matrix-org / matrix-org/matrix-spec
Add a signing-key pinning mechanism to the federation key APIs (SPEC-329)
- Dominant language
- HTML
- Stars
- 330
- Forks
- 150
- Avg merge
- 2h 21m
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 3
Description
Add a way for home-server operators to promise in the /key responses that they won't lose the private keys for their HS.
Then other HSes that have observed that key won't accept a different key for that domain, giving stronger guarantees against MITM attacks.
Something like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_Public_Key_Pinning
(Imported from https://matrix.org/jira/browse/SPEC-329)
(Reported by @NegativeMjark)
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start with the federation /key responses described in the issue and review the linked HTTP Public Key Pinning background. Define the signing-key pinning mechanism, including how home servers promise key retention and how other servers handle a changed key. Done means the federation key API specification clearly documents the behavior and its security guarantees.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Domain
- api, security
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100