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rfc:rfc3855

Network Working Group P. Hoffman Request for Comments: 3855 IMC Category: Standards Track C. Bonatti

                                                                  IECA
                                                             July 2004
           Transporting Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail
                Extensions (S/MIME) Objects in X.400

Status of this Memo

 This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
 Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
 improvements.  Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
 Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
 and status of this protocol.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

 Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).

Abstract

 This document describes protocol options for conveying objects that
 have been protected using the Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS) and
 Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) version 3.1
 over an X.400 message transfer system.

1. Introduction

 The techniques described in the Cryptographic Message Syntax [CMS]
 specification and message specifications can reasonably be
 transported via a variety of electronic mail systems.  This
 specification defines the options and values necessary to enable
 interoperable transport of S/MIME messages over an X.400 system.
 This document describes a mechanism for using CMS objects as the
 message content of X.400 messages in a native X.400 environment.
 This means that gateways or other functions that expect to deal with
 IPMS, such as those specified in [MIXER] and [BODYMAP], cannot do
 anything with these messages.  Note that cooperating S/MIME agents
 must support common forms of message content in order to achieve
 interoperability.
 Definition of gateway services to support relay of CMS object between
 X.400 and SMTP environments is beyond the scope of this document.

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 1] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

1.1. Terminology

 The key words "MUST", "SHALL", "REQUIRED", "SHOULD", "RECOMMENDED",
 and "MAY" in this document are to be interpreted as described in BCP
 14, RFC 2119 [MUSTSHOULD].

1.2. Definitions

 For the purposes of this document, the following definitions apply.
 ASN.1: Abstract Syntax Notation One, as defined in ISO/IEC 8824.
 Object Identifier (OID): A globally unique identifier value
 consisting of a sequence of integer values assigned through
 distributed registration as specified by ISO/IEC 8824.
 Transfer Encoding: A reversible transformation made on data so 8-bit
 or binary data may be sent via a channel that only transmits 7-bit
 data.

1.3. Compatibility with Existing S/MIME Implementations

 It is a goal of this document to, if possible, maintain backward
 compatibility with existing X.400 implementations that employ S/MIME
 v3.1 wrappers.

2. S/MIME Packaging

2.1. The X.400 Message Structure

 This section reviews the X.400 message format.  An X.400 message has
 two parts, the envelope and the content, as described in X.402
 [X.400]:
 Envelope --  An information object whose composition varies from one
    transmittal step to another and that variously identifies the
    message's originator and potential recipients, documents its
    previous conveyance and directs its subsequent conveyance by the
    Message Transfer System (MTS), and characterizes its content.
 Content -- The content is the piece of information that the
    originating User Agent wants to be delivered to one or more
    recipients.  The MTS neither examines nor modifies the content,
    except for conversion, during its conveyance of the message.  MTS
    conversion is not applicable to the scenario of this document
    because such conversion is incompatible with CMS protection
    mechanisms.

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 2] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

 One piece of information borne by the envelope identifies the type of
 the content.  The content type is an identifier (an ASN.1 OID or
 Integer) that denotes the syntax and semantics of the content
 overall.  This identifier enables the MTS to determine the message's
 deliverability to particular users, and enables User Agents and
 Message Stores to interpret and process the content.
 Some X.400 content types further refine the structure of content as a
 set of heading elements and body parts.  An example of this is the
 Interpersonal Messaging System (IPMS).  The IPMS content structure is
 able to convey zero or more arbitrary body parts each identified by
 the body part type.  The body part type is an ASN.1 OID or Integer
 that denotes the syntax and semantics of the body part in question.

2.2. Carrying S/MIME as X.400 Content

 When transporting a CMS-protected message in X.400, the preferred
 approach (except as discussed in section 2.3 below) is to convey the
 object as X.400 message content.  This section describes how S/MIME
 CMS objects are conveyed as the content part of X.400 messages.  This
 mechanism is suitable for transport of CMS-protected messages
 regardless of the mail content that has been encapsulated.
 Implementations MUST include the CMS object in the content field of
 the X.400 message.
 If the CMS object is covered by an outer MIME wrapper, the content-
 type field of the P1 envelope MUST be set to the following CMS-
 defined value:
 id-data OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840)
       rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1) pkcs7(7) 1 }
 If the CMS object is not covered by an outer MIME wrapper, the
 content-type field of the P1 envelope MUST be set to the following
 CMS-defined value:
 id-ct-contentInfo  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { iso(1) member-body(2)
       us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1) pkcs-9(9) smime(16)
       content-types(1) 6}

2.2.1. Carrying Plaintext MIME objects as X.400 Content

 When transporting a plaintext MIME object in X.400, the preferred
 approach is to convey the object as X.400 message content.  The

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 3] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

 content-type field of the P1 envelope MUST be set to the following
 CMS-defined value:
 id-data OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::= { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840)
       rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1) pkcs7(7) 1 }

2.3. Carrying S/MIME as IPMS Body Parts

 Under some circumstances S/MIME CMS-protected messages can be
 conveyed within select body parts of the content.  Implementations
 generally SHOULD NOT embed CMS objects within X.400 body parts, but
 should instead convey them as content as described in section 2.2.
 Nevertheless, one notable exception is necessary for the case of
 forwarding.
 In instances when CMS objects are forwarded as part of a message
 forwarding function, use of a body part is necessary.  When
 forwarding a CMS object in an IPMS or IPMS-compatible body part,
 implementations MUST use the content-body-part as formally defined by
 [X.400], as shown below for reference.
 content-body-part {ExtendedContentType:content-type}
     EXTENDED-BODY-PART-TYPE ::= {
         PARAMETERS {ForwardedContentParameters IDENTIFIED BY
             {id-ep-content -- concatenated with content-type -- }},
         DATA {Content IDENTIFIED BY
             {id-et-content -- concatenated with content-type -- }} }
 ForwardedContentParameters ::= SET {
     delivery-time     [0] MessageDeliveryTime OPTIONAL,
     delivery-envelope [1] OtherMessageDeliveryFields OPTIONAL,
     mts-identifier    [2] MessageDeliveryIdentifier OPTIONAL }
 id-ep-content ::= {joint-iso-itu-t(2) mhs(6) ipms(1) ep(11) 17}
 id-et-content ::= {joint-iso-itu-t(2) mhs(6) ipms(1) et(4) 17}
 The implementation MUST copy the CMS object to be forwarded into the
 Content field of the content-body-part.  The direct-reference field
 of the body part MUST include the OID formed by the concatenation of
 the id-et-content value and the following CMS-defined value.
 id-ct-contentInfo  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::=
       { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1)
       pkcs-9(9) smime(16) content-types(1) 6}
 For example, to forward any CMS object the DATA component of the body
 part would be identified by { 2 6 1 4 17 1 2 840 113549 1 9 16 1 6 }.

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 4] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

 The ForwardedContentParameters are optional and MAY be supported at
 the discretion of the implementor.  The OID value id-et-content MAY
 also be included in the original-encoded-information-types field of
 the X.400 message envelope at the discretion of the sending S/MIME
 agent.
 In this instance, the content-type field of the P1 envelope MUST be
 set to the value associate with the forwarding content (e.g., integer
 22 for IPMS).

2.4. Transfer Encoding

 According to various S/MIME specifications for message wrapping, CMS
 objects MAY optionally be wrapped in MIME to dynamically support 7-
 bit transport.  This outer wrapping is not required for X.400
 transport, and generally SHOULD NOT be applied in a homogeneous X.400
 environment.  Heterogeneous mail systems or other factors MAY require
 the presence of this outer MIME wrapper

2.5. Encoded Information Type Indication

 In [MSG], the application/pkcs7-mime content type and optional
 "smime-type" parameter are used to convey details about the security
 applied (signed or enveloped) along with information about the
 contained content.  This may aid receiving S/MIME implementations in
 correctly processing the secured content.  Additional values of
 smime-type are defined in [ESS].  In an X.400 transport environment,
 MIME typing is not available.  Therefore the equivalent semantic is
 conveyed using the Encoded Information Types (EITs).  The EITs are
 conveyed in the original-encoded-information-types field of the X.400
 message envelope.  This memo defines the following smime-types.

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 5] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

 +-----------------------------------------------------+
 |                                                     |
 |     smime-type           EIT Value (OID)            |
 | CMS protection type       Inner Content             |
 |                                                     |
 +-----------------------------------------------------+
 |                                                     |
 |  enveloped-data        id-eit-envelopedData         |
 |  EnvelopedData         Data                         |
 |                                                     |
 |  signed-data           id-eit-signedData            |
 |  SignedData            Data                         |
 |                                                     |
 |  certs-only            id-eit-certsOnly             |
 |  SignedData            empty (zero-length content)  |
 |                                                     |
 |  signed-receipt        id-eit-signedReceipt         |
 |  SignedData            Receipt                      |
 |                                                     |
 |  enveloped-x400        id-eit-envelopedx400         |
 |  EnvelopedData         X.400 content                |
 |                                                     |
 |  signed-x400           id-eit-signedx400            |
 |  SignedData            X.400 content                |
 |                                                     |
 |  compressed-data       id-eit-compressedData        |
 |  CompressedData        RFC 3274 compression wrapper |
 |                                                     |
 +-----------------------------------------------------+
 Sending agents SHOULD include the appropriate S/MIME EIT OID value.
 Receiving agents SHOULD recognize S/MIME OID values in the EITs
 field, and process the message appropriately according to local
 procedures.
 In order that consistency can be obtained in future S/MIME EIT
 assignments, the following guidelines should be followed when
 assigning new EIT values.  Values assigned for S/MIME EITs should
 correspond to assigned smime-type values on a one-to-one basis.  The
 restrictions of section 3.2.2 of [MSG] therefore apply.  S/MIME EIT
 values may coexist with other EIT values intended to further qualify
 the makeup of the protected content.

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 6] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

2.5.1. Enveloped Data

 The enveloped data EIT indicates that the X.400 content field
 contains a MIME type that has been protected by the CMS enveloped-
 data content type in accordance with [MSG].  The resulting enveloped
 data CMS content is conveyed in accordance with section 2.2.  This
 EIT should be indicated by the following OID value:
    id-eit-envelopedData  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::=
        { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1)
        pkcs-9(9) smime(16) id-eit(10) id-eit-envelopedData(1) }

2.5.2. Signed Data

 The signed data EIT indicates that the X.400 content field contains a
 MIME type that has been protected by the CMS signed-data content type
 in accordance with [MSG].  The resulting signed data CMS content is
 conveyed in accordance with section 2.2.  This EIT should be
 indicated by the following OID value:
    id-eit-signedData  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::=
         { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1)
         pkcs-9(9) smime(16) id-eit(10) id-eit-signedData(2) }

2.5.3. Certs Only

 The certs-only message is used to transport certificates and/or CRLs,
 such as in response to a registration request.  This is described in
 [CERT31].  The certs-only message consists of a single instance of
 CMS content of type signed-data.  The encapContentInfo eContent field
 MUST be absent and signerInfos field MUST be empty.  The resulting
 certs-only CMS content is conveyed in accordance with section 2.2.
 This EIT should be indicated by the following OID value:
    id-eit-certsOnly  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::=
        { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1)
        pkcs-9(9) smime(16) id-eit(10) id-eit-certsOnly(3) }

2.5.4. Signed Receipt

 The signed receipt EIT indicates that the X.400 content field
 contains a Receipt content that has been protected by the CMS
 signed-data content type in accordance with [ESS].  The resulting CMS
 signed-data content is conveyed in accordance with section 2.2.  This
 EIT should be indicated by the following OID value:

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 7] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

    id-eit-signedReceipt  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::=
        { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1)
        pkcs-9(9) smime(16) id-eit(10) id-eit-signedReceipt(4) }

2.5.5. Enveloped X.400

 The enveloped X.400 EIT indicates that the X.400 content field
 contains X.400 content that has been protected by the CMS enveloped-
 data content type in accordance with [X400WRAP].  The resulting
 enveloped X.400 CMS content is conveyed in accordance with section
 2.2.  This EIT should be indicated by the following OID value:
    id-eit-envelopedX400  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::=
        { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1)
        pkcs-9(9) smime(16) id-eit(10) id-eit-envelopedX400(5) }

2.5.6. Signed X.400

 The signed X.400 EIT indicates that the X.400 content field contains
 X.400 content that has been protected by the CMS signed-data content
 type in accordance with [X400WRAP].  The resulting signed X.400 CMS
 content is conveyed in accordance with section 2.2.  This EIT should
 be indicated by the following OID value:
    id-eit-signedX400  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::=
        { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1)
        pkcs-9(9) smime(16) id-eit(10) id-eit-signedX400(6) }

2.5.7. Compressed Data

 The compressed data EIT indicates that the X.400 content field
 contains a another type that has been compressed by the compressed-
 data content type in accordance with [COMPRESS].  The resulting CMS
 content is conveyed in accordance with section 2.2.  This EIT should
 be indicated by the following OID value:
    id-eit-compressedData  OBJECT IDENTIFIER ::=
        { iso(1) member-body(2) us(840) rsadsi(113549) pkcs(1)
        pkcs-9(9) smime(16) id-eit(10) id-eit-compressedData(7) }

2.6. Interaction with X.400 Elements of Service

 Care should be taken in the selection of X.400 services to be used in
 conjunction with CMS objects.  Services affecting conversion of the
 content, expansion of Distribution Lists (DLs), and message
 redirection can interact badly with services provided by the
 "EnvelopedData" and "SignedData" CMS content types.

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 8] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

2.6.1. MTS Conversion Services

 MTS conversion is not applicable to the scenario of this document
 because such conversion is incompatible with CMS protection
 mechanisms.  X.400 systems that implement conversion services should
 generally be unable to attempt conversion of CMS content types
 because those types do not conform to X.420 structure rules.
 Nevertheless, when transporting CMS objects within an X.400
 environment, the Conversion Prohibition service SHOULD be selected.

2.6.2. Message Redirection Services

 X.400 message redirection services can have an indirect impact on the
 application of the CMS "EnvelopedData" content type.  Several
 different forms of redirection are possible in X.400, including:
  1. Originator Requested Alternate Recipient (ORAR)
  2. Alternate Recipient Assignment
  3. Redirection of Incoming Messages
 In addition, any auto-forwarding services that are not security-aware
 may share the same problem.  An auto-forwarding implementation that
 removes the EnvelopedData and reapplies it for the forwarded
 recipient is not affected by this problem.  The normal case is that
 the private key is not available when the human user is not present,
 thus decryption is not possible.  However, if the private key is
 present, forwarding can be used instead.
 When the "EnvelopedData" content type is used to protect message
 contents, an instance of RecipientInfo is needed for each recipient
 and alternate recipient in order to ensure the desired access to the
 message.  A RecipientInfo for the originator is a good practice just
 in case the MTS returns the whole message.
 In the event that ORAR is used, the originator is aware of the
 identity of the alternate recipient and SHOULD include a
 corresponding RecipientInfo element.  For other forms of redirection
 (including non-security-aware auto-forwarding) the alternate
 recipient must either have access to the intended recipient's keys
 (not recommended) or must relay the message to the intended recipient
 by other means.

2.6.3. DL Expansion

 X.400 DLs can have an indirect impact on the application of the CMS
 "EnvelopedData" content type.  When the "EnvelopedData" content type
 is used to protect message contents, an instance of RecipientInfo is
 needed for each recipient in order to ensure the desired access to

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 9] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

 the message.  Messages to a DL would typically include only a single
 RecipientInfo associated with the DL.  Unlike Mail Lists (MLs)
 described in [ESS], however, X.400 DLs are not generally security-
 aware and do not regenerate RecipientInfo elements for the DL
 members.  It is recommended that a security-aware ML conforming to
 [ESS] be used in preference to X.400 DLs.  When transporting CMS
 objects within an X.400 environment, the DL Expansion Prohibited
 service SHOULD be selected.

3. Security Considerations

 This specification introduces no new security concerns to the CMS or
 S/MIME models.  Security issues are identified in section 5 of [MSG],
 section 6 of [ESS] and the Security Considerations section of [CMS].

4. References

4.1. Normative References

 [MUSTSHOULD] Bradner, S., "Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate
              Requirement Levels", BCP 14, RFC 2119, March 1997.
 [CERT31]     Ramsdell, B., Ed., "Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail
              Extensions (S/MIME) Version 3.1 Certificate Handling",
              RFC 3850, July 2004.
 [CMS]        Housley, R., "Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS)", RFC
              3852, July 2004.
 [COMPRESS]   Gutmann, P., "Compressed Data Content Type for
              Cryptographic Message Syntax (CMS)", RFC 3274, June
              2002.
 [ESS]        Hoffman, P., Ed., "Enhanced Security Services for
              S/MIME", RFC 2634, June 1999.
 [MSG]        Ramsdell, B., Ed., "Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail
              Extensions (S/MIME) Version 3.1 Message Specification",
              RFC 3851, July 2004.
 [X.400]      ITU-T X.400 Series of Recommendations, Information
              technology - Message Handling Systems (MHS). X.400:
              System and Service Overview; X.402: Overall
              Architecture; X.411: Message Transfer System: Abstract
              Service Definition and Procedures; X.420: Interpersonal
              Messaging System; 1996.

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 10] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

4.2. Informative References

 [BODYMAP]    Alvestrand, H., "Mapping between X.400 and RFC-822/MIME
              Message Bodies", RFC 2157, January 1998.
 [MIXER]      Kille, S., "MIXER (Mime Internet X.400 Enhanced Relay):
              Mapping between X.400 and RFC 822/MIME", RFC 2156,
              January 1998.
 [X400WRAP]   Hoffman, P., Bonatti, C., and A. Eggen, "Securing X.400
              Content with Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail
              Extensions (S/MIME), RFC 3854, July 2004.

5. Authors' Addresses

 Paul Hoffman
 Internet Mail Consortium
 127 Segre Place
 Santa Cruz, CA  95060  USA
 EMail: phoffman@imc.org
 Chris Bonatti
 IECA, Inc.
 15309 Turkey Foot Road
 Darnestown, MD  20878-3640  USA
 EMail: bonattic@ieca.com

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 11] RFC 3855 Transporting S/MIME Objects in X.400 July 2004

6. Full Copyright Statement

 Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2004).  This document is subject
 to the rights, licenses and restrictions contained in BCP 78, and
 except as set forth therein, the authors retain all their rights.
 This document and the information contained herein are provided on an
 "AS IS" basis and THE CONTRIBUTOR, THE ORGANIZATION HE/SHE REPRESENTS
 OR IS SPONSORED BY (IF ANY), THE INTERNET SOCIETY AND THE INTERNET
 ENGINEERING TASK FORCE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
 INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTY THAT THE USE OF THE
 INFORMATION HEREIN WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY RIGHTS OR ANY IMPLIED
 WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Intellectual Property

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 Intellectual Property Rights or other rights that might be claimed to
 pertain to the implementation or use of the technology described in
 this document or the extent to which any license under such rights
 might or might not be available; nor does it represent that it has
 made any independent effort to identify any such rights.  Information
 on the procedures with respect to rights in RFC documents can be
 found in BCP 78 and BCP 79.
 Copies of IPR disclosures made to the IETF Secretariat and any
 assurances of licenses to be made available, or the result of an
 attempt made to obtain a general license or permission for the use of
 such proprietary rights by implementers or users of this
 specification can be obtained from the IETF on-line IPR repository at
 http://www.ietf.org/ipr.
 The IETF invites any interested party to bring to its attention any
 copyrights, patents or patent applications, or other proprietary
 rights that may cover technology that may be required to implement
 this standard.  Please address the information to the IETF at ietf-
 ipr@ietf.org.

Acknowledgement

 Funding for the RFC Editor function is currently provided by the
 Internet Society.

Hoffman & Bonatti Standards Track [Page 12]

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