Digital Signature (End Entity) Rules, 2015

[Digital Signature (End Entity) Rules, 2015][1]

[25th August, 2015]

In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 87 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules, namely.

Rule - 1. Short title and commencement.

(1)     These rules may be called the Digital Signature (End Entity) Rules, 2015.

 

(2)     They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

Rule - 2. Definitions.

(1)     In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,

(a)      “Act” means the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000);

 

(b)      “canonicalisation”, in relation to a xml digital signature, means the process of converting electronic record that has more than one possible representation into a ‘standard’, ‘normal’, or ‘canonical form’ in which the variations in representation of electronic record shall be standardised by applying consistent rules, primarily as part of the xml digital signature creation and verification processes;

 

(c)      “counter signature” means a signature on a previous signature in a series of signatures, affixed after the verification the signature on electronic record and subsequent signatures on previous signatures serially;

 

(d)      “detached signature” means the signature that is stored independent of electronic record being signed;

 

(e)      “digest method element”, in relation to a xml digital signature, means the digest algorithm to be used for the original data object or transformed, if any ‘xml transforms’ exists;

 

(f)       “digest value element” means the value of the digest;

 

(g)      “end entity” means the subscriber or system on behalf of the subscriber in whose name the Electronic Signature Certificate is issued;

 

(h)     “end entity signature” means authentication of any electronic record by an end entity by means of a digital signature, electronic method or procedure in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3 or 3-A of the Act;

 

(i)       “enveloped signature” means enveloping of the signature and the initial electronic record into another electronic record;

 

(j)       “enveloping signature” means a signature over a electronic record that is referenced and contained within the signature element;

 

(k)      “initial electronic record”, in the context of xml digital signature process, means canonicalised and transformed form of signed Info;

 

(l)       “key info element” means an element that enables key information to be packaged along with the signature element;

 

(m)    “long term signature” means a signature element that is made verifiable for a long term by implementing measures to enable the detection of unauthorised alterations of signature;

 

(n)     “manifest element”, in relation to a xml digital signature, means a structure to carry a list of reference elements processing model defined by the application;

 

(o)      “object element” means an optional element of xml digital signature, which is used for enveloping signature where the data object being signed is included in the xml;

 

(p)      “ocsp responder” means an online service that provides revocation status of a digital signature certificate;

 

(q)      “online certificate status protocol” means an online certificate-revocation checking protocol that enables relying parties to determine the revocation status of an identified digital signature certificate;

 

(r)      “parallel signatures” means one or more independent signature over the same electronic record in which the ordering of the signatures is not important;

 

(s)      “reference element”, in relation to a xml digital signature, means an element that carries a references to data objects, an optional list of transforms to be applied prior to digest (xml transforms), digest method and digest value of referenced data objects;

 

(t)       “signed info”, in relation to a xml digital signature, means an element that contains a set of information to be signed for creating an xml signature, where it shall contains references to the data object that includes the canonicalisation and signature algorithms;

 

(u)     “signature” means digital signature or xml digital signature;

 

(v)      “signature value” means an element that the actual value of the digital signature;

 

(w)     “signature method “means an element that contains the algorithm used for signature generation and this algorithm identifies all cryptographic functions involved in the signature generation;

 

(x)      “signature properties” means an element that provides a way to carry additional information about the signature, such as a time stamp or any other information which are defined by application;

 

(y)      “time stamp” means a notation that indicates the correct date and time of an action and identity of the person or device that sent or received the time stamp and is enforced using time stamp token;

 

(z)      “time stamp token” means a cryptographically secure confirmation generated by applying digital signature of a time stamping service provider that includes the time when the confirmation was generated;

(za) “time stamping service provider” means a trusted entity authorised to generate time stamps;

(zb) “xml” means Extensible Mark-up Language that provides a standard methodology with formal syntax to identify elements of information, describe the structure of data and also to store data in an independent manner, shall have the following properties,

(i)       with xml, content and presentation are separate;

 

(ii)      the structure of xml data in a particular context is described using either xml schema or a document type definition;

 

(iii)     xml schema or a document type definition are stored separately from the xml document itself and can be used to validate a given xml document for conformance;

(zc) “xml digital signature element” means an element that defined by standard xml schema for capturing the result of a digital signature operation applied to arbitrary data in xml format, shall satisfy the following,

(i)       xml digital signature element shall exist as a standalone document or envelop the data object that it signs;

 

(ii)      xml digital signature element shall have signed info, signature value, key info, object and has id attribute of type child elements in order in which they appear;

(zd) “xml digital signature” means the digital signature on xml electronic record;

(ze) “xml document” means a document with xml logical and physical structure that is used to carry data elements, composed of declarations, elements, comments, character references, and processing instructions and a physical structure composed of entities, starting with the root, or document entity;

(zf) “xml schema” means a set of pre-defined or user defined keywords and their attributes arranged in a structured manner, shall satisfy the following,

(i)       should be used for a particular purpose where as a schema describes the structure of an xml document and provides specification of element names that indicates which elements are allowed in an xml document, and in what combinations; and

 

(ii)      should provide extended functionality such as data types, inheritance, and presentation rules and default values for attributes;

(zg) “xml transform” means an element that specify an optional ordered list of processing steps applied to the data objects before it was digested where the transforms include canonicalisation, encoding or decoding, extensible style sheet language transformations, x-path filtering, and xml schema validation;

(zh) “xml namespace” means a uniform resource identifier (uri) reference where the mechanisms described in the specification are used in xml documents as element types and attribute names and also to use various xml vocabularies without having name collision.

(2)     Words and expressions used herein and not defined but defined in the Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the said Act.

Rule - 3. Manner of authentication of information by means of digital signature.

A digital signature shall,

(a)      be created and verified by cryptography which concerns with transforming electronic record into seemingly unintelligible forms;

 

(b)      use Public Key Cryptography, which employs an algorithm using two different but mathematical related keys; one key (called the private key) for creating a digital signature and another key (called the public key) for verifying a digital signature;

 

(c)      use an hash function for creating and verifying a digital signature which required to make digital signature generation and verification efficient.

Rule - 4. Creation of digital signature.

(1)     The signatory shall, while signing an electronic record or any other item of information, first apply an hash function in the signatory's hardware or software.

 

(2)     The hash function shall produce a hash result.

 

(3)     The signatory's hardware or software shall then transform the hash result into a digital signature using signatory's private key and signature algorithm.

 

(4)     The contextual information like date and time, shall be then made part of the digital signature.

 

(5)     The counter signatures or parallel signatures or both may also be applied to electronic record.

 

(6)     The following information may also be a part of signature,

(a)      the signatory's public key signature certificate(s);

 

(b)      the public key certificate(s) of the licensed Certifying Authorities which used to verify the authenticity of the digital signature certificate issued to the signatory;

 

(c)      the self signed certificate generated by the Controller used to verify the authenticity of the public key certificate of the licensed Certifying Authorities;

 

(d)      the certificate revocation list(s) maintained by the licensed Certifying Authorities, and the controller which is used to check whether the digital signature certificate has been revoked under Section 38 of the Act;

 

(e)      online certificate status protocol responder certificates and online certificate status protocol responses that may be used in lieu of certificate revocation list.

 

(7)     To create long term valid digital signature,

(a)      a timestamp shall be applied initially to the signed data including the certificates and revocation information;

 

(b)      ensure that initial time stamp shall cover all the data and signature(s);

 

(c)      a nested time stamp option shall be used to ensure signature validity past the time stamping service provider's (tssp) key or algorithm expiry where the nesting of time stamps implies that a subsequent time stamp shall be applied to the prior time stamp;

 

(d)      signature(s) and time stamps may be embedded in the data itself or stored separately as standalone.

Rule - 5. Verification of digital signature.

(1)     The verification of a digital signature shall be accomplished by computing a new hash result of the original electronic record by means of the hash function used to create a digital signature and by using the public key and the new hash result, the verifier shall check.

(a)      if the digital signature was created using the corresponding private key and shall be applicable for parallel and counter signatures applied on the electronic record, if present;

 

(b)      the time when the digital signature was created.

 

(2)     To verify counter signature, the signature on electronic record and thereafter signature on previous signature serially shall be verified.

 

(3)     To verify parallel signature, signature on electronic record shall be verified independently.

 

(4)     To verify long term signature, the initial timestamp and all subsequent time stamp applied on the each prior timestamp shall be verified.

Rule - 6. Verification of Digital Signature Certificate.

(1)     The self signed certificate generated by the Controller, which begins the trust chain for the public key infrastructure, shall be used to verify the authenticity of the public key certificate of the licensed Certifying Authorities.

 

(2)     The public key certificate of the licensed Certifying Authorities shall be used to verify the authenticity of the digital signature certificate issued to the subscribers.

 

(3)     The certificate revocation list maintained by the licensed Certifying Authorities shall be checked to confirm whether the certificate of the licensed Certifying Authorities is valid or whether it has been revoked under Section 38 the Act.

 

(4)     While verifying the validity of a digital signature the corresponding digital signature certificate shall chain up through the public key certificate of the issuing Certifying Authority to the self signed certificate of the Controller and if any of the certificates in the trust chain is not trusted the signature shall not be verified.

 

(5)     The Digital Signature Certificate shall be verified with respect to time of signature created.

 

(6)     The chain of certificates shall be verified in accordance with the standards specified in Rule 7.

 

(7)     If the certificate validity is less than one hour, the checking of revocation list shall not be required.

Rule - 7. Digital signature standards.

The most important standards that shall be applicable for different activities associated with digital signature functions are as under.

Rule - 8. Manner of authentication of information by means of xml digital signature.

A xml digital signature shall,

(a)      be created and verified by cryptography which concerns with transforming electronic record into seemingly unintelligible forms;

 

(b)      use Public Key Cryptography, which employs an algorithm using two different but mathematical related keys, one key (called the private key) for creating a xml digital signature and another key (called the public key) for verifying a xml digital signature;

 

(c)      use an cryptographic hash function for creating and verifying a xml digital signature;

 

(d)      use canonicalisation and xml transformation to create standard electronic record prior to creation and verification of xml digital signature;

 

(e)      authenticate xml documents which contain data as references and corresponding hashes, which is affected by the use of hash algorithm, canonicalisation, xml transformation and public key algorithm.

Rule - 9. Creation of xml digital signature.

(1)     To sign an electronic record or any other item of information, the signatory shall first construct reference elements, xml digital signature element, signed info, key info and signature value.

 

(2)     For the purpose of reference element generation, the signing software shall

(a)      create reference(s) element(s) with reference to the item of information, xml transform element(s) (optional), digest algorithms and digest value;

 

(b)      optionally apply xml transform(s) to each referenced object in a sequential order;

 

(c)      apply the hash function in the signatory's hardware or software to each reference elements, store the hash result in the reference element;

 

(d)      ensure that if the object element is created, it shall not have a manifest element;

 

(e)      ensure that exclusive canonicalisation “without comments” has been mandatorily specified in addition to any other transforms.

(3)     For the purpose xml digital signature generation, the signing software shall.

(a)      create signed info element with signature method, canonicalisation method and reference(s);

 

(b)      apply canonicalisation to signed info and calculate the hash value of canonicalised signed info using the hashing algorithms implied by the signature method;

 

(c)      ensure that,

(i)       the signatory has seen all the contents of the document before signing;

 

(ii)      the contents display requirements, in the case of automated signing process, is not required;

 

(iii)     to sign multiple resources together,

(a)      each resource shall be rendered on the screen;

 

(b)      each referenced xml resource shall be rendered using xslt and the xslt shall be the last transform done to render the resource on the screen;

 

(c)      each non xml resource shall be rendered using mime type attribute mentioned in the object;

 

(d)      generate the signature using the signature algorithm and the hash, the signatory's private key, and the public key parameters (if applicable) and perform base 64 encoding of the signature result and use it to form signature value;

 

(e)      construct the signature element that includes signed info, items of information, key info with X-509 certificate element and signature value and the X-509 certificate element shall carry the signatory's X-509 public key certificate.

(4)     The contextual information like date and time, shall be then made part of the xml digital signature.

 

(5)     The counter signatures or parallel signatures or both may also be applied to electronic record.

 

(6)     The following information may also be a part of signature.

(a)      the public key certificate(s) of the licensed Certifying Authorities which used to verify the authenticity of the digital signature certificate issued to the signatory;

 

(b)      the self-signed certificate generated by the Controller used to verify the authenticity of the public key certificate of the licensed Certifying Authorities;

 

(c)      the certificate revocation list(s) maintained by the licensed Certifying Authorities and controller which is used check whether the digital signature certificate has been revoked under Section 38 of the Act;

 

(d)      online certificate status protocol responder certificates and online certificate status protocol responses may be used in lieu of certificate revocation list.

 

(7)     To create long term valid xml digital signature.

(a)      a timestamp shall be applied initially to the signed document, where the Initial time stamp shall cover all the electronic record and signature(s);

 

(b)      a nested time stamp option shall be used to ensure signature validity past the time-stamping service provider (tssp)'s key or algorithm expiry where as nesting of time stamps implies that a subsequent time stamp shall be applied to the prior time stamp;

 

(c)      signature(s) and time stamps may be embedded in the data itself or stored separately as standalone.

Rule - 10. Verification of xml digital signature.

(1)     The verification of the xml digital signature shall be accomplished by signature validation, reference validation and certificate validation and an xml digital signature shall be treated valid only if signature validation, reference validation and certificate validation as specified below are complied with.

 

(2)     To accomplish signature validation.

(a)      canonical form of signed info as produced during reference validation shall be used;

 

(b)      canonical form of signature method using the canonicalisation method shall be obtained;

 

(c)      the public key contained in the signatory's X-509 certificate that is included in the xml digital signature, the canonicalised form of signed info signature value, and canonicalised form of signature method shall be used to verify the signature.

 

(3)     To accomplish reference validation.

(a)      canonicalise the signed info element based on the canonicalisation method in the signed info shall be used;

(b)      for each reference in the signed info.

(i)       if transformations were applied by the signatory, then the verifier software may de-reference the uniform resource identifier (uri) and execute transforms provided by the signatory in the reference element;

 

(ii)      compute digest of referenced item using the digest method specified in its reference element;

 

(iii)     compare the computed digest value against digest value in the signed info reference; if there is any mismatch or validation fails;

 

(4)     The Digital Signature Certificate included in the xml digital signature shall be verified in accordance with the provisions specified in Rule 6.

 

(5)     To verify counter signature, the signature on electronic record first and signature on previous signature shall be verified serially.

 

(6)     To verify parallel signature, signature on electronic record shall be verified independently.

 

(7)     To verify long term signature, the initial timestamp and all subsequent time stamp applied on the each prior timestamp shall be verified.

Rule - 11. The xml digital signature standards.

The most important standards that shall be applicable for different activities associated with xml digital signature functions are as under.

Rule - 12.

The basic Syntax of xml digital signature and terms used in the rule shall be as follows, namely.

Where “?” denotes zero or one occurrence; “+” denotes one or more occurrences; and “*” denotes zero or more occurrences.

Rule - 13. Digital Signature functions Standard.

The manner of digital signature creation and verification, in respect of signature profile and signature format, shall also conform to the following guidelines issued by Controller, namely.

(i)       Interoperability Guidelines for Digital Signature Certificates issued under Information Technology Act;

 

(ii)      X.509 Certificate Policy for India PKI;

 

(iii)     Signature profiles;

 

(iv)    Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) Service Guidelines for Certifying Authorities (CA);

 

(v)      Time Stamping Services Guidelines for Certifying Authorities (CA).