically updating the access rights of the client. The SDC workflow is also suitable for deployments where clients are not aware of details such as the need for access tokens to be issued by the AS and uploaded at the RS. Consistent with the intended access policies, the AS can be configured to automatically issue access tokens for such clients and upload those access tokens to the RS. This means that such clients do not have to request for an access token to be issued in the first place. That is, they can immediately send requests to the RS for accessing its protected resources, in accordance with the access tokens already issued and uploaded by the AS.

Token Upload When using the original workflow defined in , there are two typical cases concerning the upload of the access token to the RS from C.

The first case considers the upload of the first access token in a token series. While details depend on the specific profile of ACE used, such an access token is typically uploaded through an unprotected POST request to the authz-info endpoint.
The second case considers the upload of an access token that is not the first in its token series, i.e., the AS has issued the access token for dynamically updating the access rights of C. The intent is also for C and the RS to preserve the same secure communication association that they currently share and that is associated with the token series in question. Such an access token is uploaded through a POST request to the authz-info endpoint, which is protected by means of the secure communication association that is shared between C and the RS. If the new access token is accepted by the RS, the new access token supersedes the one currently stored for the token series in question, and it becomes associated with the corresponding secure communication association that is shared between C and the RS.

However, if the AS uploads the access token to the RS on behalf of C as per the SDC workflow, the upload of the access token always rely on a protected POST request from the AS to the authz-info endpoint. In particular, the request is protected with the secure communication association shared between the AS and the RS. When receiving a POST request to the authz-info endpoint that is specifically protected through the secure communication association shared with the AS, the RS proceeds as follows. In particular, the RS leverages the explicit indication provided by the AS through the "updated_rights" parameter defined in , which is included in the request in the case of dynamic update of access rights.

If the request does not include the "updated_rights" parameter, the RS processes the request and the access token therein like it would when receiving the request from C and according to the specific profile of ACE used. The access token in question is the first one in a token series.
If the request includes the "updated_rights" parameter encoding the CBOR simple value true (0xf5), then the access token in question, namely T_NEW, is not the first one in its token series, i.e., it is meant to dynamically update the access rights of C, while preserving the same secure communication association that is shared between C and the RS. In this case, the RS uses lookup information specified within T_NEW to determine whether it stores an access token T_OLD associated with C and belonging to the same token series of T_NEW. Such lookup information includes an identifier of the token series to which both T_NEW and T_OLD belong, and it can further comprise additional information elements pertaining to the specific profile of ACE used (e.g., the authentication credential of C that is bound to the access tokens of the token series). By leveraging such lookup information, the RS checks whether it stores an access token T_OLD that belongs to the same token series of T_NEW, like it would when receiving the request from C and according to the specific profile of ACE used. If the RS is currently storing such an old access token T_OLD, then the RS MUST supersede T_OLD by replacing the corresponding authorization information with the one specified in the new access token T_NEW. After that, the RS MUST associate T_NEW with the same secure communication association with which T_OLD was associated. If the RS is not currently storing such an old access token T_OLD, then the RS MUST reject the POST request from the AS and MUST reply with an error response that has a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 5.00 (Internal Server Error).

The explicit indication provided by the "updated_rights" parameter prevents possible ambiguous situations, where the RS might erroneously believe that an access token is the first one in a new token series (e.g., following the deletion of stored access tokens due to memory limitations).

New Parameters The rest of this section defines a number of additional parameters and encodings for the OAuth 2.0 token endpoint at the AS.

token_upload This section defines the additional "token_upload" parameter. The parameter can be used in an access token request sent by C to the token endpoint at the AS, as well as in the successful access token response sent as reply by the AS.

The "token_upload" parameter is OPTIONAL in an access token request. The presence of this parameter indicates that C opts in to use the SDC workflow defined in , whose actual use for uploading the issued access token to the RS is an exclusive prerogative of the AS. This parameter can take one of the following integer values. When the access token request is encoded in CBOR, those values are encoded as CBOR unsigned integers. The value of the parameter determines whether the follow-up successful access token response will have to include certain information, in case the AS has successfully uploaded the access token to the RS.
- 0: The access token response will have to include neither the access token nor its corresponding token hash.
- 1: The access token response will have to include the token hash corresponding to the access token, but not the access token.
- 2: The access token response will have to include the access token, but not the corresponding token hash.
If the AS supports the SDC workflow and the access token request includes the "token_upload" parameter with value 0, 1, or 2, then the AS MAY use the SDC workflow to upload the access token to the RS on behalf of C. Otherwise, following that access token request, the AS MUST NOT use the SDC workflow.
The "token_upload" parameter is REQUIRED in a successful access token response with response code 2.01 (Created), if both the following conditions apply. Otherwise, the "token_upload" parameter MUST NOT be present.
- The corresponding access token request included the "token_upload" parameter, with value 0, 1, or 2.
- The AS has attempted to upload the issued access token to the RS as per the SDC workflow, irrespective of the result of the token upload.
When the "token_upload" parameter is present in the access token response, it can take one of the following integer values. When the access token response is encoded in CBOR, those values are encoded as CBOR unsigned integers.
- If the token upload to the RS was not successful, then the "token_upload" parameter MUST encode the value 1. In this case, the access token response MUST include the "access_token" parameter specifying the issued access token.
- If the token upload at the RS was successful, then the "token_upload" parameter MUST encode the value 0. In this case, the access token response can include additional parameters as defined below, depending on the value of the "token_upload" parameter in the corresponding access token request.
  - If the "token_upload" parameter in the access token request specified the value 0, then the access token response MUST NOT include the "access_token" parameter and MUST NOT include the "token_hash" parameter defined in .
  - If the "token_upload" parameter in the access token request specified the value 1, then the access token response MUST NOT include the "access_token" parameter and MUST include the "token_hash" parameter defined in , specifying the hash corresponding to the issued access token and computed as defined in .
  - If the "token_upload" parameter in the access token request specified the value 2, then the access token response MUST include the "access_token" parameter specifying the issued access token and MUST NOT include the "token_hash" parameter defined in .

Examples shows an example, with first an access token request from C to the AS and then an access token response from the AS to C, following the issue of an access token bound to a symmetric PoP key. The access token request specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 0. That is, C indicates that it requires neither the access token nor the corresponding token hash from the AS, in case the AS successfully uploads the access token to the RS. The access token response specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 0, which indicates that the AS has successfully uploaded the access token to the RS on behalf of C. Consistent with the value of the "token_upload" parameter in the access token request, the access token response includes neither the access token nor its corresponding token hash. The access token response also includes the "cnf" parameter specifying the symmetric PoP key bound to the access token.

Example of Access Token Request-Response Exchange. Following a successful uploading of the access token from the AS to the RS, the access token response includes the "token_upload" parameter but not the access token, which is bound to a symmetric key and was uploaded to the RS by the AS. shows another example, with first an access token request from C to the AS and then an access token response from the AS to C, also following the issue of an access token bound to a symmetric PoP key. The access token request specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 2. That is, C indicates that it requires the access token from the AS, even in case the AS successfully uploads the access token to the RS. The access token response specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 0, which indicates that the AS has successfully uploaded the access token to the RS on behalf of C. Consistent with the value of the "token_upload" parameter in the access token request, the access token response includes the "access_token" parameter specifying the issued access token. The access token response also includes the "cnf" parameter specifying the symmetric PoP key bound to the access token.

Example of Access Token Request-Response Exchange. Following a successful uploading of the access token from the AS to the RS, the access token response includes the "token_upload" parameter as well as the "access_token" parameter conveying the access token, which is bound to a symmetric key and was uploaded to the RS by the AS. shows another example, with first an access token request from C to the AS and then an access token response from the AS to C, also following the issue of an access token bound to a symmetric PoP key. The access token request specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 0. That is, C indicates that it requires neither the access token nor the corresponding token hash from the AS, in case the AS successfully uploads the access token to the RS. In this example, the access token response includes the "token_upload" parameter with value 1, which indicates that the AS has attempted and failed to upload the access token to the RS on behalf of C. The access token response also includes the "access_token" parameter specifying the issued access token, together with the "cnf" parameter specifying the symmetric PoP key bound to the access token. Note that, even though the AS has failed to upload the access token to the RS, the response code 2.01 (Created) is used when replying to C, since the access token request as such has been successfully processed at the AS, with the following issue of the access token.

Example of Access Token Request-Response Exchange. Following a failed uploading of the access token from the AS to the RS, the access token response includes the "token_upload" parameter with value 1 as well the "access_token" parameter conveying the access token bound to a symmetric key.

token_hash This section defines the additional "token_hash" parameter. The parameter can be used in a successful access token response sent as reply by the AS to C. The following refers to the base64url encoding without padding (see ) and denotes as "binary representation" of a text string the corresponding UTF-8 encoding , which is the implied charset used in JSON (see ). The "token_hash" parameter is REQUIRED in a successful access token response with response code 2.01 (Created), if both the following conditions apply. Otherwise, the "token_hash" parameter MUST NOT be present.

The corresponding access token request included the "token_upload" parameter with value 1.
The access token response includes the "token_upload" parameter with value 0. That is, the AS has successfully uploaded the issued access token to the RS, as per the SDC workflow.

This parameter specifies the token hash corresponding to the access token issued by the AS and successfully uploaded to the RS on behalf of C. In particular:

If the access token response is encoded in CBOR, then the "token_hash" parameter is a CBOR byte string, with value the token hash.
If the access token response is encoded in JSON, then the "token_hash" parameter has as value the base64url-encoded text string that encodes the token hash.

The AS computes the token hash as defined in .

Computing the Token Hash The AS computes the token hash over the value that the "access_token" parameter would have had in the same access token response, if it was included therein and specifying the access token. In particular, the input HASH_INPUT over which the token hash is computed is determined as follows.

If the access token response is encoded in CBOR, then:
- BYTES denotes the value of the CBOR byte string that would be conveyed by the "access_token" parameter, if this was included in the access token response.
- HASH_INPUT_TEXT is the base64url-encoded text string that encodes BYTES.
- HASH_INPUT is the binary representation of HASH_INPUT_TEXT.
If the access token response is encoded in JSON, then HASH_INPUT is the binary representation of the text string conveyed by the "access_token" parameter, if this was included in the access token response.

Once determined HASH_INPUT as defined above, a hash value of HASH_INPUT is generated as per . The resulting output in binary format is used as the token hash. Note that the used binary format embeds the identifier of the used hash function in the first byte of the computed token hash. The specific hash function used MUST be collision resistant on byte strings and MUST be selected from the "Named Information Hash Algorithm Registry" . Consistent with the compliance requirements in , the hash function sha-256 as specified in is mandatory to implement. The computation of token hashes defined above is aligned with that specified for the computation of token hashes in , where they are used as identifiers of revoked access tokens. Therefore, given a hash algorithm and an access token, the AS computes the same corresponding token hash in either case. If the AS supports the method specified in , then the AS MUST use the same hash algorithm for computing both the token hashes to include in the "token_hash" parameter and the token hashes computed per that method to identify revoked access tokens.

Example shows an example, with first an access token request from C to the AS and then an access token response from the AS to C, following the issue of an access token bound to a symmetric PoP key. The access token request specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 1. That is, C indicates that it requires the token hash corresponding to the access token from the AS, in case the AS successfully uploads the access token to the RS. The access token response specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 0, which indicates that the AS has successfully uploaded the access token to the RS on behalf of C. Consistent with the value of the "token_upload" parameter in the access token request, the access token response includes the "token_hash" parameter, which specifies the token hash corresponding to the issued access token. The access token response also includes the "cnf" parameter specifying the symmetric PoP key bound to the access token.

Example of Access Token Request-Response Exchange. Following a successful uploading of the access token from the AS to the RS, the access token response includes the "token_upload" parameter as well as the "token_hash" parameter. The "token_hash" parameter conveys the token hash corresponding to the issued access token, which is bound to a symmetric key and was uploaded to the RS by the AS.

to_rs and from_rs The rest of this section defines the additional parameters "to_rs" (see ) and "from_rs" (see ). The "to_rs" parameter can be used in an access token request sent by C to the token endpoint at the AS. The "from_rs" parameter can be used in an access token response sent by the AS, in reply to a request to the token endpoint from C. The semantics and encoding of the information specified in the two parameters depend on the specific profile of ACE and application used. For instance, when using the OSCORE profile of ACE , C and RS can use the two parameters to exchange the expected nonces and identifiers via the AS. describes how the two parameters are used when the OSCORE profile of ACE is used, thereby effectively enabling the use of the SDC workflow for that profile.

to_rs The "to_rs" parameter is OPTIONAL in an access token request. The presence of this parameter indicates that:

C wishes the AS to relay the information specified therein to the RS, when the AS uploads the issued access token to the RS per the SDC workflow defined in ; and
C wishes the AS to relay information received from the RS to C, after having successfully uploaded the access token to the RS per the SDC workflow defined in .

This parameter MUST NOT be present if the "token_upload" parameter defined in is not present in the access token request. Also, this parameter MUST NOT be present if the requested access token is not the first one of a new token series, i.e., if C is asking the AS for a new access token in the same token series that dynamically updates access rights. If C wishes that the AS relays information from the RS after successfully uploading the access token but C does not have any information to be relayed to the RS, then this parameter MUST encode the CBOR simple value null (0xf6). Otherwise, this parameter specifies the information that C wishes the AS to relay to the RS, when uploading the access token to the RS on behalf of C. Such information consists in what C would provide to the RS in addition to the access token, by sending a POST request to the authz-info endpoint in case the original workflow was used. When composing the parameter "to_rs", C considers the same information and MUST wrap it in a data structure STRUCT, by using the same method that it employs when using the original workflow. For example, with reference to the OSCORE profile of ACE , such a method composes STRUCT as a CBOR map, which has to be sent as payload of a request with Content-Format "application/ace+cbor". After that, C builds a CBOR byte string STR, whose value is the binary representation of STRUCT. If and only if the request to the authz-info endpoint has to be sent with a Content-Format ct different from the one employed in the profile of ACE used, then C MUST tag the CBOR byte string STR (see ). The tag number TN MUST be the one associated with the Content-Format ct and is determined according to the technique described in . For example, the Content-Format "application/ace+cbor" has Content-Format ID 19 and therefore has 1668546836 as its associated tag number. When the access token request is encoded in CBOR, the value of the "to_rs" parameter is the (tagged) CBOR byte string STR. When the access token request is encoded in JSON, the value of the "to_rs" parameter is a text string, which encodes the binary representation of the (tagged) CBOR byte string STR in base64url without padding (see ). If the "to_rs" parameter is present and specifies a value different from the CBOR simple value null (0xf6), the AS proceeds as follows when composing the POST request to send to the authz-info endpoint on behalf of C:

The AS sets the Content-Format of the request to be either:
- the one employed in the profile of ACE used, if the CBOR byte string STR conveyed by the "to_rs" parameter is not tagged; or, otherwise
- the one associated with the tag number TN of the tagged CBOR byte string STR conveyed by the "to_rs" parameter.
The AS retrieves the structure STRUCT from STR and extends STRUCT by adding the issued access token, consistently with the profile of ACE used and the Content-Format determined at the previous step. For example, when using the OSCORE profile of ACE and thus the Content-Format to use is "application/ace+cbor", STRUCT is a CBOR map and the access token is included therein as an entry that has: as map key, 1 encoded as a CBOR integer; as map value, a CBOR byte string whose value is the binary representation of the access token.

Clearly, performing the two steps above requires the AS to understand the structure STRUCT and its semantics. In turn, such an understanding builds on the AS supporting the profile of ACE used and the Content-Format to use as determined at Step 1. In the expected cases, the AS is realistically able to perform the two steps. If the AS finds itself unable to perform the two steps, then the AS would simply not upload the access token to the RS on behalf of C. In such a case, the AS replies to C with a successful access token response to C, which includes the "access_token" parameter specifying the issued access token and does not include the "token_upload" parameter (see ). Tagging the CBOR byte string as defined above ensures that the AS can relay the information specified in the "to_rs" parameter as intended by C, i.e., by sending to the authz-info endpoint a POST request that has the correct Content-Format and conveys the correct payload. As a case in point, using the DTLS profile of ACE typically results in a POST request to the authz-info endpoint with Content-Format "application/cwt", as per . However, the DTLS profile of ACE can be combined with application profiles of . In such a case, the POST request might convey both the access token and additional parameters from C (e.g., "sign_info" defined in ), which requires the request to have Content-Format "application/ace+cbor" (see ).

from_rs The "from_rs" parameter is OPTIONAL in an access token response. The presence of this parameter indicates that the AS is relaying the information specified therein to C, which the AS has received from the RS after having successfully uploaded the access token to the RS per the SDC workflow defined in . This parameter MUST be present if and only if both the following conditions apply:

The "token_upload" parameter defined in is present with value 0 in the access token response.
The "to_rs" parameter was present in the access token request corresponding to the access token response.

This parameter specifies the information that the AS is relaying to C from the RS, following the successful upload of the access token to the RS on behalf of C. Such information consists in what C would receive in a successful response from the authz-info endpoint, if the access token was uploaded per the original workflow. When composing the parameter "from_rs", the AS builds a CBOR byte string STR as follows:

If the successful response from the authz-info endpoint does not include a payload, then STR is the empty CBOR byte string (0x40); otherwise
The value of STR is the payload of the successful response from the authz-info endpoint. If and only if the response specifies a given Content-Format ct (i.e., by means of the CoAP Content-Format Option), then the AS MUST tag the CBOR byte string STR (see ). The tag number TN MUST be the one associated with the Content-Format ct and is determined according to the technique described in .

When the access token response is encoded in CBOR, the value of the "from_rs" parameter is the (tagged) CBOR byte string STR. When the access token response is encoded in JSON, the value of the "from_rs" parameter is a text string, which encodes the binary representation of the (tagged) CBOR byte string STR in base64url without padding (see ). When C receives from the AS the successful access token response specifying the "token_upload" parameter with value 0, C retrieves from the "from_rs" parameter the information relayed by the AS, just like when retrieving that information from a 2.01 (Created) response with Content-Format ct that C receives from the RS when using the original workflow. In particular, if the CBOR byte string STR is not the empty CBOR byte string (0x40), C considers as the Content-Format ct either:

the one employed in the profile of ACE used, if the CBOR byte string STR conveyed by the "from_rs" parameter is not tagged; or, otherwise
the one associated with the tag number TN of the tagged CBOR byte string STR conveyed by the "from_rs" parameter.

Use with the OSCORE Profile This section describes how to use the parameters "to_rs" and "from_rs" when the OSCORE profile of ACE is used. Within the access token request from C to the AS, the value of the "to_rs" parameter is a CBOR byte string, whose value is the binary representation of a CBOR map C_MAP composed of two fields:

A field with the CBOR unsigned integer 40 as map key and with value the nonce N1 generated by C, encoded a CBOR byte string (see ).
A field with the CBOR unsigned integer 43 as map key and with value the Recipient ID ID1 generated by C, encoded as a CBOR byte string (see ).

When building the POST request for uploading the access token to the authz-info endpoint at the RS, the AS sets the Content-Format of the request to "application/ace+cbor" and composes the request payload as specified in . In particular, the CBOR map specified as payload includes:

The "access_token" field, with value the access token to upload encoded as a CBOR byte string and with the CBOR unsigned integer 1 as map key.
The "nonce1" field, with value the same CBOR byte string specified by the field of C_MAP that has the CBOR unsigned integer 40 as map key.
The "ace_client_recipientid" field, with value the same CBOR byte string specified by the field of C_MAP that has the CBOR unsigned integer 43 as map key.

If the upload of the access token to the RS from the AS is successful, the RS replies to the AS with a 2.01 (Created) response, which has Content-Format "application/ace+cbor" and whose payload is a CBOR map RS_MAP that includes:

The "nonce2" field, with value the nonce N2 generated by the RS, encoded as a CBOR byte string (see ).
The "ace_server_recipientid" field, with value the Recipient ID ID2 generated by the RS, encoded as a CBOR byte string (see ).

Within the access token response from the AS to C, the value of the "from_rs" parameter is a CBOR byte string, whose value is the binary representation of a CBOR map composed of two elements:

A field with the CBOR unsigned integer 42 as map key and with value the same CBOR byte string specified by the "nonce2" field of RS_MAP.
A field with the CBOR unsigned integer 44 as map key and with value the same CBOR byte string specified by the "ace_server_recipientid" field of RS_MAP.

When C receives from the AS the successful access token response specifying the "token_upload" parameter with value 0, C retrieves the nonce N2 and the Recipient ID ID2 from the "from_rs" parameter, just like when retrieving those from a 2.01 (Created) response received from the RS when using the original workflow. shows an example where the OSCORE profile is used, with first an access token request from C to the AS and then an access token response from the AS to C, following the issue of an access token bound to a symmetric PoP key. The access token request specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 0. That is, C indicates that it requires neither the access token nor the corresponding token hash from the AS, in case the AS successfully uploads the access token to the RS. Also, the access token request includes the "to_rs" parameter, specifying the values of N1 = 0x018a278f7faab55a and ID1 = 0x1645 intended to the RS. The access token response specifies the "token_upload" parameter with value 0, which indicates that the AS has successfully uploaded the access token to the RS on behalf of C. Consistent with the value of the "token_upload" parameter in the access token request, the access token response includes neither the access token nor its corresponding token hash. The access token response also includes the "cnf" parameter specifying the symmetric PoP key bound to the access token, as an OSCORE_Input_Material object (see ). Also, the access token response includes the "from_rs" parameter, specifying the values of N2 = 0x25a8991cd700ac01 and ID2 = 0x0000 received from the RS and intended to C.

Example of Access Token Request-Response Exchange where the OSCORE Profile is Used. Following a successful uploading of the access token from the AS to the RS, the access token response includes the "token_upload" parameter but not the access token, which is bound to a symmetric key and was uploaded to the RS by the AS. C and the RS exchange N1, ID1, N2, and ID2 via the AS by means of the parameters "to_rs" and "from_rs"

rs_cnf2 and audience2 This section defines the additional parameters "rs_cnf2" and "audience2" for an access token response, sent by the AS in reply to a request to the token endpoint from C.

The "rs_cnf2" parameter is OPTIONAL if the token type is "pop", asymmetric keys are used, and the access token is issued for an audience that includes multiple RSs (i.e., a group-audience, see ). Otherwise, the "rs_cnf2" parameter MUST NOT be present. This parameter specifies information about the public keys used by the RSs of a group-audience for authenticating themselves to C. It is used in case the binding between the public keys and the corresponding RS identities are not established through other means. If this parameter is absent, either the RSs in the group-audience do not use a public key, or the AS knows that the RSs can authenticate themselves to C without additional information. If present, this parameter MUST encode a non-empty CBOR array of N elements, where N is the number of RSs in the group-audience for which the access token is issued. Each element of the CBOR array specifies the public key of one RS in the group-audience, and MUST follow the syntax and semantics of the "cnf" claim either from for CBOR-based interactions, or from for JSON-based interactions. It is not required that all the elements of the CBOR array rely on the same confirmation method. Any of the public keys may be provided together with information such as the public key algorithm and use (e.g., specified by means of the parameters "alg" and "key_ops" in a COSE_Key structure). If such information is specified, a client MUST NOT use a public key that is incompatible with the profile of ACE used or with the PoP algorithm according to that information. An RS MUST reject a proof of possession that relies on such a key and MUST reply with a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 4.00 (Bad Request).
The "audience2" parameter is OPTIONAL and specifies the identifiers of the RSs in the group-audience for which the access token is issued. If present, this parameter MUST encode a non-empty CBOR array of N elements, where N is the number of RSs in the group-audience for which the access token is issued. Each element of the CBOR array in the "audience2" parameter MUST be a CBOR text string, with value the identifier of one RS in the group-audience. The element of the CBOR array referring to an RS in the group-audience SHOULD have the same value that would be used to identify that RS through the "audience" parameter of an access token request to the AS (see ) and of an access token response from the AS (see ), when requesting and issuing an access token for that individual RS. The "audience2" parameter is REQUIRED if the "rs_cnf2" parameter is present. In such a case, the i-th element of the CBOR array in the "audience2" parameter MUST be the identifier of the RS whose public key is specified as the i-th element of the CBOR array in the "rs_cnf2" parameter.

Example shows an example of access token response from the AS to C, following the issue of an access token for a group-audience composed of two RSs "rs1" and "rs2" and bound to C's public key as asymmetric PoP key. The access token response includes the access token as well as the parameters "audience2" and "rs_cnf2". These specify the public key of the two RSs as intended recipients of the access token and the identifiers of those two RSs, respectively.

Example of access token response with an access token bound to an asymmetric key, using the parameters "audience2" and "rs_cnf2".

anchor_cnf This section defines the additional "anchor_cnf" parameter for an access token response, sent by the AS in reply to a request to the token endpoint from C. The "anchor_cnf" parameter is OPTIONAL if the token type is "pop" and asymmetric keys are used. Otherwise, the "anchor_cnf" parameter MUST NOT be present. This parameter specifies information about the public keys of trust anchors, which C can use to validate the public key of the RS/RSs included in the audience for which the access token is issued. This parameter can be used when the access token is issued for an audience including one RS or multiple RSs. If this parameter is absent, either the RS/RSs in the audience do not use a public key, or the AS knows that C can validate the public key of such RS/RSs without additional information (e.g., C has already obtained the required public keys of the involved trust anchors from the AS or through other means). If present, this parameter MUST encode a non-empty CBOR array that MUST be treated as a set, i.e., the order of its elements has no meaning. Each element of the CBOR array specifies the public key of one trust anchor, which can be used to validate the public key of at least one RS included in the audience for which the access token is issued. Each element of the CBOR array MUST follow the syntax and semantics of the "cnf" claim either from for CBOR-based interactions, or from for JSON-based interactions. It is not required that all the elements of the CBOR array rely on the same confirmation method. Any of the public keys conveyed in the "anchor_cnf" parameter may be provided together with information such as the public key algorithm and use (e.g., specified by means of the parameters "alg" and "key_ops" in a COSE_Key structure). If such information is specified, a client MUST NOT use a public key that is incompatible with the profile of ACE used or with the public keys to validate and the way to validate those. The presence of this parameter does not require that the access token response also includes the "rs_cnf" parameter defined in or the "rs_cnf2" parameter defined in of this document. That is, C may be able to obtain the public keys of the RS/RSs for which the access token is issued through other means. When the access token response includes both the "anchor_cnf" parameter and the "audience2" parameter defined in , then C MUST make sure that a public key PK_RS is associated with an RS identified by an element of "audience2", before using any of the public keys specified in "anchor_cnf" to validate PK_RS. When the access token response includes the "anchor_cnf" parameter but not the "audience2" parameter, then C can use any of the public keys specified in "anchor_cnf" to validate the public key PK_RS of any RS in the targeted audience. This allows C to use the access token with an RS that is deployed later on as part of the same audience, which is particularly useful in the case of a group-audience.

Example shows an example of access token response from the AS to C, following the issue of an access token for a group-audience and bound to C's public key as asymmetric PoP key. The identifier of the group-audience was specified by the "audience" parameter of the access token request to the AS, is specified by the "aud" claim of the issued access token, and is not repeated in the access token response from the AS. The access token response includes the "anchor_cnf" parameter. This specifies the public key of a trust anchor that C can use to validate the public keys of any RS with which the access token is going to be used. By means of the CWT confirmation method "x5chain" defined in , the public key of the trust anchor is here conveyed within an X.509 certificate used as public authentication credential for that trust anchor.

Example of Access Token Response with an access token bound to an asymmetric key, using the "anchor_cnf" parameter.

token_series_id This section defines the additional "token_series_id" parameter. The parameter can be used in an access token request sent by C to the token endpoint at the AS as well as in the successful access token response sent as reply by the AS.

The "token_series_id" parameter is OPTIONAL in an access token request. The presence of this parameter indicates that C wishes to obtain a new access token for dynamically updating its access rights. That is, the new access token is intended to be the next one in an active token series and to supersede the latest access token in that token series. This parameter MUST NOT be present if the requested access token is the first one of a new token series. If present, this parameter specifies the identifier of the token series that the new access token is intended to extend. The identifier does not change throughout the lifetime of the token series and was provided to C in the successful access token response that the AS sent when issuing the first access token in that token series. When the access token request is encoded in CBOR, the value of this parameter is encoded as a CBOR byte string.
The "token_series_id" parameter is OPTIONAL in an access token response. This parameter MUST NOT be present if the issued access token is not the first one of the token series it belongs to. If present, this parameter specifies the identifier of the token series to which the issued access token belongs. When the access token response is encoded in CBOR, the value of this parameter is encoded as a CBOR byte string.

If the AS relies on the "token_series_id" parameter to exchange the identifier of token series with clients, then the following applies.

The value assigned to the identifier of a token series MUST be associated with all the access tokens issued by the AS for that token series and MUST be selected from a pool that the AS exclusively controls. In particular, the triple (TS_ID, C, AUD) MUST uniquely identify a token series and its corresponding access tokens, where TS_ID is the identifier of the token series, while C and AUD are the client and the audience for which the access token is issued, respectively. The AS MUST take into account both ongoing and ended token series for selecting a new TS_ID that complies with the above requirements. Note that the ACE profile is not part of the triple, hence the requirement spans across all the ACE profiles that the AS and its registered clients/RSs support.
An issued access token that belongs to a token series MUST include the identifier of that token series. This allows the RS to identify the latest access token in the token series to be superseded by the issued access token. In particular, each of such access tokens MUST include a claim specifying the identifier of the token series to which the access token belongs. When CWTs are used as access tokens, this information MUST be transported in the "token_series_id" claim registered in .

If a profile of ACE relies on a construct that uses different parameters/claims to transport the identifier of a token series, then the new "token_series_id" parameter and "token_series_id" claim MUST NOT be used when using that profile. For example, a number of parameters/claims are already used to transport information that acts de facto as identifier of token series, in the PSK mode of the DTLS profile , in the OSCORE profile , and in the EDHOC and OSCORE profile .

updated_rights This section defines the additional "updated_rights" parameter. The parameter can be used in a POST request sent by the AS to the authz-info endpoint, when the AS uploads an access token to the RS per the SDC workflow defined in . The "updated_rights" parameter MUST NOT be included in the POST request to the authz-info endpoint sent by C per the original workflow defined in . In the POST request from the AS, the "updated_rights" parameter is REQUIRED if the uploaded access token is not the first one of a new token series, i.e., if the AS has issued the access token for dynamically updating the access rights of C. Otherwise, the "updated_rights" parameter MUST NOT be present. When including the "updated_rights" parameter, the POST request MUST have Content-Format "application/ace+cbor" and its payload MUST be formatted as a CBOR map. In particular, the CBOR map MUST include the "updated_rights" parameter encoding the CBOR simple value true (0xf5), together with the "access_token" parameter specifying the access token. The CBOR map MAY include additional parameters, according to the specific profile of ACE used. Note that this request deviates from the POST request defined in , although such a deviation can already occur in some profiles of ACE (e.g., see ) or in application profiles of . When the RS receives a protected POST request to the authz-info endpoint from the AS and the request does not convey the "updated_rights" parameter, the RS is ensured that the access token conveyed in the request is the first one of a new token series. When the RS receives a protected POST request to the authz-info endpoint from the AS and the request conveys the "updated_rights" parameter encoding the CBOR simple value true (0xf5), the RS is ensured that the access token conveyed in the request is not the first one of a new token series. Taking advantage of such explicit indication requires the RS to support the Content-Format "application/ace+cbor" and the "updated_rights" parameter. If the RS does not support the Content-Format "application/ace+cbor", the RS rejects the POST request from the AS and replies with an error response that has a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 4.15 (Unsupported Content-Format). Note that, irrespective of the profile of ACE used, the RS supports the Content-Format "application/ace+cbor" if it implements token introspection (see ). If the RS supports the Content-Format "application/ace+cbor" but does not support the "updated_rights" parameter, the RS MUST reject the POST request from the AS and MUST reply with an error response that has a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 4.00 (Bad Request). In case a POST request to the authz-info endpoint conveys the "updated_rights" parameter, the RS supports the parameter, and any of the following conditions applies, the RS MUST reject the request and MUST reply with an error response that has a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 4.00 (Bad Request):

The request is not protected.
The AS is not successfully verified as the originator of the request.
The "updated_rights" parameter does not encode the CBOR simple value true (0xf5).

If the AS receives an error response from the RS, the AS replies to C with a successful access token response, which includes the "access_token" parameter specifying the issued access token and includes the "token_upload" parameter encoding the value 1 (see ). The processing of the POST request to the authz-info endpoint from the AS is further described in .

Updated "ace_profile" Parameter This section extends the semantics of the "ace_profile" parameter defined in for the OAuth 2.0 token endpoint at the authorization server. In addition to what is specified in Sections , , and of , the following applies.

When sending an access token request to the token endpoint at the AS (see ), C MAY include the "ace_profile" parameter, specifying the identifier of the profile that C wishes to use towards the RS.
If the AS receives an access token request that includes the "ace_profile" parameter specifying the identifier of a profile, then the AS proceeds as follows. In case the AS does not issue access tokens per the profile specified in the access token request, or C and the RS do not share that profile, then the AS MUST reject the request and MUST reply with an error response (see ). The error response MUST have a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 4.00 (Bad Request) and MUST include the error code "incompatible_ace_profiles". In case the AS issues an access token to C, the access token MUST be per the profile whose identifier was specified by the "ace_profile" parameter in the access token request. In case the AS replies to C with a successful access token response (see ), then the response MAY include the "ace_profile" parameter. If it is included in the access token response, the "ace_profile" parameter MUST encode the same profile identifier that was specified by the "ace_profile" parameter of the corresponding access token request.

Coordinating on the Exchange of Public Authentication Credentials In some profiles of ACE, it is possible for C and the RS to use public authentication credentials. Depending on the specific profile, the access token request and response exchanged between C and the AS can specify those authentication credentials as transported by value or instead identified by reference. For instance, this is the case in the EDHOC and OSCORE profile and in the DTLS profile as extended in . At some point, the AS (C) might become unable to use a credential identifier as a reference for accessing the authentication credential of C (of the RS) obtained earlier, e.g., due to having deleted the credential from its local storage. This can prevent the AS (C) from successfully processing an incoming access token request (response) that specifies the authentication credential of C (of the RS) as identified by reference. Ultimately, this can prevent the AS from issuing an access token and C from securely accessing protected resources at the RS. Conversely, unbeknown to the AS, C might already be storing the authentication credential of the RS when sending the access token request. In such a situation, the AS would specify the authentication credential of the RS by value in the access token response. However, it would be sufficient for C that the response specified the credential of the RS as identified by reference, or even that the response omitted the credential altogether. In order to allow C and the AS to coordinate on the exchange of the authentication credentials of C and the RS, the rest of this section defines:

How the AS can instruct C to specify its public authentication credential by value in the "req_cnf" parameter of an access token request (see ).
How C can instruct the AS to specify the public authentication credential(s) of the RS(s) by value or by reference in the "rs_cnf" or "rs_cnf2" parameter of an access token response (see ), or instead to omit the credential(s) from the access token response.

Instructing C on How to Provide its Authentication Credential When the AS receives an access token request and this includes the "req_cnf" parameter identifying the public authentication credential of C by reference, it might happen that the AS is not able to access the credential by using the specified reference. In such a case, the AS MUST reject the request and MUST reply with an error response (see ). The error response MUST have a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 5.00 (Internal Server Error) and MUST include the error code "unknown_credential_referenced". The error code and its CBOR abbreviation are registered in and , respectively. After receiving such an error response, C can send a new access token request, where the "req_cnf" parameter specifies the authentication credential of C by value.

Instructing the AS on How to Provide the RS's Authentication Credential When C receives an access token response and this includes the "req_cnf" or "req_cnf2" parameter identifying the authentication credential(s) of the RS(s) by reference, it might happen that C is not able to access the authentication credential(s) by using the specified reference(s). Conversely, if the response includes the "rs_cnf" or "rs_cnf2" parameter specifying the authentication credential(s) of the RS(s) by value, it might happen that C has already been storing those credential(s), unbeknown to the AS. In fact, it would have been sufficient that the "rs_cnf" or "rs_cnf2" parameter identified the credential(s) by reference, or that neither parameter was included in the response. The following extends the semantics of the "rs_cnf" parameter defined in , so that C can include the "rs_cnf" parameter in an access token request. When doing so, C instructs the AS about whether and how the successful access token response should specify the authentication credential(s) of the RS(s) belonging to the targeted audience. Per its extended semantics, the "rs_cnf" parameter is also OPTIONAL to include in an access token request for requesting the first access token in a token series, if the token type is "pop" and asymmetric keys are used. Otherwise, the parameter MUST NOT be included in an access token request. When C includes the "rs_cnf" parameter in an access token request, the parameter MUST have one of the following encodings.

If the parameter specifies the CBOR simple value true (0xf5), then it instructs the AS to include in the successful access token response the "rs_cnf" or "rs_cnf2" parameter, specifying the authentication credential(s) of the RS(s) by value. In the successful access token response, each pertaining authentication credential MUST be specified by value.
If the parameter specifies the CBOR simple value false (0xf4), then it instructs the AS to include in the successful access token response the "rs_cnf" or "rs_cnf2" parameter, specifying the authentication credential(s) of the RS(s) by reference. In the successful access token response, each pertaining authentication credential MUST be specified by reference, or alternatively by value only in case that was not possible.
If the parameter specifies the CBOR simple value null (0xf6), then it instructs the AS to omit the "rs_cnf" and "rs_cnf2" parameters from the successful access token response. In the successful access token response, the "rs_cnf" and "rs_cnf2" parameters MUST NOT be included.

If the AS is not able to comply in the first two cases above, then the AS MUST reject the request and MUST reply with an error response. The error response MUST have a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 5.00 (Internal Server Error). Irrespective of what "rs_cnf" specifies in the access token request, C MUST rely on the authentication credential(s) specified by the parameter "rs_cnf" or "rs_cnf2" in the access token response, as those that are used by the RS(s) to authenticate. If C does not currently store the authentication credential(s) of the RS(s), then C MUST NOT include the "rs_cnf" parameter specifying the CBOR simple value null (0xf6) in an access token request.

Failed Verification of Proof of Possession at the AS When sending an access token request to the AS (see ), a client can include the "req_cnf" parameter defined in in order to provide the AS with a specific PoP key to bind to the requested access token. Typically, the PoP key in question is the client's public key. In such a case, as per , the AS has to verify proof of possession of the client's private key, i.e., that the client is indeed in possession of the private key corresponding to the public key conveyed in the "req_cnf" parameter. The AS might have previously achieved proof of possession of the private key in question, e.g., from previous interactions with the client or through out-of-band means. Alternatively, a profile of ACE might define how the AS verifies a PoP evidence that the client computes and provides to the AS by means of a parameter included in the access token request (e.g., see ). Irrespective of the method used, if the AS fails to verify the proof of possession of the client's private key, then the AS MUST reject the access token request and MUST reply with an error response (see ). The error response MUST have a response code equivalent to the CoAP code 4.00 (Bad Request) and MUST include the error code "failed_pop_verification". The error code and its CBOR abbreviation are registered in and , respectively.

Updated Payload Format of Error Responses This section deprecates the original payload format of error responses conveying an error code, when CBOR is used to encode message payloads in the ACE framework. That format is referred to, e.g., when defining the error responses of Sections and of . Also, this section defines a new payload format that allows such error responses to convey an error code together with further error-specific information, according to the problem-details format specified in . Such error responses MUST have Content-Format set to "application/concise-problem-details+cbor". The payload of these error responses MUST be a CBOR map specifying a Concise Problem Details data item (see ). The CBOR map is formatted as follows:

It MUST include the Custom Problem Detail entry "ace-error" registered in of this document. This entry is formatted as a CBOR map including only one field, namely "error-code". The map key for the "error-code" field is the CBOR unsigned integer with value 0. The value of the "error-code" field is a CBOR integer specifying the error code associated with the occurred error. This value is taken from the "CBOR Value" column of the "OAuth Error Code CBOR Mappings" registry . The new payload format MUST use the "error-code" field in order to convey the same information that the original payload format conveys through the "error" parameter (see, e.g., Sections and of ). The CDDL notation of the "ace-error" entry is given below.

int } ]]>

It MAY include further Standard Problem Detail entries or Custom Problem Detail entries (see ). The following Standard Problem Detail entries are of particular relevance for the ACE framework.
- "detail" (map key -2): its value is a CBOR text string that specifies a human-readable diagnostic description of the occurred error (see ). The diagnostic text is intended for software engineers as well as for device and network operators in order to aid in debugging and provide context for possible intervention. The diagnostic message SHOULD be logged by the sender of the error response. The "detail" entry is unlikely to be relevant in an unattended setup where human intervention is not expected. The new payload format MUST use the Standard Problem Detail entry "detail" in order to convey the same information that the original payload format conveys through the "error_description" parameter (see, e.g., Sections and of ).
- "instance" (map key -3): its value is a URI reference identifying the specific occurrence of the error (see ). The new payload format MUST use the Standard Problem Detail entry "instance" in order to convey the same information that the original payload format conveys through the "error_uri" parameter (see, e.g., Sections and of ).

An example of an error response using the problem-details format is shown in .

Example of Error Response with Problem Details. When the ACE framework is used with CBOR for encoding message payloads, the following applies.

It is RECOMMENDED that authorization servers, clients, and resource servers support the payload format defined in this section.
Authorization servers, clients, and resource servers that support the payload format defined in this section MUST use it when composing an outgoing error response that conveys an error code.

Updated Requirements on Profiles of ACE compiles a list of requirements on the profiles of ACE. This document amends two of those requirements as follows. The text of the fifth requirement

Specify the security protocol the client and RS must use to protect their communication (e.g., OSCORE or DTLS). This must provide encryption and integrity and replay protection (Section 5.8.4.3).

is replaced by the following text:

Specify the security protocol the client and RS must use to protect their communication (e.g., OSCORE or DTLS). In combination with the used communication protocol, this must provide encryption, integrity and replay protection, and a binding between requests and responses (Section 5.8.4.3 and Section 6.5).

The text of the tenth requirement

Specify the communication and security protocol for interactions between the client and AS. This must provide encryption, integrity protection, replay protection, and a binding between requests and responses (Sections 5 and 5.8).

is replaced by the following text:

Specify the communication and security protocol for interactions between the client and AS. The combined use of those protocols must provide encryption, integrity protection, replay protection, and a binding between requests and responses (Sections 5 and 5.8).

At the time of writing, all the profiles of ACE that are published as RFC (i.e., ) already comply with the two updated requirements as formulated above.

Security Considerations The same security considerations from the ACE framework for Authentication and Authorization apply to this document, together with those from the specific profile of ACE used, e.g., . When using the problem-details format defined in for error responses, then the privacy and security considerations from Sections and of also apply. Editor's note: add more security considerations.

IANA Considerations This document has the following actions for IANA. Note to RFC Editor: Please replace all occurrences of "[RFC-XXXX]" with the RFC number of this specification and delete this paragraph.

OAuth Parameters Registry IANA is asked to add the following entries to the "OAuth Parameters" registry within the "OAuth Parameters" registry group.

Name: token_upload
Parameter Usage Location: token request, token response
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: token_hash
Parameter Usage Location: token response
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: to_rs
Parameter Usage Location: token request
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: from_rs
Parameter Usage Location: token response
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: rs_cnf2
Parameter Usage Location: token response
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: audience2
Parameter Usage Location: token response
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: anchor_cnf
Parameter Usage Location: token response
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: token_series_id
Parameter Usage Location: token request, token response
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: updated_rights
Parameter Usage Location: as-rs request
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

In the same registry, IANA is asked to update the entries for the following OAuth parameters identified by their name, so that the content of the "Parameter Usage Location" column and of the "Reference" column is as below:

rs_cnf
- Parameter Usage Location: token request, token response
- Reference: [RFC9201, Section 5][RFC-XXXX, ]
nonce1
- Parameter Usage Location: client-rs request, as-rs request
- Reference: [RFC9203][RFC-XXXX]
nonce2
- Parameter Usage Location: rs-client response, rs-as response
- Reference: [RFC9203][RFC-XXXX]
ace_client_recipientid
- Parameter Usage Location: client-rs request, as-rs request
- Reference: [RFC9203][RFC-XXXX]
ace_server_recipientid
- Parameter Usage Location: rs-client response, rs-as response
- Reference: [RFC9203][RFC-XXXX]
sign_info
- Parameter Usage Location: client-rs request, rs-client response, as-rs request, rs-as response
- Reference: [RFC9594][RFC-XXXX]
kdcchallenge
- Parameter Usage Location: rs-client response, rs-as response
- Reference: [RFC9594][RFC-XXXX]

OAuth Parameters CBOR Mappings Registry IANA is asked to add the following entries to the "OAuth Parameters CBOR Mappings" registry within the "Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE)" registry group, following the procedure specified in .

Name: token_upload
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: unsigned integer
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: token_hash
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: unsigned integer
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: to_rs
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: Null or byte string or #6.<uint>(bstr)
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: from_rs
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: byte string or #6.<uint>(bstr)
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: rs_cnf2
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: array
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: audience2
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: array
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: anchor_cnf
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: array
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: token_series_id
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: byte string
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: updated_rights
CBOR Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Value Type: True
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

In the same registry, IANA is asked to update the entry for the OAuth parameter with name "rs_cnf", so that the content of the "Value Type" column and of the "Reference" column is as below:

Value Type: True or False or Null or map
Reference: [RFC9201, Section 3.2][RFC-XXXX, ]

JSON Web Token Claims Registry IANA is asked to add the following entry to the "JSON Web Token Claims" registry within the "JSON Web Token (JWT)" registry group, following the procedure specified in .

Claim Name: token_series_id
Claim Description: The identifier of a token series
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]

CBOR Web Token (CWT) Claims Registry IANA is asked to add the following entry to the "CBOR Web Token (CWT) Claims" registry within the "CBOR Web Token (CWT) Claims" registry group, following the procedure specified in .

Claim Name: token_series_id
Claim Description: The identifier of a token series
JWT Claim Name: token_series_id
Claim Key: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Claim Value Type: byte string
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: of [RFC-XXXX]

OAuth Extensions Error Registry IANA is asked to add the following entries to the "OAuth Extensions Error Registry" within the "OAuth Parameters" registry group.

Name: unknown_credential_referenced
Usage Location: token error response
Protocol Extension: [RFC-XXXX]
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: of [RFC-XXXX]

Name: failed_pop_verification
Usage Location: token error response
Protocol Extension: [RFC-XXXX]
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: of [RFC-XXXX]

OAuth Error Code CBOR Mappings Registry IANA is asked to add the following entries to the "OAuth Error Code CBOR Mappings" registry within the "Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE)" registry group.

Name: unknown_credential_referenced
CBOR Value: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Name: failed_pop_verification
CBOR Value: TBD (value between 1 and 255)
Reference: [RFC-XXXX]
Original Specification: [RFC-XXXX]

Custom Problem Detail Keys Registry IANA is asked to register the following entry in the "Custom Problem Detail Keys" registry within the "Constrained RESTful Environments (CoRE) Parameters" registry group.

Key Value: TBD (value between 0 and 23)
Name: ace-error
Brief Description: Carry ACE problem details in a Concise Problem Details data item.
Change Controller: IETF
Reference: of [RFC-XXXX]

References Normative References UTF-8, a transformation format of ISO 10646 ISO/IEC 10646-1 defines a large character set called the Universal Character Set (UCS) which encompasses most of the world's writing systems. The originally proposed encodings of the UCS, however, were not compatible with many current applications and protocols, and this has led to the development of UTF-8, the object of this memo. UTF-8 has the characteristic of preserving the full US-ASCII range, providing compatibility with file systems, parsers and other software that rely on US-ASCII values but are transparent to other values. This memo obsoletes and replaces RFC 2279. The Base16, Base32, and Base64 Data Encodings This document describes the commonly used base 64, base 32, and base 16 encoding schemes. It also discusses the use of line-feeds in encoded data, use of padding in encoded data, use of non-alphabet characters in encoded data, use of different encoding alphabets, and canonical encodings. [STANDARDS-TRACK] Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure Certificate and Certificate Revocation List (CRL) Profile This memo profiles the X.509 v3 certificate and X.509 v2 certificate revocation list (CRL) for use in the Internet. An overview of this approach and model is provided as an introduction. The X.509 v3 certificate format is described in detail, with additional information regarding the format and semantics of Internet name forms. Standard certificate extensions are described and two Internet-specific extensions are defined. A set of required certificate extensions is specified. The X.509 v2 CRL format is described in detail along with standard and Internet-specific extensions. An algorithm for X.509 certification path validation is described. An ASN.1 module and examples are provided in the appendices. [STANDARDS-TRACK] The OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework The OAuth 2.0 authorization framework enables a third-party application to obtain limited access to an HTTP service, either on behalf of a resource owner by orchestrating an approval interaction between the resource owner and the HTTP service, or by allowing the third-party application to obtain access on its own behalf. This specification replaces and obsoletes the OAuth 1.0 protocol described in RFC 5849. [STANDARDS-TRACK] Naming Things with Hashes This document defines a set of ways to identify a thing (a digital object in this case) using the output from a hash function. It specifies a new URI scheme for this purpose, a way to map these to HTTP URLs, and binary and human-speakable formats for these names. The various formats are designed to support, but not require, a strong link to the referenced object, such that the referenced object may be authenticated to the same degree as the reference to it. The reason for this work is to standardise current uses of hash outputs in URLs and to support new information-centric applications and other uses of hash outputs in protocols. The Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) The Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) is a specialized web transfer protocol for use with constrained nodes and constrained (e.g., low-power, lossy) networks. The nodes often have 8-bit microcontrollers with small amounts of ROM and RAM, while constrained networks such as IPv6 over Low-Power Wireless Personal Area Networks (6LoWPANs) often have high packet error rates and a typical throughput of 10s of kbit/s. The protocol is designed for machine- to-machine (M2M) applications such as smart energy and building automation. CoAP provides a request/response interaction model between application endpoints, supports built-in discovery of services and resources, and includes key concepts of the Web such as URIs and Internet media types. CoAP is designed to easily interface with HTTP for integration with the Web while meeting specialized requirements such as multicast support, very low overhead, and simplicity for constrained environments. JSON Web Token (JWT) JSON Web Token (JWT) is a compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. The claims in a JWT are encoded as a JSON object that is used as the payload of a JSON Web Signature (JWS) structure or as the plaintext of a JSON Web Encryption (JWE) structure, enabling the claims to be digitally signed or integrity protected with a Message Authentication Code (MAC) and/or encrypted. Proof-of-Possession Key Semantics for JSON Web Tokens (JWTs) This specification describes how to declare in a JSON Web Token (JWT) that the presenter of the JWT possesses a particular proof-of- possession key and how the recipient can cryptographically confirm proof of possession of the key by the presenter. Being able to prove possession of a key is also sometimes described as the presenter being a holder-of-key. The JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) Data Interchange Format JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) is a lightweight, text-based, language-independent data interchange format. It was derived from the ECMAScript Programming Language Standard. JSON defines a small set of formatting rules for the portable representation of structured data. This document removes inconsistencies with other specifications of JSON, repairs specification errors, and offers experience-based interoperability guidance. CBOR Web Token (CWT) CBOR Web Token (CWT) is a compact means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties. The claims in a CWT are encoded in the Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR), and CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE) is used for added application-layer security protection. A claim is a piece of information asserted about a subject and is represented as a name/value pair consisting of a claim name and a claim value. CWT is derived from JSON Web Token (JWT) but uses CBOR rather than JSON. The Transport Layer Security (TLS) Protocol Version 1.3 This document specifies version 1.3 of the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. TLS allows client/server applications to communicate over the Internet in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, and message forgery. This document updates RFCs 5705 and 6066, and obsoletes RFCs 5077, 5246, and 6961. This document also specifies new requirements for TLS 1.2 implementations. Concise Data Definition Language (CDDL): A Notational Convention to Express Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) and JSON Data Structures This document proposes a notational convention to express Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) data structures (RFC 7049). Its main goal is to provide an easy and unambiguous way to express structures for protocol messages and data formats that use CBOR or JSON. Proof-of-Possession Key Semantics for CBOR Web Tokens (CWTs) This specification describes how to declare in a CBOR Web Token (CWT) (which is defined by RFC 8392) that the presenter of the CWT possesses a particular proof-of-possession key. Being able to prove possession of a key is also sometimes described as being the holder-of-key. This specification provides equivalent functionality to "Proof-of-Possession Key Semantics for JSON Web Tokens (JWTs)" (RFC 7800) but using Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) and CWTs rather than JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) and JSON Web Tokens (JWTs). Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) The Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) is a data format whose design goals include the possibility of extremely small code size, fairly small message size, and extensibility without the need for version negotiation. These design goals make it different from earlier binary serializations such as ASN.1 and MessagePack. This document obsoletes RFC 7049, providing editorial improvements, new details, and errata fixes while keeping full compatibility with the interchange format of RFC 7049. It does not create a new version of the format. CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE): Structures and Process Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) is a data format designed for small code size and small message size. There is a need to be able to define basic security services for this data format. This document defines the CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE) protocol. This specification describes how to create and process signatures, message authentication codes, and encryption using CBOR for serialization. This specification additionally describes how to represent cryptographic keys using CBOR. This document, along with RFC 9053, obsoletes RFC 8152. CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE): Initial Algorithms Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) is a data format designed for small code size and small message size. There is a need to be able to define basic security services for this data format. This document defines a set of algorithms that can be used with the CBOR Object Signing and Encryption (COSE) protocol (RFC 9052). This document, along with RFC 9052, obsoletes RFC 8152. Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments Using the OAuth 2.0 Framework (ACE-OAuth) This specification defines a framework for authentication and authorization in Internet of Things (IoT) environments called ACE-OAuth. The framework is based on a set of building blocks including OAuth 2.0 and the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP), thus transforming a well-known and widely used authorization solution into a form suitable for IoT devices. Existing specifications are used where possible, but extensions are added and profiles are defined to better serve the IoT use cases. Additional OAuth Parameters for Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) This specification defines new parameters and encodings for the OAuth 2.0 token and introspection endpoints when used with the framework for Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE). These are used to express the proof-of-possession (PoP) key the client wishes to use, the PoP key that the authorization server has selected, and the PoP key the resource server uses to authenticate to the client. Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) Profile for Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) This specification defines a profile of the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) framework that allows constrained servers to delegate client authentication and authorization. The protocol relies on DTLS version 1.2 or later for communication security between entities in a constrained network using either raw public keys or pre-shared keys. A resource-constrained server can use this protocol to delegate management of authorization information to a trusted host with less-severe limitations regarding processing power and memory. The Object Security for Constrained RESTful Environments (OSCORE) Profile of the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) Framework This document specifies a profile for the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) framework. It utilizes Object Security for Constrained RESTful Environments (OSCORE) to provide communication security and proof-of-possession for a key owned by the client and bound to an OAuth 2.0 access token. On Stable Storage for Items in Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) This document defines a stored ("file") format for Concise Binary Object Representation (CBOR) data items that is friendly to common systems that recognize file types, such as the Unix file(1) command. Concise Problem Details for Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP) APIs This document defines a concise "problem detail" as a way to carry machine-readable details of errors in a Representational State Transfer (REST) response to avoid the need to define new error response formats for REST APIs for constrained environments. The format is inspired by, but intended to be more concise than, the problem details for HTTP APIs defined in RFC 7807. Extension of the Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) Profile for Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) to Transport Layer Security (TLS) This document updates "Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) Profile for Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE)" (RFC 9202) by specifying that the profile applies to TLS as well as DTLS. Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) Profile of Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) Framework This document specifies a profile for the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) framework to enable authorization in a publish-subscribe messaging system based on Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT). Proof-of-Possession keys, bound to OAuth 2.0 access tokens, are used to authenticate and authorize MQTT Clients. The protocol relies on TLS for confidentiality and MQTT server (Broker) authentication. Notification of Revoked Access Tokens in the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) Framework This document specifies a method of the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) framework, which allows an authorization server to notify clients and resource servers (i.e., registered devices) about revoked access tokens. As specified in this document, the method allows clients and resource servers (RSs) to access a Token Revocation List (TRL) on the authorization server by using the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP), with the possible additional use of resource observation. Resulting (unsolicited) notifications of revoked access tokens complement alternative approaches such as token introspection, while not requiring additional endpoints on clients and RSs. Ephemeral Diffie-Hellman Over COSE (EDHOC) and Object Security for Constrained Environments (OSCORE) Profile for Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) Ericsson Ericsson RISE RISE This document specifies a profile for the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) framework. It utilizes Ephemeral Diffie-Hellman Over COSE (EDHOC) for achieving mutual authentication between an ACE-OAuth client and resource server, and it binds an authentication credential of the client to an ACE-OAuth access token. EDHOC also establishes an Object Security for Constrained RESTful Environments (OSCORE) Security Context, which is used to secure communications between the client and resource server when accessing protected resources according to the authorization information indicated in the access token. This profile can be used to delegate management of authorization information from a resource-constrained server to a trusted host with less severe limitations regarding processing power and memory. OAuth Error Code CBOR Mappings IANA Named Information Hash Algorithm Registry IANA Secure Hash Standard NIST Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels In many standards track documents several words are used to signify the requirements in the specification. These words are often capitalized. This document defines these words as they should be interpreted in IETF documents. This document specifies an Internet Best Current Practices for the Internet Community, and requests discussion and suggestions for improvements. Ambiguity of Uppercase vs Lowercase in RFC 2119 Key Words RFC 2119 specifies common key words that may be used in protocol specifications. This document aims to reduce the ambiguity by clarifying that only UPPERCASE usage of the key words have the defined special meanings. Informative References Key Provisioning for Group Communication Using Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) This document defines how to use the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) framework to distribute keying material and configuration parameters for secure group communication. Candidate group members that act as Clients and are authorized to join a group can do so by interacting with a Key Distribution Center (KDC) acting as the Resource Server, from which they obtain the keying material to communicate with other group members. While defining general message formats as well as the interface and operations available at the KDC, this document supports different approaches and protocols for secure group communication. Therefore, details are delegated to separate application profiles of this document as specialized instances that target a particular group communication approach and define how communications in the group are protected. Compliance requirements for such application profiles are also specified. The Group Object Security for Constrained RESTful Environments (Group OSCORE) Profile of the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) Framework RISE AB RISE AB Ericsson AB This document specifies a profile for the Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) framework. The profile uses Group Object Security for Constrained RESTful Environments (Group OSCORE) to provide communication security between a client and one or multiple resource servers that are members of an OSCORE group. The profile securely binds an OAuth 2.0 access token to the public key of the client associated with the private key used by that client in the OSCORE group. The profile uses Group OSCORE to achieve server authentication and proof of possession of the client's private key. Also, it provides proof of the client's membership to the OSCORE group by binding the access token to information from the Group OSCORE Security Context, thus allowing the resource server(s) to verify the client's membership upon receiving a message protected with Group OSCORE from the client. Effectively, the profile enables fine-grained access control paired with secure group communication, in accordance with the Zero Trust principles. Additional Formats of Authentication Credentials for the Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) Profile for Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE) RISE AB Ericsson AB This document updates the Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) profile for Authentication and Authorization for Constrained Environments (ACE). In particular, it specifies the use of additional formats of authentication credentials for establishing a DTLS session, when peer authentication is based on asymmetric cryptography. Therefore, this document updates RFC 9202. What is defined in this document is seamlessly applicable also if the profile uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) instead, as defined in RFC 9430.

Benefits for ACE Profiles For any profile of ACE, the following holds.

The SDC workflow defined in is effectively possible to use. This is beneficial for deployments where the communication leg between C and the RS is constrained, but the communication leg between the AS and RS is not.
When the SDC workflow is used, the "token_upload" parameter defined in is used:
- To inform the AS about C opting in to use the SDC workflow.
- To request the AS that the follow-up successful access token response includes certain information, if the AS has successfully uploaded the access token to the RS.
- To inform C that the AS has attempted to upload the issued access token to the RS, specifying whether the uploading has succeeded or failed.
When the SDC workflow is used, it remains possible for C to always obtain the issued access token from the AS. That is, by specifying the value 2 for the "token_upload" parameter in the access token request, C will ensure to receive the access token from the AS, even if the AS successfully uploads the access token to the RS on behalf of C. This is useful in profiles of ACE where C can re-upload the same access token to the RS by itself, e.g., in order to perform a key update like defined for the OSCORE profile .

DTLS Profile When the RPK mode of the DTLS profile is used (see ), it becomes possible for the AS to effectively issue an access token intended to an audience that includes multiple RSs. This is enabled by the parameters "rs_cnf2" and "audience2" defined in as well as by the "anchor_cnf" parameter defined in . This seamlessly applies also if the profile uses Transport Layer Security (TLS) as defined in .

EDHOC and OSCORE Profile When the EDHOC and OSCORE profile is used , it becomes possible for the AS to effectively issue an access token intended to an audience that includes multiple RSs. This is enabled by the parameters "rs_cnf2" and "audience2" defined in as well as by the "anchor_cnf" parameter defined in .

CDDL Model

CDDL model

Document Updates

Version -05 to -06

Defined dynamic update of access rights in the SDC workflow.
Defined the new "updated_rights" parameter.
Clarified practical requirements at the AS for processing the "to_rs" parameter.
IANA considerations: update in the "Parameter Usage Location" column for some entries of the "OAuth Parameters" registry.
Adjusted abbreviations in the CDDL model to avoid collisions.
Removed appendix with placeholder ideas.
Editorial fixes and improvements.

Version -04 to -05

Error handling and error code for failed PoP verification at the AS.
Extended definition of the parameters "to_rs" and "from_rs".
Fixes and presentation improvements in the IANA considerations.
Updated references.
Revised order of some sections.
Editorial fixes and improvements.

Version -03 to -04

Updated document title.
Defined name for the new workflow.
Improved definition of "token series".
Revised note on the new workflow suitable for "unaware" clients.
Revised criterion for the AS to choose a token series identifier.
Extended semantics of the "ace_profile" parameter.
Specified means for C and the AS to coordinate on the exchange of public authentication credentials.
Removed content on bidirectional access control.
Suggested value ranges for codepoints to register.
Editorial fixes and improvements.

Version -02 to -03

Defined parameter and claim "token_series_id".
Defined parameters "to_rs" and "from_rs".
Defined use of "to_rs" and "from_rs" in the OSCORE profile.
Lowercase use of "client", "resource server", and "authorization server".
Fixed naming of parameters/claims for audience.
Split elision and comments in the examples in CBOR Diagnostic Notation.
SHA-256 is mandatory to implement for computing token hashes.
Fixes in the IANA considerations.
Removed (parts of) appendices that are not needed anymore.
Clarifications and editorial improvements.

Version -01 to -02

CBOR diagnostic notation uses placeholders from a CDDL model.
Note on the new workflow supporting also non-ACE clients.
Revised semantics of the "token_upload" parameter.
Defined the new "token_hash" parameter.
First definition of bidirectional access control through a single access token.
Revised and extended considerations and next steps in appendices.
Clarifications and editorial improvements.

Version -00 to -01

Definition of the "token series" moved to the "Terminology" section.
Clarifications and fixes on using parameters in messages.
Amended two of the requirements on profiles of the framework.
The client has to opt-in for using the new workflow.
Parameter "token_uploaded" renamed to "token_upload".
Updated format of error response payload to use RFC 9290.
Security considerations inherited from other documents.
Editorial fixes and improvements.

Acknowledgments The authors sincerely thank , , and for their comments and feedback. This work was supported by the Sweden's Innovation Agency VINNOVA within the EUREKA CELTIC-NEXT project CYPRESS; and by the H2020 project SIFIS-Home (Grant agreement 952652).