[OGSA-AUTHZ] Draft XACML/SAML Protocol Profile

[David Chadwick]

Hi Valerio and Chad

Valerio Venturi wrote:
> Hi Chad,
> your work aims at satisfying the same need of one the current WG draft, 
> Use of XACML Request Context to Obtain an Authorization Decision,
> last version at 
> https://forge.gridforum.org/sf/docman/do/downloadDocument/projects.ogsa-authz/docman.root.authz_service/doc14907
> One difference is that this one states only that the SAML V2.0 Profile
> for XACLM V2.0 is used for carrying the message, while yours go deeper
> into details and mandate to using the SAML SOAP Binding. I think this
> suits also the WG specification, and this is exaclty what the SAML
> Profile for XACML was meant to, to leverage protocols and bindings that
> SAML have, why XACLM doesn't.

I agree. Where there are different options that are not pinned down 
sufficiently tightly in the existing drafts, then we should be adding 
additional text in order to ensure interworking.


> The other requirements seems to me sounding as well. Please keep us
> informed of your efforts, so that we can exhange experiences and find a
> convergence. 
> David, as the main author of the XACML spec, do you think Chad's doc
> requirements can be received in your doc? 

I have no problems with this. After all this is meant to be the WG spec 
that is reached by common consensus. So if most people in the WG want 
these additions they will be adopted.

I really hope so, since I'm
> implementing those too:). Actually, when we speak of web services, most
> of the time is assumed you'll be using SOAP over HTTP, but I think it's
> worth be clear in a spec.

agreed. It is always good to explictly spell out all assumptions, since 
years later different people with different assumptions can read the 
spec and then misinterpret it.


> Another thing, what about a WSDL? We are publishing one, though non
> normative, in the Attribute Exchange Profile. In general, I think WSDL
> helps adoption a lot, so it may be a good idea having one in. What do
> you think? 
>  
> Chad, needless, your comemnts on the WG doc are also very much
> appreciated.

I second that. We need to know which bits you agree with and which bits 
you dont, or which bits are not explicit enough

regards

David

> 
> Valerio
> 
> On Mon, 2007-12-03 at 06:54 -0800, Chad La Joie wrote:
>> For part of some EGEE work that I'm involved in I came up with a 
>> profile, in draft form currently, for the XACML over SAML protocol 
>> defined within the OASIS XACML working group.  Valerio suggested that I 
>> make it available to this working group for possible adoption in your 
>> efforts.
>>
>> The draft can be found here:
>> http://switch.ch/grid/support/documents/xacmlsaml.pdf
>>
>> The basic goal of the document is to restrict possible options into a 
>> baseline subset such that discreet implementations might inter-operate. 
>>   I think Valerio's summary of the document, as follows, is good:
>> - requirement for using the SAML SOAP binding as in SAMLBind
>> - requirement for having mutual authentication between the requester and
>> the responder
>> - some requirements on the elements usage
>> - requirements on authN, integrity and confidentiality
> 
>> Note this document is only about interoperability at the protocol level, 
>> it does not speak to the other necessary item here which is a profile 
>> for the information (attributes) within the XACML request/response 
>> context.  I know that individuals here have already been working on such 
>> a document.
>>
>> Comments are welcome to the document.  We will be going forward with an 
>> immediate implementation of this draft for the EGEE work, but that 
>> should only be taken as a reflection of a constrained timeline for a 
>> short-term project, not as an indication that the profile is already as 
>> good as possible.
>>
> 
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> 

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David W. Chadwick, BSc PhD
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