openid / openid/OpenID4VCI

Potential key substitution risk due to missing session-key commitment ?

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Description

I would like to ask for clarification upon a potential gap between the authorization session and the final holder key. Currently, there is no cryptographic term linking the End-User's authentication at the AS to the holder key presented later at the Credential Endpoint. This gap persists even when sender-constraining mechanisms like DPoP are strictly utilized. DPoP ensures the token presenter holds the DPoP key (K_{DPoP}), but it does not prove that the End-User authorized the specific credential binding key (K_H). For example, in a split-architecture wallet scenario (Section 13.4), a compromised backend holding a valid DPoP-bound token could unilaterally substitute its own holder key into the proofs parameter. The Issuer would then issue a valid credential bound to the attacker's key, completely unable to verify if this K_H belongs to the original authorized session. A way to prevent this substitution risk may be anchoring the intended holder key to the initial Authorization Request, similar to how the dpop_jkt parameter works in RFC 9449, creating an end-to-end commitment. Or do I miss some other details within the spec? Thank you in advance.

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Research direction

Start with Section 13.4 and trace the Authorization Request, the authorization session, the proofs parameter, and the later Credential Endpoint exchange. Compare the proposed holder-key commitment with DPoP’s dpop_jkt mechanism in RFC 9449. Done should be a decided specification resolution explaining whether the substitution risk exists and, if so, how the end-to-end binding is defined.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
authentication, authorization, cryptography, security
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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