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package java.security;

import java.io.*;

SignedObject is a class for the purpose of creating authentic runtime objects whose integrity cannot be compromised without being detected.

More specifically, a SignedObject contains another Serializable object, the (to-be-)signed object and its signature.

The signed object is a "deep copy" (in serialized form) of an original object. Once the copy is made, further manipulation of the original object has no side effect on the copy.

The underlying signing algorithm is designated by the Signature object passed to the constructor and the verify method. A typical usage for signing is the following:


Signature signingEngine = Signature.getInstance(algorithm,
                                                provider);
SignedObject so = new SignedObject(myobject, signingKey,
                                   signingEngine);

A typical usage for verification is the following (having received SignedObject so):


Signature verificationEngine =
    Signature.getInstance(algorithm, provider);
if (so.verify(publickey, verificationEngine))
    try {
        Object myobj = so.getObject();
    } catch (java.lang.ClassNotFoundException e) {};

Several points are worth noting. First, there is no need to initialize the signing or verification engine, as it will be re-initialized inside the constructor and the verify method. Secondly, for verification to succeed, the specified public key must be the public key corresponding to the private key used to generate the SignedObject.

More importantly, for flexibility reasons, the constructor and verify method allow for customized signature engines, which can implement signature algorithms that are not installed formally as part of a crypto provider. However, it is crucial that the programmer writing the verifier code be aware what Signature engine is being used, as its own implementation of the verify method is invoked to verify a signature. In other words, a malicious Signature may choose to always return true on verification in an attempt to bypass a security check.

The signature algorithm can be, among others, the NIST standard DSA, using DSA and SHA-256. The algorithm is specified using the same convention as that for signatures. The DSA algorithm using the SHA-256 message digest algorithm can be specified, for example, as "SHA256withDSA". In the case of RSA the signing algorithm could be specified as, for example, "SHA256withRSA". The algorithm name must be specified, as there is no default.

The name of the Cryptography Package Provider is designated also by the Signature parameter to the constructor and the verify method. If the provider is not specified, the default provider is used. Each installation can be configured to use a particular provider as default.

Potential applications of SignedObject include:

  • It can be used internally to any Java runtime as an unforgeable authorization token -- one that can be passed around without the fear that the token can be maliciously modified without being detected.
  • It can be used to sign and serialize data/object for storage outside the Java runtime (e.g., storing critical access control data on disk).
  • Nested SignedObjects can be used to construct a logical sequence of signatures, resembling a chain of authorization and delegation.
Author:Li Gong
See Also:
Since:1.2
/** * <p> SignedObject is a class for the purpose of creating authentic * runtime objects whose integrity cannot be compromised without being * detected. * * <p> More specifically, a SignedObject contains another Serializable * object, the (to-be-)signed object and its signature. * * <p> The signed object is a "deep copy" (in serialized form) of an * original object. Once the copy is made, further manipulation of * the original object has no side effect on the copy. * * <p> The underlying signing algorithm is designated by the Signature * object passed to the constructor and the {@code verify} method. * A typical usage for signing is the following: * * <pre>{@code * Signature signingEngine = Signature.getInstance(algorithm, * provider); * SignedObject so = new SignedObject(myobject, signingKey, * signingEngine); * }</pre> * * <p> A typical usage for verification is the following (having * received SignedObject {@code so}): * * <pre>{@code * Signature verificationEngine = * Signature.getInstance(algorithm, provider); * if (so.verify(publickey, verificationEngine)) * try { * Object myobj = so.getObject(); * } catch (java.lang.ClassNotFoundException e) {}; * }</pre> * * <p> Several points are worth noting. First, there is no need to * initialize the signing or verification engine, as it will be * re-initialized inside the constructor and the {@code verify} * method. Secondly, for verification to succeed, the specified * public key must be the public key corresponding to the private key * used to generate the SignedObject. * * <p> More importantly, for flexibility reasons, the * constructor and {@code verify} method allow for * customized signature engines, which can implement signature * algorithms that are not installed formally as part of a crypto * provider. However, it is crucial that the programmer writing the * verifier code be aware what {@code Signature} engine is being * used, as its own implementation of the {@code verify} method * is invoked to verify a signature. In other words, a malicious * {@code Signature} may choose to always return true on * verification in an attempt to bypass a security check. * * <p> The signature algorithm can be, among others, the NIST standard * DSA, using DSA and SHA-256. The algorithm is specified using the * same convention as that for signatures. The DSA algorithm using the * SHA-256 message digest algorithm can be specified, for example, as * "SHA256withDSA". In the case of * RSA the signing algorithm could be specified as, for example, * "SHA256withRSA". The algorithm name must be * specified, as there is no default. * * <p> The name of the Cryptography Package Provider is designated * also by the Signature parameter to the constructor and the * {@code verify} method. If the provider is not * specified, the default provider is used. Each installation can * be configured to use a particular provider as default. * * <p> Potential applications of SignedObject include: * <ul> * <li> It can be used * internally to any Java runtime as an unforgeable authorization * token -- one that can be passed around without the fear that the * token can be maliciously modified without being detected. * <li> It * can be used to sign and serialize data/object for storage outside * the Java runtime (e.g., storing critical access control data on * disk). * <li> Nested SignedObjects can be used to construct a logical * sequence of signatures, resembling a chain of authorization and * delegation. * </ul> * * @see Signature * * @author Li Gong * @since 1.2 */
public final class SignedObject implements Serializable { @java.io.Serial private static final long serialVersionUID = 720502720485447167L; /* * The original content is "deep copied" in its serialized format * and stored in a byte array. The signature field is also in the * form of byte array. */ private byte[] content; private byte[] signature; private String thealgorithm;
Constructs a SignedObject from any Serializable object. The given object is signed with the given signing key, using the designated signature engine.
Params:
  • object – the object to be signed.
  • signingKey – the private key for signing.
  • signingEngine – the signature signing engine.
Throws:
/** * Constructs a SignedObject from any Serializable object. * The given object is signed with the given signing key, using the * designated signature engine. * * @param object the object to be signed. * @param signingKey the private key for signing. * @param signingEngine the signature signing engine. * * @throws IOException if an error occurs during serialization * @throws InvalidKeyException if the key is invalid. * @throws SignatureException if signing fails. */
public SignedObject(Serializable object, PrivateKey signingKey, Signature signingEngine) throws IOException, InvalidKeyException, SignatureException { // creating a stream pipe-line, from a to b ByteArrayOutputStream b = new ByteArrayOutputStream(); ObjectOutput a = new ObjectOutputStream(b); // write and flush the object content to byte array a.writeObject(object); a.flush(); a.close(); this.content = b.toByteArray(); b.close(); // now sign the encapsulated object this.sign(signingKey, signingEngine); }
Retrieves the encapsulated object. The encapsulated object is de-serialized before it is returned.
Throws:
Returns:the encapsulated object.
/** * Retrieves the encapsulated object. * The encapsulated object is de-serialized before it is returned. * * @return the encapsulated object. * * @throws IOException if an error occurs during de-serialization * @throws ClassNotFoundException if an error occurs during * de-serialization */
public Object getObject() throws IOException, ClassNotFoundException { // creating a stream pipe-line, from b to a ByteArrayInputStream b = new ByteArrayInputStream(this.content); ObjectInput a = new ObjectInputStream(b); Object obj = a.readObject(); b.close(); a.close(); return obj; }
Retrieves the signature on the signed object, in the form of a byte array.
Returns:the signature. Returns a new array each time this method is called.
/** * Retrieves the signature on the signed object, in the form of a * byte array. * * @return the signature. Returns a new array each time this * method is called. */
public byte[] getSignature() { return this.signature.clone(); }
Retrieves the name of the signature algorithm.
Returns:the signature algorithm name.
/** * Retrieves the name of the signature algorithm. * * @return the signature algorithm name. */
public String getAlgorithm() { return this.thealgorithm; }
Verifies that the signature in this SignedObject is the valid signature for the object stored inside, with the given verification key, using the designated verification engine.
Params:
  • verificationKey – the public key for verification.
  • verificationEngine – the signature verification engine.
Throws:
  • SignatureException – if signature verification failed (an exception prevented the signature verification engine from completing normally).
  • InvalidKeyException – if the verification key is invalid.
Returns:true if the signature is valid, false otherwise
/** * Verifies that the signature in this SignedObject is the valid * signature for the object stored inside, with the given * verification key, using the designated verification engine. * * @param verificationKey the public key for verification. * @param verificationEngine the signature verification engine. * * @throws SignatureException if signature verification failed (an * exception prevented the signature verification engine from completing * normally). * @throws InvalidKeyException if the verification key is invalid. * * @return {@code true} if the signature * is valid, {@code false} otherwise */
public boolean verify(PublicKey verificationKey, Signature verificationEngine) throws InvalidKeyException, SignatureException { verificationEngine.initVerify(verificationKey); verificationEngine.update(this.content.clone()); return verificationEngine.verify(this.signature.clone()); } /* * Signs the encapsulated object with the given signing key, using the * designated signature engine. * * @param signingKey the private key for signing. * @param signingEngine the signature signing engine. * * @throws InvalidKeyException if the key is invalid. * @throws SignatureException if signing fails. */ private void sign(PrivateKey signingKey, Signature signingEngine) throws InvalidKeyException, SignatureException { // initialize the signing engine signingEngine.initSign(signingKey); signingEngine.update(this.content.clone()); this.signature = signingEngine.sign().clone(); this.thealgorithm = signingEngine.getAlgorithm(); }
readObject is called to restore the state of the SignedObject from a stream.
/** * readObject is called to restore the state of the SignedObject from * a stream. */
@java.io.Serial private void readObject(java.io.ObjectInputStream s) throws java.io.IOException, ClassNotFoundException { java.io.ObjectInputStream.GetField fields = s.readFields(); content = ((byte[])fields.get("content", null)).clone(); signature = ((byte[])fields.get("signature", null)).clone(); thealgorithm = (String)fields.get("thealgorithm", null); } }