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diff --git a/secret-service/specification.xml b/secret-service/specification.xml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9a9c81b --- /dev/null +++ b/secret-service/specification.xml @@ -0,0 +1,505 @@ +<?xml version="1.0"?> +<book xml:id="index" xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook" version="5.0"> + <bookinfo> + <title>Secrets Service API Draft</title> + <releaseinfo> + Secrets Service 0.1 DRAFT + </releaseinfo> + + <authorgroup> + <author> + <firstname>Stef</firstname> + <surname>Walter</surname> + <affiliation> + <jobtitle>GNOME Keyring Developer</jobtitle> + <address> + <email>stef@memberwebs.com</email> + </address> + </affiliation> + </author> + <author> + <firstname>Michael</firstname> + <surname>Leupold</surname> + <affiliation> + <jobtitle>KWallet Developer</jobtitle> + <address> + <email>lemma@confuego.org</email> + </address> + </affiliation> + </author> + </authorgroup> + + <copyright> + <year>2008-2009</year> + <holder>The Secrets Service API Authors</holder> + </copyright> + + </bookinfo> + + <part xml:id="description"> + <title>API Documentation</title> + <chapter> + <title>Introduction</title> + + <para>The Secret Service API allows client applications to store secrets securely in a + service running in the user's login session. </para> + + <para>The secrets are usually stored in an encrypted manner by the service. The + service may need to be unlocked by the user before the secrets become available + for retrieval by client applications.</para> + + <para>The Secret Service stores a secret along with a set of lookup attributes. + The attributes can be used to lookup and retrieve a secret at a later date. The + lookup attributes are not treated as secret material, and the service may choose + to not encrypt attributes when storing them to disk.</para> + + <para>This API was desigened by GNOME and KDE developers with the goal of having + a common way to store secrets. Its predecessors are the desktop specific APIs + used by GNOME Keyring and KWallet.</para> + </chapter> + + <chapter> + <title>Secrets</title> + + <para>A secret is something an application wishes to store securely. A good example + is a password that an application needs to save and use at a later date.</para> + + <para>Within this API a secret value is treated as an array of bytes. It is + recommended that a secret consist of user readable text, although this API has + no such requirement.</para> + + <para>Applications wishing to store multiple values as part of a single secret, may + choose to use a textual format to combine these values into one. For example, the + 'desktop' key file format, or XML or another form of markup.</para> + + <para>Secrets may be <link linkend='transfer-secrets'>encrypted when transferred</link> + to the client application and vice versa.</para> + + <para>The <link linkend='type-Secret'><classname>Secret</classname> structure</link> encapsulates + a secret value along with its transfer encryption parameters.</para> + </chapter> + + <chapter> + <title>Collection and Items</title> + + <para>Each secret is stored together with + <link linkend='lookup-attributes'>lookup attributes</link> and a label. These together + form an <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Item'>item</link>.</para> + + <para>A group of items together form a + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Collection'>collection</link>. + A collection is similar in concept to the terms 'keyring' or 'wallet'.</para> + + <para>Collections and items are represented as DBus objects, and each have their own + object paths. The object path of a collection or item should not change for its lifetime, + under normal circumstances.</para> + + <para>It is strongly recommended that client applications use + <link linkend='lookup-attributes'>lookup attributes</link> to find items rather than + recording the object path of a stored item. This allows maximum interoperability.</para> + + <para>An item or a collection may be initially in a locked state. When in a locked + state the item or collection may not be modified in any way, and the secret may not + be read. Client applications that require access to the secret of a locked item, or + desire to modify a locked item, should <link linkend='unlocking'>unlock it before use</link>.</para> + + <para>The service must prevent locked collections or items from modification. On + such an invalid access the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Error.IsLocked'><errorname>IsLocked</errorname></link> + error should be raised.</para> + + <para>Client applications without special requirements should store in the default + collection. The default collection is always accessible through a + <link linkend='object-paths'>specific object path</link>.</para> + + <para>A new item can be created with the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Collection.CreateItem'> + <function>CreateItem()</function></link> + method on the Collection interface. When creating an item, the properties of the new + item are specified. The service may ignore or change these properties when creating + the item.</para> + + <para>When creating an item, the service may need to prompt the user for additional + information. In this case, a <link linkend='prompts'>prompt object</link> is returned. It + must be <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Prompt'>acted upon</link> in order for + the collection to be created. In this case, the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Completed'>result of the prompt</link> + will contain the object path of the new item.</para> + + <para>An item can be deleted by calling the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Item.Delete'><function>Delete()</function></link> + method on the Item interface.</para> + + <para>When deleting an item, the service may need to prompt the user for additional + information. In this case, a <link linkend='prompts'>prompt object</link> is returned. It + must be <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Prompt'>acted upon</link> in order for + the item to be deleted.</para> + + <para>Client applications with special needs can create a new collection by calling the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.CreateCollection'> + <function>CreateCollection()</function></link> + method on the Service interface. When creating a collection, the properties of the new + collection are specified. The service may ignore or change these properties when creating + the collection.</para> + + <para>When creating a collection, the service may need to prompt the user for additional + information. In this case, a <link linkend='prompts'>prompt object</link> is returned. It + must be <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Prompt'>acted upon</link> in order for + the collection to be created. In this case, the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Completed'>result of the prompt</link> + will contain the object path of the new collection.</para> + + <para>A collection can be deleted by calling the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Collection.Delete'><function>Delete()</function></link> + method on the Collection interface.</para> + + <para>When deleting a collection, the service may need to prompt the user for additional + information. In this case, a <link linkend='prompts'>prompt object</link> is returned. It + must be <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Prompt'>acted upon</link> in order for + the collection to be deleted.</para> + + </chapter> + + <chapter xml:id="lookup-attributes"> + <title>Lookup Attributes</title> + + <para>Attributes can and should be stored with a secret to facilitate lookup + of the secret at a later date.</para> + + <para>An attribute constists of a name, and a value. Both parts are simple + strings.</para> + + <para>The service may have additional requirements as to what can be present + in an attribute name. It is recommended that attribute names are human + readable, and kept simple for the sake of simplicity.</para> + + <para>During a lookup, attribute names and values are matched via case-sensitive + string equality.</para> + + <para>It's important to remember that attributes are not part of the secret. + Services implementing this API will probably store attributes in an unencrypted + manner in order to support simple and effecient lookups.</para> + + <para>In order to search for items, use the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.SearchItems'><function>SearchItems()</function></link> + method of the Service interface. The matched items will be returned in two sets. The + <parameter class='function'>unlocked</parameter> return value will contain the object paths + of all the items that are not locked. The <parameter class='function'>locked</parameter> return + value will contain object paths of items that are locked, which can be + <link linkend='unlocking'>unlocked if desired</link>.</para> + + <para>The + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Collection.SearchItems'><function>SearchItems()</function></link> + method of the Collection interface is similar, except for it only searches a single collection.</para> + + </chapter> + + <chapter xml:id="sessions"> + <title>Sessions</title> + + <para>A session is established between a client application and a service. A session + is used to <link linkend='transfer-secrets'>transfer secrets</link> between the client + application and the service.</para> + + <para>A session is established by calling the service's + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.OpenSession'> + <function>OpenSession()</function></link> + method. Once established, a session is bound to calling application's connection to + the DBus session bus.</para> + + <para>A session is closed when the client application disconnects from the DBus + session bus. Alternatively the client application can call the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Session.Close'><function>Close()</function></link> + method on the session interface. Once a session is closed all session specific + negotiations will be dropped by the service.</para> + + <para>More than one session may opened by a client application, although this is + not normally necessary.</para> + </chapter> + + <chapter xml:id='transfer-secrets'> + <title>Transfer of Secrets</title> + + <para>To access or store secrets, use the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Item.GetSecret'><function>GetSecret()</function></link>, + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Item.SetSecret'><function>SetSecret()</function></link> + methods on the item interface, or the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.GetSecrets'><function>GetSecrets()</function></link>, + method on the service interface.</para> + + <para>You must specify a session when retrieving or storing a secret. The session + controls how the secret is encoded during transfer. Since this is a D-Bus API, the + data in all method calls and other accesses in this API will go through multiple + processes, and may be cached arbitrarilyby the OS or elsewhere.</para> + + <para>The Secrets API has provision to encrypt secrets while in transit between + the service and the client application. The encryption is not envisioned to withstand + man in the middle attacks, or other active attacks. It is envisioned to minimize + storage of plain text secrets in memory and prevent storage plain text storage of + secrets in a swap file or other caching mechanism.</para> + + <para>Many client applications may choose not to make use of the provisions to + encrypt secrets in transit. In fact for applications unable to prevent their own + memory from being paged to disk (eg: Java, C# or Python apps), transfering + encrypted secrets would be an excersize of questionable value.</para> + + <section> + <title>Negotiation of Algorithms</title> + + <para>In order to encrypt secrets in transit, the service and the client + application must agree on an algorithm, and some algorithm specific + parameters (eg: a key).</para> + + <para>When the client application opens a <link linkend='sessions'>session</link> + with the service, it calls the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.OpenSession'><function> + OpenSession()</function></link> method on the service. The algorithms argument to the + <function>OpenSession()</function> method specifies a set of algorithms to be used + together for key agreement and encryption. The other arguments are algorithm + specific.</para> + + <para>If a service does not support a specific set of algorithms, a + <errorname>org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NotSupported</errorname> + error is returned, and the client is free to try another set of algorithms. + The <emphasis>plain</emphasis> algorithm is almost always supported.</para> + + <para>An algorithm may require that the <function>OpenSession()</function> method is + called multiple times in succession to be complete. Each iteration transfers + algorithm specific data back forth between the service and the client. The object path + '/' is returned from <function>OpenSession()</function> when session negotiation is + incomplete.</para> + + <para>None of the algorithms documented in this initial version of the specification + require multiple calls to <function>OpenSession()</function>.</para> + + <para>When <function>OpenSession()</function> completes, it returns the session object + path along with a valid session object path.</para> + + <para>Once an session algorithm has been negotiated, it is used for all transfer a + secrets whenever that session is specified along with the + <link linkend='type-Secret'><classname>secret</classname></link>.</para> + </section> + + <section> + <title>Algorithm: plain</title> + + <segmentedlist> + <?dbhtml list-presentation="list"?> + <segtitle>Session algorithm</segtitle> + <segtitle><link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.OpenSession'> + Session input</link></segtitle> + <segtitle><link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.OpenSession'> + Session output</link></segtitle> + <segtitle><link linkend='type-Secret'> + <classname>Secret</classname> parameter</link></segtitle> + <seglistitem> + <!-- TODO: literal? --> + <seg><emphasis>plain</emphasis></seg> + <seg>empty string</seg> + <seg>empty string</seg> + <seg>empty string</seg> + </seglistitem> + </segmentedlist> + + <para>The plain algorithm does no encryption whatsoever.</para> + + <para>It is strongly recommended that a service implementing this API support + the <emphasis>plain</emphasis> algorithm.</para> + </section> + + <section> + <title>Algorithm: dh-ietf1024-aes128-cbc-pkcs7</title> + + <segmentedlist> + <?dbhtml list-presentation="list"?> + <segtitle>Session algorithm</segtitle> + <segtitle><link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.OpenSession'> + Session input</link></segtitle> + <segtitle><link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.OpenSession'> + Session output</link></segtitle> + <segtitle><link linkend='type-Secret'> + <classname>Secret</classname> parameter</link></segtitle> + <seglistitem> + <!-- TODO: literal? --> + <seg><emphasis>dh-ietf1024-aes128-cbc-pkcs7</emphasis></seg> + <seg>Client DH pub key as an array of bytes</seg> + <seg>Service DH pub key as an array of bytes</seg> + <seg>16 byte AES initialization vector</seg> + </seglistitem> + </segmentedlist> + + <para>The public keys are transferred as an array of bytes representing an + unsigned integer of arbitrary size, most-significant byte first (e.g., the + integer 32768 is represented as the 2-byte string 0x80 0x00)</para> + </section> + + </chapter> + + <chapter xml:id='unlocking'> + <title>Locking and Unlocking</title> + + <para>Some items and/or collections may be marked as locked by the service. + The secrets of locked items cannot be accessed. Additionally, locked items or collections + cannot be modified by the client application.</para> + + <para>It's up to the service whether to unlock items individually, or collections as a + whole. The client application should act as if it must unlock each item individually.</para> + + <para>A service may upon unlocking a collection, unlock all items in that collection. If + a service is not able to unlock an item individually, it should treat a request to unlock + an item as a request to unlock the connection that the item is in.</para> + + <para>A service may choose to unlock items or collections just for a single client + application. Alternatively the service may choose to allow any client application to access + items or collections unlocked by a another client application.</para> + + <para>A client application should always be ready to unlock the items for the secrets + it needs, or objects it must modify. It must not assume that an item is already unlocked + for whatever reason.</para> + + <para>A service may lock previously unlocked items for any reason at any time. Usually this + is done in response to user actions, timeouts, or external actions (such as the computer + sleeping). The inherent race conditions present due to this are unavoidable, and must be + handled gracefully.</para> + + <para>In order to unlock an item or collection the service's + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.Unlock'> + <function>Unlock()</function></link> + method is called with one or more DBus object paths of items or collections. The + <function>Unlock()</function> will return the DBus object paths of objects it could + immediately unlock without prompting.</para> + + <para>The <function>Unlock()</function> method may also return a + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Prompt'>prompt object</link>. If a prompt + object is returned, it must be <link linkend='prompts'>acted upon</link> in order to complete + the unlocking of the remaining objects. The + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Completed'>result of the prompt</link> + will contain the object paths that were successfully unlocked by the prompt.</para> + + <para>In order to lock an item or collection the service's + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Service.Unlock'> + <function>Lock()</function></link> + method is called with one or more DBus object paths of items or collections. The + <function>Lock()</function> will return the DBus object paths of objects it could + immediately lock without prompting.</para> + + <para>The <function>Lock()</function> method may also return a + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Prompt'>prompt object</link>. If a prompt + object is returned, it must be <link linkend='prompts'>acted upon</link> in order to complete + the locking of the remaining objects. The + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Completed'>result of the prompt</link> + will contain the object paths that were successfully locked by the prompt.</para> + </chapter> + + <chapter xml:id='prompts'> + <title>Prompts and Prompting</title> + + <para>In order to complete various operations, such as unlocking a collection, the + service may need to prompt the user for additional information, such as a master password.</para> + + <para>The prompts are displayed by the service on behalf of the client application.</para> + + <para>Operations that require a prompt to complete will return a prompt object. The client + application must then call the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Prompt'><function>Prompt()</function></link> + method of the prompt object to display the prompt. Client applications can use the + <parameter class='function'>window-id</parameter> + argument to display the prompt attached to their application window.</para> + + <para>Once the user provides the additional required information to the prompt, the service + completes the operation that required the prompt. Then it emits the the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Completed'><function>Completed</function></link> + signal of the prompt object. The <parameter class='function'>result</parameter> argument of + the signal contains operation an operation specific result.</para> + + <para>Either the user or the client application can dismiss a prompt. In this case the + operation that required the additional information is cancelled. The client application + can dismiss a prompt by calling the + <link linkend='org.freedesktop.Secret.Prompt.Dismiss'><function>Dismiss()</function></link> + method of the prompt object. The <function>Completed</function> signal will be emitted + with its <parameter class='function'>dismissed</parameter> argument set to + <constant>TRUE</constant>.</para> + + <para>Once the <function>Completed</function> signal is emitted on a prompt object, it + is no longer valid. Prompt objects are specific to the client application's connection + to the DBus bus. Once an application disconnects, all its prompts are no longer valid.</para> + + <para>There is an inherent race between the <function>Dismiss()</function> method and the + <function>Completed</function> signal. An application calling <function>Dismiss()</function> + must be prepared to handle the fact that the <function>Completed</function> has already been + emitted (although perhaps not received by the client). In addition the client must be prepared + to handle the fact that the prompt object is no longer valid.</para> + </chapter> + + <chapter> + <title>What's not included in the API</title> + + <para>A service may implement additional DBus interfaces for further capabilities not + included in this specification. Password management applications or other narrowly + focused tools should make use of these when necessary.</para> + + <para>This specification does not mandate the use of master passwords to lock a + collection of secrets. The service may choose to implement any method for locking + secrets.</para> + + <para>This specification does not mandate any form of access control. The service may + choose to allow certain applications to access a keyring, and others.</para> + + <para>[TODO: complete]</para> + </chapter> + + <chapter> + <title>Notes for Service Implementors</title> + + <para>[TODO: complete]</para> + </chapter> + + </part> + + <part xml:id="ref-dbus-api"> + <title>D-Bus API Reference</title> + + <chapter xml:id='object-paths'> + <title>Object Paths</title> + + <para>The various DBus object paths used with the Secret Service API are designed to be human + readable but not displayed to the user. The object path of an item or collection should + not change for its lifetime, under normal circumstances.</para> + + <programlisting>/org/freedesktop/secrets</programlisting> + <para>The object path for the service.</para> + + <programlisting>/org/freedesktop/secrets/collection/<emphasis>xxxx</emphasis></programlisting> + <para>The object path for a collection, where <emphasis>xxxx</emphasis> represents a + possibly encoded or truncated version of the initial label of the collection.</para> + + <programlisting>/org/freedesktop/secrets/collection/<emphasis>xxxx</emphasis>/<emphasis>iiii</emphasis></programlisting> + <para>The object path for an item, where <emphasis>xxxx</emphasis> is the collection (above) + and <emphasis>iiii</emphasis> is an auto-generated item specific identifier.</para> + + <programlisting>/org/freedesktop/secrets/session/<emphasis>ssss</emphasis></programlisting> + <para>The object path for a session, where <emphasis>ssss</emphasis> is an auto-generated + session specific identifier.</para> + + <programlisting>/org/freedesktop/secrets/aliases/default</programlisting> + <para>The default collection for client applications to store secrets is available under + this object path in addition to its real object path (above). Other aliases may also be + present.</para> + </chapter> + + <xi:include href="reference.xml" xpointer="interfaces" xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"> + <xi:fallback/> + </xi:include> + <xi:include href="reference.xml" xpointer="types" xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"> + <xi:fallback/> + </xi:include> + <xi:include href="reference.xml" xpointer="errors" xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"> + <xi:fallback/> + </xi:include> + + </part> + + <xi:include href="xml/annotation-glossary.xml" xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude"> + <xi:fallback/> + </xi:include> +</book> |