Assertion Framework for OAuth 2.0 Client Authentication and Authorization Grants
RFC 7521

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Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                       B. Campbell
Request for Comments: 7521                                 Ping Identity
Category: Standards Track                                   C. Mortimore
ISSN: 2070-1721                                               Salesforce
                                                                M. Jones
                                                               Y. Goland
                                                               Microsoft
                                                                May 2015

      Assertion Framework for OAuth 2.0 Client Authentication and
                          Authorization Grants

Abstract

   This specification provides a framework for the use of assertions
   with OAuth 2.0 in the form of a new client authentication mechanism
   and a new authorization grant type.  Mechanisms are specified for
   transporting assertions during interactions with a token endpoint;
   general processing rules are also specified.

   The intent of this specification is to provide a common framework for
   OAuth 2.0 to interwork with other identity systems using assertions
   and to provide alternative client authentication mechanisms.

   Note that this specification only defines abstract message flows and
   processing rules.  In order to be implementable, companion
   specifications are necessary to provide the corresponding concrete
   instantiations.

Status of This Memo

   This is an Internet Standards Track document.

   This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
   (IETF).  It represents the consensus of the IETF community.  It has
   received public review and has been approved for publication by the
   Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG).  Further information on
   Internet Standards is available in Section 2 of RFC 5741.

   Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
   and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
   http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc7521.

Campbell, et al.             Standards Track                    [Page 1]
RFC 7521                OAuth Assertion Framework               May 2015

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2015 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
   publication of this document.  Please review these documents
   carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
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   include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................3
   2. Notational Conventions ..........................................4
   3. Framework .......................................................4
   4. Transporting Assertions .........................................7
      4.1. Using Assertions as Authorization Grants ...................7
           4.1.1. Error Responses .....................................8
      4.2. Using Assertions for Client Authentication .................9
           4.2.1. Error Responses ....................................10
   5. Assertion Content and Processing ...............................10
      5.1. Assertion Metamodel .......................................10
      5.2. General Assertion Format and Processing Rules .............12
   6. Common Scenarios ...............................................12
      6.1. Client Authentication .....................................13
      6.2. Client Acting on Behalf of Itself .........................13
      6.3. Client Acting on Behalf of a User .........................13
           6.3.1. Client Acting on Behalf of an Anonymous User .......14
   7. Interoperability Considerations ................................14
   8. Security Considerations ........................................15
      8.1. Forged Assertion ..........................................15
      8.2. Stolen Assertion ..........................................15
      8.3. Unauthorized Disclosure of Personal Information ...........16
      8.4. Privacy Considerations ....................................17
   9. IANA Considerations ............................................17
      9.1. "assertion" Parameter Registration ........................17
      9.2. "client_assertion" Parameter Registration .................18
      9.3. "client_assertion_type" Parameter Registration ............18
   10. References ....................................................18
      10.1. Normative References .....................................18
      10.2. Informative References ...................................18