XML Signature Syntax and Processing (Second Edition)

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XML Signature Syntax and Processing (Second Edition)

W3C Recommendation 10 June 2008
This version:
http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-xmldsig-core-20080610/
Latest version:
http://www.w3.org/TR/xmldsig-core/
Previous version:
http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/PER-xmldsig-core-20080326/
Editors
Donald Eastlake <d3e3e3@gmail.com>
Joseph Reagle <reagle@mit.edu>
David Solo <dsolo@alum.mit.edu>
Frederick Hirsch <frederick.hirsch@nokia.com> (2nd edition)
Thomas Roessler <tlr@w3.org> (2nd edition)
Authors
Mark Bartel <mbartel@adobe.com>
John Boyer <boyerj@ca.ibm.com>
Barb Fox <bfox@Exchange.Microsoft.com>
Brian LaMacchia <bal@microsoft.com>
Ed Simon <edsimon@xmlsec.com>
Contributors
See Acknowledgements
Please refer to the errata for this document, which may include some normative corrections.
This document is also available in these non-normative formats: XHTML with color-coded
revision indicators against the previous recommendation version.
See also translations.
Copyright 2008 The Internet Society & W3C (MIT, ERCIM, Keio), All Rights Reserved. W3C liability, trademark
and document use rules apply.

Abstract
This document specifies XML digital signature processing rules and syntax. XML Signatures
provide integrity, message authentication, and/or signer authentication services for data of any
type, whether located within the XML that includes the signature or elsewhere.

Status of this document

This section describes the status of this document at the time of its publication. Other
documents may supersede this document. A list of current W3C publications and the latest

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revision of this technical report can be found in the W3C technical reports index at
http://www.w3.org/TR/.
The original version of this specification was produced by the IETF/W3C XML Signature
Working Group which believes the specification is sufficient for the creation of independent
interoperable implementations; the Interoperability Report shows at least 10 implementations
with at least two interoperable implementations over every feature.
This Second Edition was produced by the W3C XML Security Specifications Maintenance
Working Group, part of the W3C Security Activity (Activity Statement).
This Second Edition of XML Signature Syntax and Processing adds Canonical XML 1.1 as a
required canonicalization algorithm and recommends its use for inclusive canonicalization. This
version of Canonical XML enables use of xml:id and xml:base Recommendations with XML
Signature and also enables other possible future attributes in the XML namespace. Additional
minor changes, including the incorporation of known errata, are documented in Changes in
XML Signature Syntax and Processing (Second Edition).
The Working Group conducted an interoperability test as part of its activity. The Test Cases for
C14N 1.1 and XMLDSig Interoperability [TESTCASES] are available as a companion Working
Group Note. The Implementation Report for XML Signature, Second Edition is also publicly
available.
Please send comments about this document to public-xmlsec-comments@w3.org (with public
archive).
This document has been reviewed by W3C Members, by software developers, and by other
W3C groups and interested parties, and is endorsed by the Director as a W3C
Recommendation. It is a stable document and may be used as reference material or cited from
another document. W3C's role in making the Recommendation is to draw attention to the
specification and to promote its widespread deployment. This enhances the functionality and
interoperability of the Web.
This document is governed by the 24 January 2002 CPP as amended by the W3C Patent Policy
Transition Procedure. W3C maintains a public list of any patent disclosures made in connection
with the deliverables of the group; that page also includes instructions for disclosing a patent.
An individual who has actual knowledge of a patent which the individual believes contains
Essential Claim(s) must disclose the information in accordance with section 6 of the W3C
Patent Policy. Patent disclosures relevant to this specification may be found on the IETF Page
of Intellectual Property Rights Notices, in conformance with IETF policy.
The English version of this specification is the only normative version.

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1. Editorial Conventions
2. Design Philosophy
3. Versions, Namespaces and Identifiers
4. Acknowledgements
2. Signature Overview and Examples
1. Simple Example (Signature, SignedInfo, Methods, and References)
1. More on Reference
2. Extended Example (Object and SignatureProperty)
3. Extended Example (Object and Manifest)

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3. Processing Rules
1. Signature Generation
2. Signature Validation
4. Core Signature Syntax
1. The Signature element
2. The SignatureValue Element
3. The SignedInfo Element
1. The CanonicalizationMethod Element
2. The SignatureMethod Element
3. The Reference Element
1. The URI Attribute
2. The Reference Processing Model
3. Same-Document URI-References
4. The Transforms Element
5. The DigestMethod Element
6. The DigestValue Element
4. The KeyInfo Element
1. The KeyName Element
2. The KeyValue Element
1. The DSAKeyValue Element
2. The RSAKeyValue Element
3. The RetrievalMethod Element
4. The X509Data Element
1. Distinguished Name Encoding Rules
5. The PGPData Element
6. The SPKIData Element
7. The MgmtData Element
5. The Object Element
5. Additional Signature Syntax
1. The Manifest Element
2. The SignatureProperties Element
3. Processing Instructions
4. Comments in dsig Elements
6. Algorithms
1. Algorithm Identifiers and Implementation Requirements
2. Message Digests
3. Message Authentication Codes
4. Signature Algorithms
5. Canonicalization Algorithms
1. Canonical XML 1.0
2. Canonical XML 1.1
6. Transform Algorithms
1. Canonicalization
2. Base64
3. XPath Filtering
4. Enveloped Signature Transform
5. XSLT Transform
7. XML Canonicalization and Syntax Constraint Considerations
1. XML 1.0, Syntax Constraints, and Canonicalization
2. DOM/SAX Processing and Canonicalization
3. Namespace Context and Portable Signatures
8. Security Considerations
1. Transforms
1. Only What is Signed is Secure
2. Only What is "Seen" Should be Signed

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9.
10.
11.
12.

http://www.w3.org/TR/xmldsig-core/

3. "See" What is Signed

2. Check the Security Model
3. Algorithms, Key Lengths, Etc.
Schema, DTD, Data Model, and Valid Examples
Definitions
References
Authors' Address

1.0 Introduction
This document specifies XML syntax and processing rules for creating and representing digital
signatures. XML Signatures can be applied to any digital content (data object), including XML.
An XML Signature may be applied to the content of one or more resources. Enveloped or
enveloping signatures are over data within the same XML document as the signature; detached
signatures are over data external to the signature element. More specifically, this specification
defines an XML signature element type and an XML signature application; conformance
requirements for each are specified by way of schema definitions and prose respectively. This
specification also includes other useful types that identify methods for referencing collections of
resources, algorithms, and keying and management information.
The XML Signature is a method of associating a key with referenced data (octets); it does not
normatively specify how keys are associated with persons or institutions, nor the meaning of the
data being referenced and signed. Consequently, while this specification is an important
component of secure XML applications, it itself is not sufficient to address all application
security/trust concerns, particularly with respect to using signed XML (or other data formats) as
a basis of human-to-human communication and agreement. Such an application must specify
additional key, algorithm, processing and rendering requirements. For further information,
please see Security Considerations (section 8).

1.1 Editorial and Conformance Conventions

For readability, brevity, and historic reasons this document uses the term "signature" to
generally refer to digital authentication values of all types. Obviously, the term is also strictly
used to refer to authentication values that are based on public keys and that provide signer
authentication. When specifically discussing authentication values based on symmetric secret
key codes we use the terms authenticators or authentication codes. (See Check the Security
Model, section 8.3.)
This specification provides an XML Schema [XML-schema] and DTD [XML]. The schema
definition is normative.
The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD",
"SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this specification are to be
interpreted as described in RFC2119 [KEYWORDS]:
"they MUST only be used where it is actually required for interoperation or to limit
behavior which has potential for causing harm (e.g., limiting retransmissions)"
Consequently, we use these capitalized key words to unambiguously specify requirements over
protocol and application features and behavior that affect the interoperability and security of
implementations. These key words are not used (capitalized) to describe XML grammar;
schema definitions unambiguously describe such requirements and we wish to reserve the
prominence of these terms for the natural language descriptions of protocols and features. For
instance, an XML attribute might be described as being "optional." Compliance with the
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Namespaces in XML specification [XML-ns] is described as "REQUIRED."

1.2 Design Philosophy

The design philosophy and requirements of this specification are addressed in the
XML-Signature Requirements document [XML-Signature-RD].

1.3 Versions, Namespaces and Identifiers

No provision is made for an explicit version number in this syntax. If a future version is needed,
it will use a different namespace. The XML namespace [XML-ns] URI that MUST be used by
implementations of this (dated) specification is:
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#"

This namespace is also used as the prefix for algorithm identifiers used by this specification.
While applications MUST support XML and XML namespaces, the use of internal entities [XML]
or our "dsig" XML namespace prefix and defaulting/scoping conventions are OPTIONAL; we use
these facilities to provide compact and readable examples.
This specification uses Uniform Resource Identifiers [URI] to identify resources, algorithms, and
semantics. The URI in the namespace declaration above is also used as a prefix for URIs under
the control of this specification. For resources not under the control of this specification, we use
the designated Uniform Resource Names [URN] or Uniform Resource Locators [URL] defined by
its normative external specification. If an external specification has not allocated itself a Uniform
Resource Identifier we allocate an identifier under our own namespace. For instance:
SignatureProperties is identified and defined by this specification's namespace

http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#SignatureProperties
XSLT is identified and defined by an external URI
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xslt-19991116
SHA1 is identified via this specification's namespace and defined via a normative
reference
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1
FIPS PUB 180-2. Secure Hash Standard. U.S. Department of Commerce/National Institute
of Standards and Technology.
Finally, in order to provide for terse namespace declarations we sometimes use XML internal
entities [XML] within URIs. For instance:
<?xml version='1.0'?>
<!DOCTYPE Signature SYSTEM
"xmldsig-core-schema.dtd" [ <!ENTITY dsig
"http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#"> ]>
<Signature xmlns="&dsig;" Id="MyFirstSignature">
<SignedInfo>
...

1.4 Acknowledgements
The contributions of the following Working Group members to this specification are gratefully
acknowledged:
Mark Bartel, Adobe, was Accelio (Author)
John Boyer, IBM (Author)

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Mariano P. Consens, University of Waterloo

John Cowan, Reuters Health
Donald Eastlake 3rd, Motorola (Chair, Author/Editor)
Barb Fox, Microsoft (Author)
Christian Geuer-Pollmann, University Siegen
Tom Gindin, IBM
Phillip Hallam-Baker, VeriSign Inc
Richard Himes, US Courts
Merlin Hughes, Baltimore
Gregor Karlinger, IAIK TU Graz
Brian LaMacchia, Microsoft (Author)
Peter Lipp, IAIK TU Graz
Joseph Reagle, NYU, was W3C (Chair, Author/Editor)
Ed Simon, XMLsec (Author)
David Solo, Citigroup (Author/Editor)
Petteri Stenius, Capslock
Raghavan Srinivas, Sun
Kent Tamura, IBM
Winchel Todd Vincent III, GSU
Carl Wallace, Corsec Security, Inc.
Greg Whitehead, Signio Inc.
As are the Last Call comments from the following:
Dan Connolly, W3C
Paul Biron, Kaiser Permanente, on behalf of the XML Schema WG.
Martin J. Duerst, W3C; and Masahiro Sekiguchi, Fujitsu; on behalf of the
Internationalization WG/IG.
Jonathan Marsh, Microsoft, on behalf of the Extensible Stylesheet Language WG.
The following members of the XML Security Specification Maintenance Working Group
contributed to the second edition:
Juan Carlos Cruellas, Universitat Politcnica de Catalunya
Pratik Datta, Oracle Corporation
Phillip Hallam-Baker, VeriSign, Inc.
Frederick Hirsch, Nokia, (Chair, Editor)
Konrad Lanz, A-SIT
Hal Lockhart, BEA Systems, Inc.
Robert Miller, MITRE Corporation
Sean Mullan, Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Bruce Rich, IBM Corporation
Thomas Roessler, W3C/ERCIM, (Staff contact, Editor)
Ed Simon, W3C Invited Expert
Greg Whitehead, HP

2.0 Signature Overview and Examples

This section provides an overview and examples of XML digital signature syntax. The specific
processing is given in Processing Rules (section 3). The formal syntax is found in Core
Signature Syntax (section 4) and Additional Signature Syntax (section 5).
In this section, an informal representation and examples are used to describe the structure of
the XML signature syntax. This representation and examples may omit attributes, details and
potential features that are fully explained later.

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XML Signatures are applied to arbitrary digital content (data objects) via an indirection. Data
objects are digested, the resulting value is placed in an element (with other information) and
that element is then digested and cryptographically signed. XML digital signatures are
represented by the Signature element which has the following structure (where "?" denotes
zero or one occurrence; "+" denotes one or more occurrences; and "*" denotes zero or more
occurrences):
<Signature ID?>
<SignedInfo>
<CanonicalizationMethod/>
<SignatureMethod/>
(<Reference URI? >
(<Transforms>)?
<DigestMethod>
<DigestValue>
</Reference>)+
</SignedInfo>
<SignatureValue>
(<KeyInfo>)?
(<Object ID?>)*
</Signature>

Signatures are related to data objects via URIs [URI]. Within an XML document, signatures are
related to local data objects via fragment identifiers. Such local data can be included within an
enveloping signature or can enclose an enveloped signature. Detached signatures are over
external network resources or local data objects that reside within the same XML document as
sibling elements; in this case, the signature is neither enveloping (signature is parent) nor
enveloped (signature is child). Since a Signature element (and its Id attribute value/name) may
co-exist or be combined with other elements (and their IDs) within a single XML document, care
should be taken in choosing names such that there are no subsequent collisions that violate
the ID uniqueness validity constraint [XML].

2.1 Simple Example (Signature, SignedInfo, Methods, and Reference)s

The following example is a detached signature of the content of the HTML4 in XML
specification.
[s01] <Signature Id="MyFirstSignature" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#">
[s02]
<SignedInfo>
[s03]
<CanonicalizationMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11"/>
[s04]
<SignatureMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#dsa-sha1"/>
[s05]
<Reference URI="http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/REC-xhtml1-20000126/">
[s06]
<Transforms>
[s07]
<Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11"/>
[s08]
</Transforms>
[s09]
<DigestMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1"/>
[s10]
<DigestValue>dGhpcyBpcyBub3QgYSBzaWduYXR1cmUK.../DigestValue>
[s11]
</Reference>
[s12] </SignedInfo>
[s13]
<SignatureValue>...</SignatureValue>
[s14]
<KeyInfo>
[s15a]
<KeyValue>
[s15b]
<DSAKeyValue>
[s15c]
<P>...</P><Q>...</Q><G>...</G><Y>...</Y>
[s15d]
</DSAKeyValue>
[s15e]
</KeyValue>
[s16]
</KeyInfo>
[s17] </Signature>
[s02-12] The required SignedInfo element is the information that is actually signed. Core

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validation of SignedInfo consists of two mandatory processes: validation of the signature over
SignedInfo and validation of each Reference digest within SignedInfo. Note that the algorithms
used in calculating the SignatureValue are also included in the signed information while the
SignatureValue element is outside SignedInfo.
[s03] The CanonicalizationMethod is the algorithm that is used to canonicalize the SignedInfo

element before it is digested as part of the signature operation. Note that this example, and all
examples in this specification, are not in canonical form.
[s04] The SignatureMethod is the algorithm that is used to convert the canonicalized
SignedInfo into the SignatureValue. It is a combination of a digest algorithm and a key

dependent algorithm and possibly other algorithms such as padding, for example RSA-SHA1.
The algorithm names are signed to resist attacks based on substituting a weaker algorithm. To
promote application interoperability we specify a set of signature algorithms that MUST be
implemented, though their use is at the discretion of the signature creator. We specify
additional algorithms as RECOMMENDED or OPTIONAL for implementation; the design also
permits arbitrary user specified algorithms.
[s05-11] Each Reference element includes the digest method and resulting digest value

calculated over the identified data object. It also may include transformations that produced the
input to the digest operation. A data object is signed by computing its digest value and a
signature over that value. The signature is later checked via reference and signature validation.
[s14-16] KeyInfo indicates the key to be used to validate the signature. Possible forms for

identification include certificates, key names, and key agreement algorithms and information -we define only a few. KeyInfo is optional for two reasons. First, the signer may not wish to
reveal key information to all document processing parties. Second, the information may be
known within the application's context and need not be represented explicitly. Since KeyInfo is
outside of SignedInfo, if the signer wishes to bind the keying information to the signature, a
Reference can easily identify and include the KeyInfo as part of the signature.

2.1.1 More on Reference

[s05]
[s06]
[s07]
[s08]
[s09]
[s10]
[s11]

<Reference URI="http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/REC-xhtml1-20000126/">
<Transforms>
<Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11"/>
</Transforms>
<DigestMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1"/>
<DigestValue>dGhpcyBpcyBub3QgYSBzaWduYXR1cmUK...</DigestValue>
</Reference>

[s05] The optional URI attribute of Reference identifies the data object to be signed. This
attribute may be omitted on at most one Reference in a Signature. (This limitation is imposed in

order to ensure that references and objects may be matched unambiguously.)

[s05-08] This identification, along with the transforms, is a description provided by the signer

on how they obtained the signed data object in the form it was digested (i.e. the digested
content). The verifier may obtain the digested content in another method so long as the digest
verifies. In particular, the verifier may obtain the content from a different location such as a local
store than that specified in the URI.
[s06-08] Transforms is an optional ordered list of processing steps that were applied to the

resource's content before it was digested. Transforms can include operations such as
canonicalization, encoding/decoding (including compression/inflation), XSLT, XPath, XML
schema validation, or XInclude. XPath transforms permit the signer to derive an XML document
that omits portions of the source document. Consequently those excluded portions can change

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without affecting signature validity. For example, if the resource being signed encloses the
signature itself, such a transform must be used to exclude the signature value from its own
computation. If no Transforms element is present, the resource's content is digested directly.
While the Working Group has specified mandatory (and optional) canonicalization and
decoding algorithms, user specified transforms are permitted.
[s09-10] DigestMethod is the algorithm applied to the data after Transforms is applied (if
specified) to yield the DigestValue. The signing of the DigestValue is what binds a resources

content to the signer's key.

2.2 Extended Example (Object and SignatureProperty)

This specification does not address mechanisms for making statements or assertions. Instead,
this document defines what it means for something to be signed by an XML Signature (integrity,
message authentication, and/or signer authentication). Applications that wish to represent other
semantics must rely upon other technologies, such as [XML, RDF]. For instance, an application
might use a foo:assuredby attribute within its own markup to reference a Signature element.
Consequently, it's the application that must understand and know how to make trust decisions
given the validity of the signature and the meaning of assuredby syntax. We also define a
SignatureProperties element type for the inclusion of assertions about the signature itself
(e.g., signature semantics, the time of signing or the serial number of hardware used in
cryptographic processes). Such assertions may be signed by including a Reference for the
SignatureProperties in SignedInfo. While the signing application should be very careful about
what it signs (it should understand what is in the SignatureProperty) a receiving application
has no obligation to understand that semantic (though its parent trust engine may wish to). Any
content about the signature generation may be located within the SignatureProperty element.
The mandatory Target attribute references the Signature element to which the property
applies.
Consider the preceding example with an additional reference to a local Object that includes a
SignatureProperty element. (Such a signature would not only be detached [p02] but
enveloping [p03].)
[
] <Signature Id="MySecondSignature" ...>
[p01] <SignedInfo>
[
]
...
[p02]
<Reference URI="http://www.w3.org/TR/xml-stylesheet/">
[
]
...
[p03]
<Reference URI="#AMadeUpTimeStamp"
[p04]
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#SignatureProperties">
[p05]
<Transforms>
[p06]
<Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11"/>
[p07]
</Transforms>
[p08]
<DigestMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1"/>
[p09]
<DigestValue>dGhpcyBpcyBub3QgYSBzaWduYXR1cmUK...</DigestValue>
[p10]
</Reference>
[p11] </SignedInfo>
[p12] ...
[p13] <Object>
[p14]
<SignatureProperties>
[p15]
<SignatureProperty Id="AMadeUpTimeStamp" Target="#MySecondSignature">
[p16]
<timestamp xmlns="http://www.ietf.org/rfcXXXX.txt">
[p17]
<date>19990914</date>
[p18]
<time>14:34:34:34</time>
[p19]
</timestamp>
[p20]
</SignatureProperty>
[p21]
</SignatureProperties>
[p22] </Object>
[p23]</Signature>

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[p04] The optional Type attribute of Reference provides information about the resource identified
by the URI. In particular, it can indicate that it is an Object, SignatureProperty, or Manifest
element. This can be used by applications to initiate special processing of some Reference
elements. References to an XML data element within an Object element SHOULD identify the

actual element pointed to. Where the element content is not XML (perhaps it is binary or
encoded data) the reference should identify the Object and the Reference Type, if given,
SHOULD indicate Object. Note that Type is advisory and no action based on it or checking of its
correctness is required by core behavior.
[p13] Object is an optional element for including data objects within the signature element or
elsewhere. The Object can be optionally typed and/or encoded.
[p14-21] Signature properties, such as time of signing, can be optionally signed by identifying
them from within a Reference. (These properties are traditionally called signature "attributes"

although that term has no relationship to the XML term "attribute".)

2.3 Extended Example (Object and Manifest)

The Manifest element is provided to meet additional requirements not directly addressed by the
mandatory parts of this specification. Two requirements and the way the Manifest satisfies them
follow.
First, applications frequently need to efficiently sign multiple data objects even where the
signature operation itself is an expensive public key signature. This requirement can be met by
including multiple Reference elements within SignedInfo since the inclusion of each digest
secures the data digested. However, some applications may not want the core validation
behavior associated with this approach because it requires every Reference within SignedInfo to
undergo reference validation -- the DigestValue elements are checked. These applications may
wish to reserve reference validation decision logic to themselves. For example, an application
might receive a signature valid SignedInfo element that includes three Reference elements. If a
single Reference fails (the identified data object when digested does not yield the specified
DigestValue) the signature would fail core validation. However, the application may wish to treat
the signature over the two valid Reference elements as valid or take different actions depending
on which fails. To accomplish this, SignedInfo would reference a Manifest element that
contains one or more Reference elements (with the same structure as those in SignedInfo).
Then, reference validation of the Manifest is under application control.
Second, consider an application where many signatures (using different keys) are applied to a
large number of documents. An inefficient solution is to have a separate signature (per key)
repeatedly applied to a large SignedInfo element (with many References); this is wasteful and
redundant. A more efficient solution is to include many references in a single Manifest that is
then referenced from multiple Signature elements.
The example below includes a Reference that signs a Manifest found within the Object
element.
[
] ...
[m01]
<Reference URI="#MyFirstManifest"
[m02]
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#Manifest">
[m03]
<Transforms>
[m04]
<Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11"/>
[m05]
</Transforms>
[m06]
<DigestMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1"/>
[m07]
<DigestValue>dGhpcyBpcyBub3QgYSBzaWduYXR1cmUK...=</DigestValue>
[m08]
</Reference>
[
] ...

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[m09] <Object>
[m10]
<Manifest Id="MyFirstManifest">
[m11]
<Reference>
[m12]
...
[m13]
</Reference>
[m14]
<Reference>
[m15]
...
[m16]
</Reference>
[m17]
</Manifest>
[m18] </Object>

3.0 Processing Rules

The sections below describe the operations to be performed as part of signature generation and
validation.

3.1 Core Generation

The REQUIRED steps include the generation of Reference elements and the SignatureValue
over SignedInfo.
3.1.1 Reference Generation
For each data object being signed:
1. Apply the Transforms, as determined by the application, to the data object.
2. Calculate the digest value over the resulting data object.
3. Create a Reference element, including the (optional) identification of the data object, any
(optional) transform elements, the digest algorithm and the DigestValue. (Note, it is the
canonical form of these references that are signed in 3.1.2 and validated in 3.2.1 .)
The Reference Processing Model (section 4.3.3.2) requires use of Canonical XML 1.0
[XML-C14N] as default processing behavior when a transformation is expecting an octet-stream,
but the data object resulting from URI dereferencing or from the previous transformation in the
list of Transform elements is a node-set. We RECOMMEND that, when generating signatures,
signature applications do not rely on this default behavior, but explicitly identify the
transformation that is applied to perform this mapping. In cases in which inclusive
canonicalization is desired, we RECOMMEND that Canonical XML 1.1 [XML-C14N11] be used.
3.1.2 Signature Generation
1. Create SignedInfo element with SignatureMethod, CanonicalizationMethod and
Reference(s).
2. Canonicalize and then calculate the SignatureValue over SignedInfo based on algorithms
specified in SignedInfo.
3. Construct the Signature element that includes SignedInfo, Object(s) (if desired, encoding
may be different than that used for signing), KeyInfo (if required), and SignatureValue.
Note, if the Signature includes same-document references, [XML] or [XML-schema]
validation of the document might introduce changes that break the signature.
Consequently, applications should be careful to consistently process the document or
refrain from using external contributions (e.g., defaults and entities).

3.2 Core Validation

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The REQUIRED steps of core validation include (1) reference validation, the verification of the
digest contained in each Reference in SignedInfo, and (2) the cryptographic signature
validation of the signature calculated over SignedInfo.
Note, there may be valid signatures that some signature applications are unable to validate.
Reasons for this include failure to implement optional parts of this specification, inability or
unwillingness to execute specified algorithms, or inability or unwillingness to dereference
specified URIs (some URI schemes may cause undesirable side effects), etc.
Comparison of values in reference and signature validation are over the numeric (e.g., integer)
or decoded octet sequence of the value. Different implementations may produce different
encoded digest and signature values when processing the same resources because of
variances in their encoding, such as accidental white space. But if one uses numeric or octet
comparison (choose one) on both the stated and computed values these problems are
eliminated.
3.2.1 Reference Validation
1. Canonicalize the SignedInfo element based on the CanonicalizationMethod in
SignedInfo.
2. For each Reference in SignedInfo:
1. Obtain the data object to be digested. (For example, the signature application may
dereference the URI and execute Transforms provided by the signer in the Reference
element, or it may obtain the content through other means such as a local cache.)
2. Digest the resulting data object using the DigestMethod specified in its Reference
specification.
3. Compare the generated digest value against DigestValue in the SignedInfo
Reference; if there is any mismatch, validation fails.
Note, SignedInfo is canonicalized in step 1. The application must ensure that the
CanonicalizationMethod has no dangerous side affects, such as rewriting URIs, (see
CanonicalizationMethod (section 4.3)) and that it Sees What is Signed, which is the canonical
form.
3.2.2 Signature Validation
1. Obtain the keying information from KeyInfo or from an external source.
2. Obtain the canonical form of the SignatureMethod using the CanonicalizationMethod and
use the result (and previously obtained KeyInfo) to confirm the SignatureValue over the
SignedInfo element.
Note, KeyInfo (or some transformed version thereof) may be signed via a Reference element.
Transformation and validation of this reference (3.2.1) is orthogonal to Signature Validation
which uses the KeyInfo as parsed.
Additionally, the SignatureMethod URI may have been altered by the canonicalization of
SignedInfo (e.g., absolutization of relative URIs) and it is the canonical form that MUST be
used. However, the required canonicalization [XML-C14N] of this specification does not change
URIs.

4.0 Core Signature Syntax

The general structure of an XML signature is described in Signature Overview (section 2). This

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section provides detailed syntax of the core signature features. Features described in this
section are mandatory to implement unless otherwise indicated. The syntax is defined via DTDs
and [XML-Schema] with the following XML preamble, declaration, and internal entity.
Schema Definition:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE schema
PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XMLSchema 200102//EN" "http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema.dtd"
[
<!ATTLIST schema
xmlns:ds CDATA #FIXED "http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#">
<!ENTITY dsig 'http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#'>
<!ENTITY % p ''>
<!ENTITY % s ''>
]>
<schema xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
xmlns:ds="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#"
targetNamespace="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#"
version="0.1" elementFormDefault="qualified">
DTD:
<!-The following entity declarations enable external/flexible content in
the Signature content model.
#PCDATA emulates schema:string; when combined with element types it
emulates schema mixed="true".
%foo.ANY permits the user to include their own element types from
other namespaces, for example:
<!ENTITY % KeyValue.ANY '| ecds:ECDSAKeyValue'>
...
<!ELEMENT ecds:ECDSAKeyValue (#PCDATA) >
-->
<!ENTITY
<!ENTITY
<!ENTITY
<!ENTITY
<!ENTITY
<!ENTITY
<!ENTITY
<!ENTITY
<!ENTITY

%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%
%

Object.ANY ''>
Method.ANY ''>
Transform.ANY ''>
SignatureProperty.ANY ''>
KeyInfo.ANY ''>
KeyValue.ANY ''>
PGPData.ANY ''>
X509Data.ANY ''>
SPKIData.ANY ''>

4.0.1 The ds:CryptoBinary Simple Type

This specification defines the ds:CryptoBinary simple type for representing arbitrary-length
integers (e.g. "bignums") in XML as octet strings. The integer value is first converted to a "big
endian" bitstring. The bitstring is then padded with leading zero bits so that the total number of
bits == 0 mod 8 (so that there are an integral number of octets). If the bitstring contains entire
leading octets that are zero, these are removed (so the high-order octet is always non-zero).
This octet string is then base64 [MIME] encoded. (The conversion from integer to octet string is
equivalent to IEEE 1363's I2OSP [1363] with minimal length).
This type is used by "bignum" values such as RSAKeyValue and DSAKeyValue. If a value can be
of type base64Binary or ds:CryptoBinary they are defined as base64Binary. For example, if the
signature algorithm is RSA or DSA then SignatureValue represents a bignum and could be

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ds:CryptoBinary. However, if HMAC-SHA1 is the signature algorithm then SignatureValue

could have leading zero octets that must be preserved. Thus SignatureValue is generically
defined as of type base64Binary.
Schema Definition:
<simpleType name="CryptoBinary">
<restriction base="base64Binary">
</restriction>
</simpleType>

4.1 The Signature element

The Signature element is the root element of an XML Signature. Implementation MUST
generate laxly schema valid [XML-schema] Signature elements as specified by the following
schema:
Schema Definition:
<element name="Signature" type="ds:SignatureType"/>
<complexType name="SignatureType">
<sequence>
<element ref="ds:SignedInfo"/>
<element ref="ds:SignatureValue"/>
<element ref="ds:KeyInfo" minOccurs="0"/>
<element ref="ds:Object" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</sequence>
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT Signature (SignedInfo, SignatureValue, KeyInfo?, Object*)
<!ATTLIST Signature
xmlns
CDATA
#FIXED 'http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#'
Id
ID #IMPLIED >

>

4.2 The SignatureValue Element

The SignatureValue element contains the actual value of the digital signature; it is always
encoded using base64 [MIME]. While we identify two SignatureMethod algorithms, one
mandatory and one optional to implement, user specified algorithms may be used as well.
Schema Definition:
<element name="SignatureValue" type="ds:SignatureValueType"/>
<complexType name="SignatureValueType">
<simpleContent>
<extension base="base64Binary">
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
</extension>
</simpleContent>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT SignatureValue (#PCDATA) >
<!ATTLIST SignatureValue
Id ID
#IMPLIED>

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4.3 The SignedInfo Element

The structure of SignedInfo includes the canonicalization algorithm, a signature algorithm, and
one or more references. The SignedInfo element may contain an optional ID attribute that will
allow it to be referenced by other signatures and objects.
SignedInfo does not include explicit signature or digest properties (such as calculation time,

cryptographic device serial number, etc.). If an application needs to associate properties with
the signature or digest, it may include such information in a SignatureProperties element
within an Object element.
Schema Definition:
<element name="SignedInfo" type="ds:SignedInfoType"/>
<complexType name="SignedInfoType">
<sequence>
<element ref="ds:CanonicalizationMethod"/>
<element ref="ds:SignatureMethod"/>
<element ref="ds:Reference" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</sequence>
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT SignedInfo (CanonicalizationMethod,
SignatureMethod, Reference+) >
<!ATTLIST SignedInfo
Id
ID
#IMPLIED

4.3.1 The CanonicalizationMethod Element

CanonicalizationMethod is a required element that specifies the canonicalization algorithm
applied to the SignedInfo element prior to performing signature calculations. This element uses

the general structure for algorithms described in Algorithm Identifiers and Implementation
Requirements (section 6.1). Implementations MUST support the REQUIRED canonicalization
algorithms.
Alternatives to the REQUIRED canonicalization algorithms (section 6.5), such as Canonical XML
with Comments (section 6.5.1) or a minimal canonicalization (such as CRLF and charset
normalization), may be explicitly specified but are NOT REQUIRED. Consequently, their use
may not interoperate with other applications that do not support the specified algorithm (see
XML Canonicalization and Syntax Constraint Considerations, section 7). Security issues may
also arise in the treatment of entity processing and comments if non-XML aware
canonicalization algorithms are not properly constrained (see section 8.2: Only What is "Seen"
Should be Signed).
The way in which the SignedInfo element is presented to the canonicalization method is
dependent on that method. The following applies to algorithms which process XML as nodes or
characters:
XML based canonicalization implementations MUST be provided with a [XPath] node-set
originally formed from the document containing the SignedInfo and currently indicating
the SignedInfo, its descendants, and the attribute and namespace nodes of SignedInfo
and its descendant elements.
Text based canonicalization algorithms (such as CRLF and charset normalization) should

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be provided with the UTF-8 octets that represent the well-formed SignedInfo element,
from the first character to the last character of the XML representation, inclusive. This
includes the entire text of the start and end tags of the SignedInfo element as well as all
descendant markup and character data (i.e., the text) between those tags. Use of text
based canonicalization of SignedInfo is NOT RECOMMENDED.
We recommend applications that implement a text-based instead of XML-based
canonicalization -- such as resource constrained apps -- generate canonicalized XML as their
output serialization so as to mitigate interoperability and security concerns. For instance, such
an implementation SHOULD (at least) generate standalone XML instances [XML].
NOTE: The signature application must exercise great care in accepting and executing an
arbitrary CanonicalizationMethod. For example, the canonicalization method could rewrite the
URIs of the References being validated. Or, the method could massively transform SignedInfo
so that validation would always succeed (i.e., converting it to a trivial signature with a known key
over trivial data). Since CanonicalizationMethod is inside SignedInfo, in the resulting canonical
form it could erase itself from SignedInfo or modify the SignedInfo element so that it appears
that a different canonicalization function was used! Thus a Signature which appears to
authenticate the desired data with the desired key, DigestMethod, and SignatureMethod, can be
meaningless if a capricious CanonicalizationMethod is used.
Schema Definition:
<element name="CanonicalizationMethod" type="ds:CanonicalizationMethodType"/>
<complexType name="CanonicalizationMethodType" mixed="true">
<sequence>
<any namespace="##any" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
<!-- (0,unbounded) elements from (1,1) namespace -->
</sequence>
<attribute name="Algorithm" type="anyURI" use="required"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT CanonicalizationMethod (#PCDATA %Method.ANY;)* >
<!ATTLIST CanonicalizationMethod
Algorithm CDATA #REQUIRED >

4.3.2 The SignatureMethod Element

SignatureMethod is a required element that specifies the algorithm used for signature

generation and validation. This algorithm identifies all cryptographic functions involved in the
signature operation (e.g. hashing, public key algorithms, MACs, padding, etc.). This element
uses the general structure here for algorithms described in section 6.1: Algorithm Identifiers and
Implementation Requirements. While there is a single identifier, that identifier may specify a
format containing multiple distinct signature values.
Schema Definition:
<element name="SignatureMethod" type="ds:SignatureMethodType"/>
<complexType name="SignatureMethodType" mixed="true">
<sequence>
<element name="HMACOutputLength" minOccurs="0" type="ds:HMACOutputLengthType"/>
<any namespace="##other" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
<!-- (0,unbounded) elements from (1,1) external namespace -->
</sequence>
<attribute name="Algorithm" type="anyURI" use="required"/>
</complexType>

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DTD:
<!ELEMENT SignatureMethod (#PCDATA|HMACOutputLength %Method.ANY;)* >
<!ATTLIST SignatureMethod
Algorithm CDATA #REQUIRED >

4.3.3 The Reference Element

Reference is an element that may occur one or more times. It specifies a digest algorithm and

digest value, and optionally an identifier of the object being signed, the type of the object,
and/or a list of transforms to be applied prior to digesting. The identification (URI) and
transforms describe how the digested content (i.e., the input to the digest method) was created.
The Type attribute facilitates the processing of referenced data. For example, while this
specification makes no requirements over external data, an application may wish to signal that
the referent is a Manifest. An optional ID attribute permits a Reference to be referenced from
elsewhere.
Schema Definition:
<element name="Reference" type="ds:ReferenceType"/>
<complexType name="ReferenceType">
<sequence>
<element ref="ds:Transforms" minOccurs="0"/>
<element ref="ds:DigestMethod"/>
<element ref="ds:DigestValue"/>
</sequence>
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
<attribute name="URI" type="anyURI" use="optional"/>
<attribute name="Type" type="anyURI" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT Reference (Transforms?, DigestMethod, DigestValue)
<!ATTLIST Reference
Id ID #IMPLIED
URI CDATA
#IMPLIED
Type
CDATA
#IMPLIED>

>

4.3.3.1 The URI Attribute

The URI attribute identifies a data object using a URI-Reference [URI].
The mapping from this attribute's value to a URI reference MUST be performed as specified in
section 3.2.17 of [XMLSCHEMA Datatypes, 2nd Edition]. Additionally: Some existing
implementations are known to verify the value of the URI attribute against the grammar in [URI].
It is therefore safest to perform any necessary escaping while generating the URI attribute.
We RECOMMEND XML signature applications be able to dereference URIs in the HTTP
scheme. Dereferencing a URI in the HTTP scheme MUST comply with the Status Code
Definitions of [HTTP] (e.g., 302, 305 and 307 redirects are followed to obtain the entity-body of a
200 status code response). Applications should also be cognizant of the fact that protocol
parameter and state information, (such as HTTP cookies, HTML device profiles or content
negotiation), may affect the content yielded by dereferencing a URI.
If a resource is identified by more than one URI, the most specific should be used (e.g.
http://www.w3.org/2000/06/interop-pressrelease.html.en instead of http://www.w3.org/2000/06

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/interop-pressrelease). (See the Reference Validation (section 3.2.1) for a further information on
reference processing.)
If the URI attribute is omitted altogether, the receiving application is expected to know the
identity of the object. For example, a lightweight data protocol might omit this attribute given the
identity of the object is part of the application context. This attribute may be omitted from at
most one Reference in any particular SignedInfo, or Manifest.
The optional Type attribute contains information about the type of object being signed after all
ds:Reference transforms have been applied. This is represented as a URI. For example:
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#Object"
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#Manifest"

The Type attribute applies to the item being pointed at, not its contents. For example, a
reference that results in the digesting of an Object element containing a SignatureProperties
element is still of type #Object. The type attribute is advisory. No validation of the type
information is required by this specification.
4.3.3.2 The Reference Processing Model
Note: XPath is RECOMMENDED. Signature applications need not conform to [XPath]
specification in order to conform to this specification. However, the XPath data model,
definitions (e.g., node-sets) and syntax is used within this document in order to describe
functionality for those that want to process XML-as-XML (instead of octets) as part of
signature generation. For those that want to use these features, a conformant [XPath]
implementation is one way to implement these features, but it is not required. Such
applications could use a sufficiently functional replacement to a node-set and implement
only those XPath expression behaviors REQUIRED by this specification. However, for
simplicity we generally will use XPath terminology without including this qualification on
every point. Requirements over "XPath node-sets" can include a node-set functional
equivalent. Requirements over XPath processing can include application behaviors that are
equivalent to the corresponding XPath behavior.
The data-type of the result of URI dereferencing or subsequent Transforms is either an octet
stream or an XPath node-set.
The Transforms specified in this document are defined with respect to the input they require.
The following is the default signature application behavior:
If the data object is an octet stream and the next transform requires a node-set, the
signature application MUST attempt to parse the octets yielding the required node-set via
[XML] well-formed processing.
If the data object is a node-set and the next transform requires octets, the signature
application MUST attempt to convert the node-set to an octet stream using Canonical XML
[XML-C14N].
Users may specify alternative transforms that override these defaults in transitions between
transforms that expect different inputs. The final octet stream contains the data octets being
secured. The digest algorithm specified by DigestMethod is then applied to these data octets,
resulting in the DigestValue.
Note: The Reference Generation Model (section 3.1.1) includes further restrictions on the
reliance upon defined default transformations when applications generate signatures.

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In this specification, a 'same-document' reference is defined as a URI-Reference that consists of

a hash sign ('#') followed by a fragment or alternatively consists of an empty URI [URI].
Unless the URI-Reference is such a 'same-document' reference , the result of dereferencing the
URI-Reference MUST be an octet stream. In particular, an XML document identified by URI is
not parsed by the signature application unless the URI is a same-document reference or unless
a transform that requires XML parsing is applied. (See Transforms (section 4.3.3.1).)
When a fragment is preceded by an absolute or relative URI in the URI-Reference, the meaning
of the fragment is defined by the resource's MIME type. Even for XML documents, URI
dereferencing (including the fragment processing) might be done for the signature application
by a proxy. Therefore, reference validation might fail if fragment processing is not performed in
a standard way (as defined in the following section for same-document references).
Consequently, we RECOMMEND in this case that the URI attribute not include fragment
identifiers and that such processing be specified as an additional XPath Transform.
When a fragment is not preceded by a URI in the URI-Reference, XML Signature applications
MUST support the null URI and shortname XPointer [XPointer-Framework]. We RECOMMEND
support for the same-document XPointers '#xpointer(/)' and '#xpointer(id('ID'))' if the
application also intends to support any canonicalization that preserves comments. (Otherwise
URI="#foo" will automatically remove comments before the canonicalization can even be
invoked due to the processing defined in Same-Document URI-References (section 4.3.3.3).) All
other support for XPointers is OPTIONAL, especially all support for shortname and other
XPointers in external resources since the application may not have control over how the
fragment is generated (leading to interoperability problems and validation failures).
'#xpointer(/)' MUST be interpreted to identify the root node [XPath] of the document that
contains the URI attribute.
'#xpointer(id('ID'))' MUST be interpreted to identify the element node identified by
'#element(ID)' [XPointer-Element] when evaluated with respect to the document that contains
the URI attribute.
The original edition of this specification [XMLDSIG-2002] referenced the XPointer Candidate
Recommendation [XPTR-2001] and some implementations support it optionally. That Candidate
Recommendation has been superseded by the [XPointer-Framework], [XPointer-xmlns] and
[XPointer-Element] Recommendations, and -- at the time of this edition -- the [XPointer-xpointer]
Working Draft. Therefore, the use of the xpointer() scheme [XPointer-xpointer] beyond the
usage discussed in this section is discouraged.
The following examples demonstrate what the URI attribute identifies and how it is
dereferenced:
URI="http://example.com/bar.xml"

Identifies the octets that represent the external resource 'http://example.com/bar.xml', that
is probably an XML document given its file extension.
URI="http://example.com/bar.xml#chapter1"

Identifies the element with ID attribute value 'chapter1' of the external XML resource
'http://example.com/bar.xml', provided as an octet stream. Again, for the sake of
interoperability, the element identified as 'chapter1' should be obtained using an XPath
transform rather than a URI fragment (shortname XPointer resolution in external resources
is not REQUIRED in this specification).
URI=""

Identifies the node-set (minus any comment nodes) of the XML resource containing the
signature

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URI="#chapter1"

Identifies a node-set containing the element with ID attribute value 'chapter1' of the XML
resource containing the signature. XML Signature (and its applications) modify this
node-set to include the element plus all descendants including namespaces and
attributes -- but not comments.
4.3.3.3 Same-Document URI-References
Dereferencing a same-document reference MUST result in an XPath node-set suitable for use
by Canonical XML [XML-C14N]. Specifically, dereferencing a null URI (URI="") MUST result in
an XPath node-set that includes every non-comment node of the XML document containing the
URI attribute. In a fragment URI, the characters after the number sign ('#') character conform to
the XPointer syntax [XPointer-Framework]. When processing an XPointer, the application MUST
behave as if the XPointer was evaluated with respect to the XML document containing the URI
attribute . The application MUST behave as if the result of XPointer processing [XPointerFramework] were a node-set derived from the resultant subresource as follows:
1. include XPath nodes having full or partial content within the subresource
2. replace the root node with its children (if it is in the node-set)
3. replace any element node E with E plus all descendants of E (text, comment, PI, element)
and all namespace and attribute nodes of E and its descendant elements.
4. if the URI has no fragment identifier or the fragment identifier is a shortname XPointer,
then delete all comment nodes
The second to last replacement is necessary because XPointer typically indicates a subtree of
an XML document's parse tree using just the element node at the root of the subtree, whereas
Canonical XML treats a node-set as a set of nodes in which absence of descendant nodes
results in absence of their representative text from the canonical form.
The last step is performed for null URIs and shortname XPointers . It is necessary because
when [XML-C14N] or [XML-C14N11] is passed a node-set, it processes the node-set as is: with
or without comments. Only when it is called with an octet stream does it invoke its own XPath
expressions (default or without comments). Therefore to retain the default behavior of stripping
comments when passed a node-set, they are removed in the last step if the URI is not a
scheme-based XPointer. To retain comments while selecting an element by an identifier ID, use
the following scheme-based XPointer: URI='#xpointer(id('ID'))'. To retain comments while
selecting the entire document, use the following scheme-based XPointer: URI='#xpointer(/)'.
The interpretation of these XPointers is defined in The Reference Processing Model (section
4.3.3.2).
4.3.3.4 The Transforms Element
The optional Transforms element contains an ordered list of Transform elements; these
describe how the signer obtained the data object that was digested. The output of each
Transform serves as input to the next Transform. The input to the first Transform is the result of
dereferencing the URI attribute of the Reference element. The output from the last Transform is
the input for the DigestMethod algorithm. When transforms are applied the signer is not signing
the native (original) document but the resulting (transformed) document. (See Only What is
Signed is Secure (section 8.1).)
Each Transform consists of an Algorithm attribute and content parameters, if any, appropriate
for the given algorithm. The Algorithm attribute value specifies the name of the algorithm to be
performed, and the Transform content provides additional data to govern the algorithm's

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processing of the transform input. (See Algorithm Identifiers and Implementation Requirements
(section 6).)
As described in The Reference Processing Model (section 4.3.3.2), some transforms take an
XPath node-set as input, while others require an octet stream. If the actual input matches the
input needs of the transform, then the transform operates on the unaltered input. If the
transform input requirement differs from the format of the actual input, then the input must be
converted.
Some Transforms may require explicit MIME type, charset (IANA registered "character set"), or
other such information concerning the data they are receiving from an earlier Transform or the
source data, although no Transform algorithm specified in this document needs such explicit
information. Such data characteristics are provided as parameters to the Transform algorithm
and should be described in the specification for the algorithm.
Examples of transforms include but are not limited to base64 decoding [MIME], canonicalization
[XML-C14N], XPath filtering [XPath], and XSLT [XSLT]. The generic definition of the Transform
element also allows application-specific transform algorithms. For example, the transform could
be a decompression routine given by a Java class appearing as a base64 encoded parameter to
a Java Transform algorithm. However, applications should refrain from using application-specific
transforms if they wish their signatures to be verifiable outside of their application domain.
Transform Algorithms (section 6.6) defines the list of standard transformations.
Schema Definition:
<element name="Transforms" type="ds:TransformsType"/>
<complexType name="TransformsType">
<sequence>
<element ref="ds:Transform" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</sequence>
</complexType>
<element name="Transform" type="ds:TransformType"/>
<complexType name="TransformType" mixed="true">
<choice minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
<any namespace="##other" processContents="lax"/>
<!-- (1,1) elements from (0,unbounded) namespaces -->
<element name="XPath" type="string"/>
</choice>
<attribute name="Algorithm" type="anyURI" use="required"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT Transforms (Transform+)>
<!ELEMENT Transform (#PCDATA|XPath %Transform.ANY;)* >
<!ATTLIST Transform
Algorithm
CDATA
#REQUIRED >
<!ELEMENT XPath (#PCDATA) >

4.3.3.5 The DigestMethod Element

DigestMethod is a required element that identifies the digest algorithm to be applied to the

signed object. This element uses the general structure here for algorithms specified in
Algorithm Identifiers and Implementation Requirements (section 6.1).
If the result of the URI dereference and application of Transforms is an XPath node-set (or
sufficiently functional replacement implemented by the application) then it must be converted

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as described in the Reference Processing Model (section 4.3.3.2). If the result of URI
dereference and application of transforms is an octet stream, then no conversion occurs
(comments might be present if the Canonical XML with Comments was specified in the
Transforms). The digest algorithm is applied to the data octets of the resulting octet stream.
Schema Definition:
<element name="DigestMethod" type="ds:DigestMethodType"/>
<complexType name="DigestMethodType" mixed="true">
<sequence>
<any namespace="##other" processContents="lax" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</sequence>
<attribute name="Algorithm" type="anyURI" use="required"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT DigestMethod (#PCDATA %Method.ANY;)* >
<!ATTLIST DigestMethod
Algorithm
CDATA
#REQUIRED >

4.3.3.6 The DigestValue Element

DigestValue is an element that contains the encoded value of the digest. The digest is always
encoded using base64 [MIME].
Schema Definition:
<element name="DigestValue" type="ds:DigestValueType"/>
<simpleType name="DigestValueType">
<restriction base="base64Binary"/>
</simpleType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT DigestValue (#PCDATA) >
<!-- base64 encoded digest value -->

4.4 The KeyInfo Element

KeyInfo is an optional element that enables the recipient(s) to obtain the key needed to validate
the signature. KeyInfo may contain keys, names, certificates and other public key management

information, such as in-band key distribution or key agreement data. This specification defines a
few simple types but applications may extend those types or all together replace them with their
own key identification and exchange semantics using the XML namespace facility. [XML-ns]
However, questions of trust of such key information (e.g., its authenticity or strength) are out of
scope of this specification and left to the application.
If KeyInfo is omitted, the recipient is expected to be able to identify the key based on application
context. Multiple declarations within KeyInfo refer to the same key. While applications may
define and use any mechanism they choose through inclusion of elements from a different
namespace, compliant versions MUST implement KeyValue (section 4.4.2) and SHOULD
implement RetrievalMethod (section 4.4.3).
The schema/DTD specifications of many of KeyInfo's children (e.g., PGPData, SPKIData,
X509Data) permit their content to be extended/complemented with elements from another
namespace. This may be done only if it is safe to ignore these extension elements while
claiming support for the types defined in this specification. Otherwise, external elements,
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including alternative structures to those defined by this specification, MUST be a child of

KeyInfo. For example, should a complete XML-PGP standard be defined, its root element
MUST be a child of KeyInfo. (Of course, new structures from external namespaces can
incorporate elements from the &dsig; namespace via features of the type definition language.
For instance, they can create a DTD that mixes their own and dsig qualified elements, or a
schema that permits, includes, imports, or derives new types based on &dsig; elements.)
The following list summarizes the KeyInfo types that are allocated an identifier in the &dsig;
namespace; these can be used within the RetrievalMethod Type attribute to describe a remote
KeyInfo structure.
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#DSAKeyValue
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#RSAKeyValue
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#X509Data
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#PGPData
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#SPKIData
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#MgmtData
In addition to the types above for which we define an XML structure, we specify one additional
type to indicate a binary (ASN.1 DER) X.509 Certificate.
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rawX509Certificate
Schema Definition:
<element name="KeyInfo" type="ds:KeyInfoType"/>
<complexType name="KeyInfoType" mixed="true">
<choice maxOccurs="unbounded">
<element ref="ds:KeyName"/>
<element ref="ds:KeyValue"/>
<element ref="ds:RetrievalMethod"/>
<element ref="ds:X509Data"/>
<element ref="ds:PGPData"/>
<element ref="ds:SPKIData"/>
<element ref="ds:MgmtData"/>
<any processContents="lax" namespace="##other"/>
<!-- (1,1) elements from (0,unbounded) namespaces -->
</choice>
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT KeyInfo (#PCDATA|KeyName|KeyValue|RetrievalMethod|
X509Data|PGPData|SPKIData|MgmtData %KeyInfo.ANY;)* >
<!ATTLIST KeyInfo
Id ID
#IMPLIED >

4.4.1 The KeyName Element

The KeyName element contains a string value (in which white space is significant) which may be
used by the signer to communicate a key identifier to the recipient. Typically, KeyName contains
an identifier related to the key pair used to sign the message, but it may contain other protocolrelated information that indirectly identifies a key pair. (Common uses of KeyName include simple
string names for keys, a key index, a distinguished name (DN), an email address, etc.)
Schema Definition:
<element name="KeyName" type="string"/>

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DTD:
<!ELEMENT KeyName (#PCDATA) >

4.4.2 The KeyValue Element

The KeyValue element contains a single public key that may be useful in validating the
signature. Structured formats for defining DSA (REQUIRED) and RSA (RECOMMENDED)
public keys are defined in Signature Algorithms (section 6.4). The KeyValue element may
include externally defined public keys values represented as PCDATA or element types from an
external namespace.
Schema Definition:
<element name="KeyValue" type="ds:KeyValueType"/>
<complexType name="KeyValueType" mixed="true">
<choice>
<element ref="ds:DSAKeyValue"/>
<element ref="ds:RSAKeyValue"/>
<any namespace="##other" processContents="lax"/>
</choice>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT KeyValue (#PCDATA|DSAKeyValue|RSAKeyValue %KeyValue.ANY;)* >

4.4.2.1 The DSAKeyValue Element

Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#DSAKeyValue"
(this can be used within a RetrievalMethod or Reference element to identify the referent's

type)
DSA keys and the DSA signature algorithm are specified in [DSS]. DSA public key values can
have the following fields:
P

a prime modulus meeting the [DSS] requirements

Q

an integer in the range 2**159 < Q < 2**160 which is a prime divisor of P-1
G

an integer with certain properties with respect to P and Q

Y

G**X mod P (where X is part of the private key and not made public)
J

(P - 1) / Q
seed

a DSA prime generation seed

pgenCounter

a DSA prime generation counter

Parameter J is available for inclusion solely for efficiency as it is calculatable from P and Q.
Parameters seed and pgenCounter are used in the DSA prime number generation algorithm
specified in [DSS]. As such, they are optional but must either both be present or both be

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absent. This prime generation algorithm is designed to provide assurance that a weak prime is
not being used and it yields a P and Q value. Parameters P, Q, and G can be public and
common to a group of users. They might be known from application context. As such, they are
optional but P and Q must either both appear or both be absent. If all of P, Q, seed, and
pgenCounter are present, implementations are not required to check if they are consistent and
are free to use either P and Q or seed and pgenCounter. All parameters are encoded as base64
[MIME] values.
Arbitrary-length integers (e.g. "bignums" such as RSA moduli) are represented in XML as octet
strings as defined by the ds:CryptoBinary type.
Schema Definition:
<element name="DSAKeyValue" type="ds:DSAKeyValueType"/>
<complexType name="DSAKeyValueType">
<sequence>
<sequence minOccurs="0">
<element name="P" type="ds:CryptoBinary"/>
<element name="Q" type="ds:CryptoBinary"/>
</sequence>
<element name="G" type="ds:CryptoBinary" minOccurs="0"/>
<element name="Y" type="ds:CryptoBinary"/>
<element name="J" type="ds:CryptoBinary" minOccurs="0"/>
<sequence minOccurs="0">
<element name="Seed" type="ds:CryptoBinary"/>
<element name="PgenCounter" type="ds:CryptoBinary"/>
</sequence>
</sequence>
</complexType>
DTD Definition:
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT

DSAKeyValue ((P, Q)?, G?, Y, J?, (Seed, PgenCounter)?) >

P (#PCDATA) >
Q (#PCDATA) >
G (#PCDATA) >
Y (#PCDATA) >
J (#PCDATA) >
Seed (#PCDATA) >
PgenCounter (#PCDATA) >

4.4.2.2 The RSAKeyValue Element

Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#RSAKeyValue"
(this can be used within a RetrievalMethod or Reference element to identify the referent's

type)
RSA key values have two fields: Modulus and Exponent.
<RSAKeyValue>
<Modulus>xA7SEU+e0yQH5rm9kbCDN9o3aPIo7HbP7tX6WOocLZAtNfyxSZDU16ksL6W
jubafOqNEpcwR3RdFsT7bCqnXPBe5ELh5u4VEy19MzxkXRgrMvavzyBpVRgBUwUlV
5foK5hhmbktQhyNdy/6LpQRhDUDsTvK+g9Ucj47es9AQJ3U=
</Modulus>
<Exponent>AQAB</Exponent>
</RSAKeyValue>

Arbitrary-length integers (e.g. "bignums" such as RSA moduli) are represented in XML as octet
strings as defined by the ds:CryptoBinary type.

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Schema Definition:
<element name="RSAKeyValue" type="ds:RSAKeyValueType"/>
<complexType name="RSAKeyValueType">
<sequence>
<element name="Modulus" type="ds:CryptoBinary"/>
<element name="Exponent" type="ds:CryptoBinary"/>
</sequence>
</complexType>
DTD Definition:
<!ELEMENT RSAKeyValue (Modulus, Exponent) >
<!ELEMENT Modulus (#PCDATA) >
<!ELEMENT Exponent (#PCDATA) >

4.4.3 The RetrievalMethod Element

A RetrievalMethod element within KeyInfo is used to convey a reference to KeyInfo information
that is stored at another location. For example, several signatures in a document might use a
key verified by an X.509v3 certificate chain appearing once in the document or remotely outside
the document; each signature's KeyInfo can reference this chain using a single
RetrievalMethod element instead of including the entire chain with a sequence of
X509Certificate elements.
RetrievalMethod uses the same syntax and dereferencing behavior as Reference's URI (section

4.3.3.1) and The Reference Processing Model (section 4.3.3.2) except that there is no
DigestMethod or DigestValue child elements and presence of the URI is mandatory.
Type is an optional identifier for the type of data retrieved after all transforms have been applied.
The result of dereferencing a RetrievalMethod Reference for all KeyInfo types defined by this

specification (section 4.4) with a corresponding XML structure is an XML element or document
with that element as the root. The rawX509Certificate KeyInfo (for which there is no XML
structure) returns a binary X509 certificate.
Schema Definition
<element name="RetrievalMethod" type="ds:RetrievalMethodType"/>
<complexType name="RetrievalMethodType">
<sequence>
<element ref="ds:Transforms" minOccurs="0"/>
</sequence>
<attribute name="URI" type="anyURI"/>
<attribute name="Type" type="anyURI" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
DTD
<!ELEMENT RetrievalMethod (Transforms?) >
<!ATTLIST RetrievalMethod
URI
CDATA #REQUIRED
Type CDATA #IMPLIED >

Note: The schema for the URI attribute of RetrievalMethod erroneously omitted the attribute:
use="required"

The DTD is correct. However, this error only results in a more lax schema which permits all valid
RetrievalMethod elements. Because the existing schema is embedded in many applications,
which may include the schema in their signatures, the schema has not been corrected to be

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more restrictive.
4.4.4 The X509Data Element
Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#X509Data "
(this can be used within a RetrievalMethod or Reference element to identify the referent's
type)

An X509Data element within KeyInfo contains one or more identifiers of keys or X509 certificates
(or certificates' identifiers or a revocation list). The content of X509Data is:
1. At least one element, from the following set of element types; any of these may appear
together or more than once iff (if and only if) each instance describes or is related to the
same certificate:
The X509IssuerSerial element, which contains an X.509 issuer distinguished
name/serial number pair. The distinguished name SHOULD be represented as a
string that complies with section 3 of RFC4514 [LDAP-DN], to be generated
according to the Distinguished Name Encoding Rules section below,
The X509SubjectName element, which contains an X.509 subject distinguished name
that SHOULD be represented as a string that complies with section 3 of RFC4514
[LDAP-DN], to be generated according to the Distinguished Name Encoding Rules
section below,
The X509SKI element, which contains the base64 encoded plain (i.e. non-DERencoded) value of a X509 V.3 SubjectKeyIdentifier extension.
The X509Certificate element, which contains a base64-encoded [X509v3]
certificate, and
Elements from an external namespace which accompanies/complements any of the
elements above.
The X509CRL element, which contains a base64-encoded certificate revocation list
(CRL) [X509v3].
Any X509IssuerSerial, X509SKI, and X509SubjectName elements that appear MUST refer to the
certificate or certificates containing the validation key. All such elements that refer to a particular
individual certificate MUST be grouped inside a single X509Data element and if the certificate to
which they refer appears, it MUST also be in that X509Data element.
Any X509IssuerSerial, X509SKI, and X509SubjectName elements that relate to the same key but
different certificates MUST be grouped within a single KeyInfo but MAY occur in multiple
X509Data elements.
All certificates appearing in an X509Data element MUST relate to the validation key by either
containing it or being part of a certification chain that terminates in a certificate containing the
validation key.
No ordering is implied by the above constraints. The comments in the following instance
demonstrate these constraints:
<KeyInfo>
<X509Data> <!-- two pointers to certificate-A -->
<X509IssuerSerial>
<X509IssuerName>CN=TAMURA Kent, OU=TRL, O=IBM,
L=Yamato-shi, ST=Kanagawa, C=JP</X509IssuerName>
<X509SerialNumber>12345678</X509SerialNumber>
</X509IssuerSerial>
<X509SKI>31d97bd7</X509SKI>

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</X509Data>
<X509Data><!-- single pointer to certificate-B -->
<X509SubjectName>Subject of Certificate B</X509SubjectName>
</X509Data>
<X509Data> <!-- certificate chain -->
<!--Signer cert, issuer CN=arbolCA,OU=FVT,O=IBM,C=US, serial 4-->
<X509Certificate>MIICXTCCA..</X509Certificate>
<!-- Intermediate cert subject CN=arbolCA,OU=FVT,O=IBM,C=US
issuer CN=tootiseCA,OU=FVT,O=Bridgepoint,C=US -->
<X509Certificate>MIICPzCCA...</X509Certificate>
<!-- Root cert subject CN=tootiseCA,OU=FVT,O=Bridgepoint,C=US -->
<X509Certificate>MIICSTCCA...</X509Certificate>
</X509Data>
</KeyInfo>

Note, there is no direct provision for a PKCS#7 encoded "bag" of certificates or CRLs. However,
a set of certificates and CRLs can occur within an X509Data element and multiple X509Data
elements can occur in a KeyInfo. Whenever multiple certificates occur in an X509Data element,
at least one such certificate must contain the public key which verifies the signature.
4.4.4.1 Distinguished Name Encoding Rules
To encode a distinguished name (X509IssuerSerial,X509SubjectName, and KeyName if
appropriate), the encoding rules in section 2 of RFC 4514 [LDAP-DN] SHOULD be applied,
except that the character escaping rules in section 2.4 of RFC 4514 [LDAP-DN] MAY be
augmented as follows:
Escape all occurrences of ASCII control characters (Unicode range \x00 - \x1f) by
replacing them with "\" followed by a two digit hex number showing its Unicode number.
Escape any trailing space characters (Unicode \x20) by replacing them with "\20", instead
of using the escape sequence "\ ".
Since a XML document logically consists of characters, not octets, the resulting Unicode string
is finally encoded according to the character encoding used for producing the physical
representation of the XML document.
Schema Definition
<element name="X509Data" type="ds:X509DataType"/>
<complexType name="X509DataType">
<sequence maxOccurs="unbounded">
<choice>
<element name="X509IssuerSerial" type="ds:X509IssuerSerialType"/>
<element name="X509SKI" type="base64Binary"/>
<element name="X509SubjectName" type="string"/>
<element name="X509Certificate" type="base64Binary"/>
<element name="X509CRL" type="base64Binary"/>
<any namespace="##other" processContents="lax"/>
</choice>
</sequence>
</complexType>
<complexType name="X509IssuerSerialType">
<sequence>
<element name="X509IssuerName" type="string"/>
<element name="X509SerialNumber" type="integer"/>
</sequence>
</complexType>
DTD
<!ELEMENT X509Data ((X509IssuerSerial | X509SKI | X509SubjectName |

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<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT
<!ELEMENT

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X509Certificate | X509CRL)+ %X509.ANY;)>

X509IssuerSerial (X509IssuerName, X509SerialNumber) >
X509IssuerName (#PCDATA) >
X509SubjectName (#PCDATA) >
X509SerialNumber (#PCDATA) >
X509SKI (#PCDATA) >
X509Certificate (#PCDATA) >
X509CRL (#PCDATA) >

<!-- Note, this DTD and schema permit X509Data to be empty; this is
precluded by the text in KeyInfo Element (section 4.4) which states
that at least one element from the dsig namespace should be present
in the PGP, SPKI, and X509 structures. This is easily expressed for
the other key types, but not for X509Data because of its rich
structure. -->

4.4.5 The PGPData Element

Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#PGPData "
(this can be used within a RetrievalMethod or Reference element to identify the referent's
type)

The PGPData element within KeyInfo is used to convey information related to PGP public key
pairs and signatures on such keys. The PGPKeyID's value is a base64Binary sequence
containing a standard PGP public key identifier as defined in [PGP, section 11.2]. The
PGPKeyPacket contains a base64-encoded Key Material Packet as defined in [PGP, section 5.5].
These children element types can be complemented/extended by siblings from an external
namespace within PGPData, or PGPData can be replaced all together with an alternative PGP
XML structure as a child of KeyInfo. PGPData must contain one PGPKeyID and/or one
PGPKeyPacket and 0 or more elements from an external namespace.
Schema Definition:
<element name="PGPData" type="ds:PGPDataType"/>
<complexType name="PGPDataType">
<choice>
<sequence>
<element name="PGPKeyID" type="base64Binary"/>
<element name="PGPKeyPacket" type="base64Binary" minOccurs="0"/>
<any namespace="##other" processContents="lax" minOccurs="0"
maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</sequence>
<sequence>
<element name="PGPKeyPacket" type="base64Binary"/>
<any namespace="##other" processContents="lax" minOccurs="0"
maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</sequence>
</choice>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT PGPData ((PGPKeyID, PGPKeyPacket?) | (PGPKeyPacket) %PGPData.ANY;) >
<!ELEMENT PGPKeyPacket (#PCDATA) >
<!ELEMENT PGPKeyID (#PCDATA) >

4.4.6 The SPKIData Element

Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#SPKIData "

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(this can be used within a RetrievalMethod or Reference element to identify the referent's
type)
The SPKIData element within KeyInfo is used to convey information related to SPKI public key
pairs, certificates and other SPKI data. SPKISexp is the base64 encoding of a SPKI canonical
S-expression. SPKIData must have at least one SPKISexp; SPKISexp can be
complemented/extended by siblings from an external namespace within SPKIData, or SPKIData
can be entirely replaced with an alternative SPKI XML structure as a child of KeyInfo.
Schema Definition:
<element name="SPKIData" type="ds:SPKIDataType"/>
<complexType name="SPKIDataType">
<sequence maxOccurs="unbounded">
<element name="SPKISexp" type="base64Binary"/>
<any namespace="##other" processContents="lax" minOccurs="0"/>
</sequence>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT SPKIData (SPKISexp %SPKIData.ANY;)
<!ELEMENT SPKISexp (#PCDATA) >

>

4.4.7 The MgmtData Element

Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#MgmtData "
(this can be used within a RetrievalMethod or Reference element to identify the referent's
type)

The MgmtData element within KeyInfo is a string value used to convey in-band key distribution or
agreement data. For example, DH key exchange, RSA key encryption, etc. Use of this element
is NOT RECOMMENDED. It provides a syntactic hook where in-band key distribution or
agreement data can be placed. However, superior interoperable child elements of KeyInfo for
the transmission of encrypted keys and for key agreement are being specified by the W3C XML
Encryption Working Group and they should be used instead of MgmtData.
Schema Definition:
<element name="MgmtData" type="string"/>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT MgmtData (#PCDATA)>

4.5 The Object Element

Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#Object"
(this can be used within a Reference element to identify the referent's type)
Object is an optional element that may occur one or more times. When present, this element
may contain any data. The Object element may include optional MIME type, ID, and encoding

attributes.
The Object's Encoding attributed may be used to provide a URI that identifies the method by

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which the object is encoded (e.g., a binary file).

The MimeType attribute is an optional attribute which describes the data within the Object
(independent of its encoding). This is a string with values defined by [MIME]. For example, if the
Object contains base64 encoded PNG, the Encoding may be specified as 'http://www.w3.org
/2000/09/xmldsig#base64' and the MimeType as 'image/png'. This attribute is purely advisory; no
validation of the MimeType information is required by this specification. Applications which
require normative type and encoding information for signature validation should specify
Transforms with well defined resulting types and/or encodings.
The Object's Id is commonly referenced from a Reference in SignedInfo, or Manifest. This
element is typically used for enveloping signatures where the object being signed is to be
included in the signature element. The digest is calculated over the entire Object element
including start and end tags.
Note, if the application wishes to exclude the <Object> tags from the digest calculation the
Reference must identify the actual data object (easy for XML documents) or a transform must
be used to remove the Object tags (likely where the data object is non-XML). Exclusion of the
object tags may be desired for cases where one wants the signature to remain valid if the data
object is moved from inside a signature to outside the signature (or vice versa), or where the
content of the Object is an encoding of an original binary document and it is desired to extract
and decode so as to sign the original bitwise representation.
Schema Definition:
<element name="Object" type="ds:ObjectType"/>
<complexType name="ObjectType" mixed="true">
<sequence minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
<any namespace="##any" processContents="lax"/>
</sequence>
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
<attribute name="MimeType" type="string" use="optional"/>
<attribute name="Encoding" type="anyURI" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT Object (#PCDATA|Signature|SignatureProperties|Manifest %Object.ANY;)* >
<!ATTLIST Object
Id ID #IMPLIED
MimeType
CDATA
#IMPLIED
Encoding
CDATA
#IMPLIED >

5.0 Additional Signature Syntax

This section describes the optional to implement Manifest and SignatureProperties elements
and describes the handling of XML processing instructions and comments. With respect to the
elements Manifest and SignatureProperties this section specifies syntax and little behavior -- it
is left to the application. These elements can appear anywhere the parent's content model
permits; the Signature content model only permits them within Object.

5.1 The Manifest Element

Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#Manifest"
(this can be used within a Reference element to identify the referent's type)

The Manifest element provides a list of References. The difference from the list in SignedInfo is
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that it is application defined which, if any, of the digests are actually checked against the
objects referenced and what to do if the object is inaccessible or the digest compare fails. If a
Manifest is pointed to from SignedInfo, the digest over the Manifest itself will be checked by
the core signature validation behavior. The digests within such a Manifest are checked at the
application's discretion. If a Manifest is referenced from another Manifest, even the overall
digest of this two level deep Manifest might not be checked.
Schema Definition:
<element name="Manifest" type="ds:ManifestType"/>
<complexType name="ManifestType">
<sequence>
<element ref="ds:Reference" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</sequence>
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT Manifest (Reference+)
<!ATTLIST Manifest
Id ID #IMPLIED >

>

5.2 The SignatureProperties Element

Identifier
Type="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#SignatureProperties"
(this can be used within a Reference element to identify the referent's type)

Additional information items concerning the generation of the signature(s) can be placed in a
SignatureProperty element (i.e., date/time stamp or the serial number of cryptographic
hardware used in signature generation).
Schema Definition:
<element name="SignatureProperties" type="ds:SignaturePropertiesType"/>
<complexType name="SignaturePropertiesType">
<sequence>
<element ref="ds:SignatureProperty" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
</sequence>
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
<element name="SignatureProperty" type="ds:SignaturePropertyType"/>
<complexType name="SignaturePropertyType" mixed="true">
<choice maxOccurs="unbounded">
<any namespace="##other" processContents="lax"/>
<!-- (1,1) elements from (1,unbounded) namespaces -->
</choice>
<attribute name="Target" type="anyURI" use="required"/>
<attribute name="Id" type="ID" use="optional"/>
</complexType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT SignatureProperties (SignatureProperty+)
<!ATTLIST SignatureProperties
Id ID
#IMPLIED >

>

<!ELEMENT SignatureProperty (#PCDATA %SignatureProperty.ANY;)* >

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<!ATTLIST SignatureProperty
Target CDATA
#REQUIRED
Id ID
#IMPLIED >

5.3 Processing Instructions in Signature Elements

No XML processing instructions (PIs) are used by this specification.
Note that PIs placed inside SignedInfo by an application will be signed unless the
CanonicalizationMethod algorithm discards them. (This is true for any signed XML content.) All
of the CanonicalizationMethods identified within this specification retain PIs. When a PI is part
of content that is signed (e.g., within SignedInfo or referenced XML documents) any change to
the PI will obviously result in a signature failure.

5.4 Comments in Signature Elements

XML comments are not used by this specification.
Note that unless CanonicalizationMethod removes comments within SignedInfo or any other
referenced XML (which [XML-C14N] does), they will be signed. Consequently, if they are
retained, a change to the comment will cause a signature failure. Similarly, the XML signature
over any XML data will be sensitive to comment changes unless a comment-ignoring
canonicalization/transform method, such as the Canonical XML [XML-C14N], is specified.

6.0 Algorithms
This section identifies algorithms used with the XML digital signature specification. Entries
contain the identifier to be used in Signature elements, a reference to the formal specification,
and definitions, where applicable, for the representation of keys and the results of cryptographic
operations.

6.1 Algorithm Identifiers and Implementation Requirements

Algorithms are identified by URIs that appear as an attribute to the element that identifies the
algorithms' role (DigestMethod, Transform, SignatureMethod, or CanonicalizationMethod). All
algorithms used herein take parameters but in many cases the parameters are implicit. For
example, a SignatureMethod is implicitly given two parameters: the keying info and the output of
CanonicalizationMethod. Explicit additional parameters to an algorithm appear as content
elements within the algorithm role element. Such parameter elements have a descriptive
element name, which is frequently algorithm specific, and MUST be in the XML Signature
namespace or an algorithm specific namespace.
This specification defines a set of algorithms, their URIs, and requirements for implementation.
Requirements are specified over implementation, not over requirements for signature use.
Furthermore, the mechanism is extensible; alternative algorithms may be used by signature
applications.
Digest
1. Required SHA1
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1
Encoding
1. Required base64
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#base64
MAC

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1. Required HMAC-SHA1
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#hmac-sha1
Signature
1. Required DSAwithSHA1 (DSS)
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#dsa-sha1
2. Recommended RSAwithSHA1
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rsa-sha1
Canonicalization
1. Required Canonical XML 1.0(omits comments)
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-c14n-20010315
2. Recommended Canonical XML 1.0with Comments
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-c14n-20010315#WithComments
3. Required Canonical XML 1.1 (omits comments)
http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11
4. Recommended Canonical XML 1.1 with Comments
http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11#WithComments
Transform
1. Optional XSLT
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xslt-19991116
2. Recommended XPath
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xpath-19991116
3. Required Enveloped Signature*
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#enveloped-signature
* The Enveloped Signature transform removes the Signature element from the calculation of
the signature when the signature is within the content that it is being signed. This MAY be
implemented via the RECOMMENDED XPath specification specified in 6.6.4: Enveloped
Signature Transform; it MUST have the same effect as that specified by the XPath Transform.

6.2 Message Digests

Only one digest algorithm is defined herein. However, it is expected that one or more additional
strong digest algorithms will be developed in connection with the US Advanced Encryption
Standard effort. Use of MD5 [MD5] is NOT RECOMMENDED because recent advances in
cryptanalysis have cast doubt on its strength.
6.2.1 SHA-1
Identifier:
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1
The SHA-1 algorithm [SHA-1] takes no explicit parameters. An example of an SHA-1 DigestAlg
element is:
<DigestMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1"/>

A SHA-1 digest is a 160-bit string. The content of the DigestValue element shall be the base64
encoding of this bit string viewed as a 20-octet octet stream. For example, the DigestValue
element for the message digest:
A9993E36 4706816A BA3E2571 7850C26C 9CD0D89D

from Appendix A of the SHA-1 standard would be:

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<DigestValue>qZk+NkcGgWq6PiVxeFDCbJzQ2J0=</DigestValue>

6.3 Message Authentication Codes

MAC algorithms take two implicit parameters, their keying material determined from KeyInfo and
the octet stream output by CanonicalizationMethod. MACs and signature algorithms are
syntactically identical but a MAC implies a shared secret key.
6.3.1 HMAC
Identifier:
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#hmac-sha1
The HMAC algorithm (RFC2104 [HMAC]) takes the truncation length in bits as a parameter; if
the parameter is not specified then all the bits of the hash are output. An example of an HMAC
SignatureMethod element:
<SignatureMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#hmac-sha1">
<HMACOutputLength>128</HMACOutputLength>
</SignatureMethod>

The output of the HMAC algorithm is ultimately the output (possibly truncated) of the chosen
digest algorithm. This value shall be base64 encoded in the same straightforward fashion as
the output of the digest algorithms. Example: the SignatureValue element for the HMAC-SHA1
digest
9294727A 3638BB1C 13F48EF8 158BFC9D

from the test vectors in [HMAC] would be

<SignatureValue>kpRyejY4uxwT9I74FYv8nQ==</SignatureValue>
Schema Definition:
<simpleType name="HMACOutputLengthType">
<restriction base="integer"/>
</simpleType>
DTD:
<!ELEMENT HMACOutputLength (#PCDATA)>

6.4 Signature Algorithms

Signature algorithms take two implicit parameters, their keying material determined from
KeyInfo and the octet stream output by CanonicalizationMethod. Signature and MAC
algorithms are syntactically identical but a signature implies public key cryptography.
6.4.1 DSA
Identifier:
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#dsa-sha1

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The DSA algorithm [DSS] takes no explicit parameters. An example of a DSA SignatureMethod
element is:
<SignatureMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#dsa-sha1"/>

The output of the DSA algorithm consists of a pair of integers usually referred by the pair (r, s).
The signature value consists of the base64 encoding of the concatenation of two octet-streams
that respectively result from the octet-encoding of the values r and s in that order. Integer to
octet-stream conversion must be done according to the I2OSP operation defined in the RFC
2437 [PKCS1] specification with a l parameter equal to 20. For example, the SignatureValue
element for a DSA signature (r, s) with values specified in hexadecimal:
r = 8BAC1AB6 6410435C B7181F95 B16AB97C 92B341C0
s = 41E2345F 1F56DF24 58F426D1 55B4BA2D B6DCD8C8

from the example in Appendix 5 of the DSS standard would be

<SignatureValue>
i6watmQQQ1y3GB+VsWq5fJKzQcBB4jRfH1bfJFj0JtFVtLotttzYyA==</SignatureValue>

6.4.2 PKCS1 (RSA-SHA1)

Identifier:
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rsa-sha1
The expression "RSA algorithm" as used in this specification refers to the RSASSA-PKCS1-v1_5
algorithm described in RFC 2437 [PKCS1]. The RSA algorithm takes no explicit parameters. An
example of an RSA SignatureMethod element is:
<SignatureMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#rsa-sha1"/>

The SignatureValue content for an RSA signature is the base64 [MIME] encoding of the octet
string computed as per RFC 2437 [PKCS1, section 8.1.1: Signature generation for the
RSASSA-PKCS1-v1_5 signature scheme]. As specified in the EMSA-PKCS1-V1_5-ENCODE
function RFC 2437 [PKCS1, section 9.2.1], the value input to the signature function MUST
contain a pre-pended algorithm object identifier for the hash function, but the availability of an
ASN.1 parser and recognition of OIDs is not required of a signature verifier. The PKCS#1 v1.5
representation appears as:
CRYPT (PAD (ASN.1 (OID, DIGEST (data))))

Note that the padded ASN.1 will be of the following form:

01 | FF* | 00 | prefix | hash

where "|" is concatenation, "01", "FF", and "00" are fixed octets of the corresponding
hexadecimal value, "hash" is the SHA1 digest of the data, and "prefix" is the ASN.1 BER SHA1
algorithm designator prefix required in PKCS1 [RFC 2437], that is,
hex 30 21 30 09 06 05 2B 0E 03 02 1A 05 00 04 14

This prefix is included to make it easier to use standard cryptographic libraries. The FF octet

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MUST be repeated the maximum number of times such that the value of the quantity being
CRYPTed is one octet shorter than the RSA modulus.
The resulting base64 [MIME] string is the value of the child text node of the SignatureValue
element, e.g.
<SignatureValue>
IWijxQjUrcXBYoCei4QxjWo9Kg8D3p9tlWoT4t0/gyTE96639In0FZFY2/rvP+/bMJ01EArmKZsR5VW3rwoPxw=
</SignatureValue>

6.5 Canonicalization Algorithms

If canonicalization is performed over octets, the canonicalization algorithms take two implicit
parameters: the content and its charset. The charset is derived according to the rules of the
transport protocols and media types (e.g, RFC2376 [XML-MT] defines the media types for XML).
This information is necessary to correctly sign and verify documents and often requires careful
server side configuration.
Various canonicalization algorithms require conversion to [UTF-8].The algorithms below
understand at least [UTF-8] and [UTF-16] as input encodings. We RECOMMEND that externally
specified algorithms do the same. Knowledge of other encodings is OPTIONAL.
Various canonicalization algorithms transcode from a non-Unicode encoding to Unicode. The
output of these algorithms will be in NFC [NFC, NFC-Corrigendum]. This is because the XML
processor used to prepare the XPath data model input is required (by the Data Model) to use
Normalization Form C when converting an XML document to the UCS character domain from
any encoding that is not UCS-based.
We RECOMMEND that externally specified canonicalization algorithms do the same. (Note,
there can be ambiguities in converting existing charsets to Unicode, for an example see the
XML Japanese Profile [XML-Japanese] Note.)
This specification REQUIRES implementation of both Canonical XML 1.0 [XML-C14N] and
Canonical XML 1.1 [XML-C14N11]. We RECOMMEND that applications that generate
signatures choose Canonical XML 1.1 [XML-C14N11] when inclusive canonicalization is desired.
Note: Canonical XML 1.0 [XML-C14N] and Canonical XML 1.1 [XML-C14N11] specify a standard
serialization of XML that, when applied to a subdocument, includes the subdocument's
ancestor context including all of the namespace declarations and some attributes in the 'xml:'
namespace. However, some applications require a method which, to the extent practical,
excludes unused ancestor context from a canonicalized subdocument. The Exclusive XML
Canonicalization Recommendation [XML-exc-C14N] may be used to address requirements
resulting from scenarios where a subdocument is moved between contexts.
6.5.1 Canonical XML 1.0
Identifier for REQUIRED Canonical XML 1.0 (omits comments):
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-c14n-20010315
Identifier for Canonical XML 1.0 with Comments:
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-c14n-20010315#WithComments
An example of an XML canonicalization element is:
<CanonicalizationMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-c14n-20010315"/>

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The normative specification of Canonical XML1.0 is [XML-C14N]. The algorithm is capable of

taking as input either an octet stream or an XPath node-set (or sufficiently functional
alternative). The algorithm produces an octet stream as output. Canonical XML is easily
parameterized (via an additional URI) to omit or retain comments.
6.5.2 Canonical XML 1.1
Identifier for REQUIRED Canonical XML 1.1 (omits comments):
http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11
Identifier for Canonical XML 1.1 with Comments:
http://www.w3.org/2006/12/xml-c14n11#WithComments
The normative specification of Canonical XML 1.1 is [XML-C14N11]. The algorithm is capable of
taking as input either an octet stream or an XPath node-set (or sufficiently functional
alternative). The algorithm produces an octet stream as output. Canonical XML 1.1 is easily
parameterized (via an additional URI) to omit or retain comments.

6.6 Transform Algorithms

A Transform algorithm has a single implicit parameter: an octet stream from the Reference or
the output of an earlier Transform.
Application developers are strongly encouraged to support all transforms listed in this section
as RECOMMENDED unless the application environment has resource constraints that would
make such support impractical. Compliance with this recommendation will maximize application
interoperability and libraries should be available to enable support of these transforms in
applications without extensive development.
6.6.1 Canonicalization
Any canonicalization algorithm that can be used for CanonicalizationMethod (such as those in
Canonicalization Algorithms (section 6.5)) can be used as a Transform.
6.6.2 Base64
Identifiers:
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#base64
The normative specification for base64 decoding transforms is [MIME]. The base64 Transform
element has no content. The input is decoded by the algorithms. This transform is useful if an
application needs to sign the raw data associated with the encoded content of an element.
This transform requires an octet stream for input. If an XPath node-set (or sufficiently functional
alternative) is given as input, then it is converted to an octet stream by performing operations
logically equivalent to 1) applying an XPath transform with expression self::text(), then 2)
taking the string-value of the node-set. Thus, if an XML element is identified by a shortname
XPointer in the Reference URI, and its content consists solely of base64 encoded character
data, then this transform automatically strips away the start and end tags of the identified
element and any of its descendant elements as well as any descendant comments and
processing instructions. The output of this transform is an octet stream.
6.6.3 XPath Filtering

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Identifier:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xpath-19991116
The normative specification for XPath expression evaluation is [XPath]. The XPath expression to
be evaluated appears as the character content of a transform parameter child element named
XPath.
The input required by this transform is an XPath node-set. Note that if the actual input is an
XPath node-set resulting from a null URI or shortname XPointer dereference, then comment
nodes will have been omitted. If the actual input is an octet stream, then the application MUST
convert the octet stream to an XPath node-set suitable for use by Canonical XML with
Comments. (A subsequent application of the REQUIRED Canonical XML algorithm would strip
away these comments.) In other words, the input node-set should be equivalent to the one that
would be created by the following process:
1. Initialize an XPath evaluation context by setting the initial node equal to the input XML
document's root node, and set the context position and size to 1.
2. Evaluate the XPath expression (//. | //@* | //namespace::*)
The evaluation of this expression includes all of the document's nodes (including comments) in
the node-set representing the octet stream.
The transform output is also an XPath node-set. The XPath expression appearing in the XPath
parameter is evaluated once for each node in the input node-set. The result is converted to a
boolean. If the boolean is true, then the node is included in the output node-set. If the boolean
is false, then the node is omitted from the output node-set.
Note: Even if the input node-set has had comments removed, the comment nodes still exist in
the underlying parse tree and can separate text nodes. For example, the markup <e>Hello,
<!-- comment -->world!</e> contains two text nodes. Therefore, the expression self::text()
[string()="Hello, world!"] would fail. Should this problem arise in the application, it can be
solved by either canonicalizing the document before the XPath transform to physically remove
the comments or by matching the node based on the parent element's string value (e.g. by
using the expression self::text()[string(parent::e)="Hello, world!"]).
The primary purpose of this transform is to ensure that only specifically defined changes to the
input XML document are permitted after the signature is affixed. This is done by omitting
precisely those nodes that are allowed to change once the signature is affixed, and including all
other input nodes in the output. It is the responsibility of the XPath expression author to include
all nodes whose change could affect the interpretation of the transform output in the application
context.
Note that the XML-Signature XPath Filter 2.0 Recommendation [XPath-Filter-2] may be used for
this purpose. This recommendation defines an XPath transform that permits the easy
specification of subtree selection and omission that can be efficiently implemented.
An important scenario would be a document requiring two enveloped signatures. Each
signature must omit itself from its own digest calculations, but it is also necessary to exclude
the second signature element from the digest calculations of the first signature so that adding
the second signature does not break the first signature.
The XPath transform establishes the following evaluation context for each node of the input
node-set:
A context node equal to a node of the input node-set.

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A context position, initialized to 1.

A context size, initialized to 1.
A library of functions equal to the function set defined in [XPath] plus a function named
here.
A set of variable bindings. No means for initializing these is defined. Thus, the set of
variable bindings used when evaluating the XPath expression is empty, and use of a
variable reference in the XPath expression results in an error.
The set of namespace declarations in scope for the XPath expression.
As a result of the context node setting, the XPath expressions appearing in this transform will
be quite similar to those used in used in [XSLT], except that the size and position are always 1
to reflect the fact that the transform is automatically visiting every node (in XSLT, one
recursively calls the command apply-templates to visit the nodes of the input tree).
The function here() is defined as follows:
Function: node-set here()
The here function returns a node-set containing the attribute or processing instruction node or
the parent element of the text node that directly bears the XPath expression. This expression
results in an error if the containing XPath expression does not appear in the same XML
document against which the XPath expression is being evaluated.
As an example, consider creating an enveloped signature (a Signature element that is a
descendant of an element being signed). Although the signed content should not be changed
after signing, the elements within the Signature element are changing (e.g. the digest value
must be put inside the DigestValue and the SignatureValue must be subsequently calculated).
One way to prevent these changes from invalidating the digest value in DigestValue is to add
an XPath Transform that omits all Signature elements and their descendants. For example,
<Document>
...
<Signature xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#">
<SignedInfo>
...
<Reference URI="">
<Transforms>
<Transform Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xpath-19991116">
<XPath xmlns:dsig="&dsig;">
not(ancestor-or-self::dsig:Signature)
</XPath>
</Transform>
</Transforms>
<DigestMethod Algorithm="http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#sha1"/>
<DigestValue></DigestValue>
</Reference>
</SignedInfo>
<SignatureValue></SignatureValue>
</Signature>
...
</Document>

Due to the null Reference URI in this example, the XPath transform input node-set contains all
nodes in the entire parse tree starting at the root node (except the comment nodes). For each
node in this node-set, the node is included in the output node-set except if the node or one of
its ancestors has a tag of Signature that is in the namespace given by the replacement text for
the entity &dsig;.
A more elegant solution uses the here function to omit only the Signature containing the XPath

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Transform, thus allowing enveloped signatures to sign other signatures. In the example above,
use the XPath element:
<XPath xmlns:dsig="&dsig;">
count(ancestor-or-self::dsig:Signature |
here()/ancestor::dsig:Signature[1]) >
count(ancestor-or-self::dsig:Signature)</XPath>

Since the XPath equality operator converts node sets to string values before comparison, we
must instead use the XPath union operator (|). For each node of the document, the predicate
expression is true if and only if the node-set containing the node and its Signature element
ancestors does not include the enveloped Signature element containing the XPath expression
(the union does not produce a larger set if the enveloped Signature element is in the node-set
given by ancestor-or-self::Signature).
6.6.4 Enveloped Signature Transform
Identifier:
http://www.w3.org/2000/09/xmldsig#enveloped-signature
An enveloped signature transform T removes the whole Signature element containing T from
the digest calculation of the Reference element containing T. The entire string of characters
used by an XML processor to match the Signature with the XML production element is
removed. The output of the transform is equivalent to the output that would result from
replacing T with an XPath transform containing the following XPath parameter element:
<XPath xmlns:dsig="&dsig;">
count(ancestor-or-self::dsig:Signature |
here()/ancestor::dsig:Signature[1]) >
count(ancestor-or-self::dsig:Signature)</XPath>

The input and output requirements of this transform are identical to those of the XPath
transform, but may only be applied to a node-set from its parent XML document. Note that it is
not necessary to use an XPath expression evaluator to create this transform. However, this
transform MUST produce output in exactly the same manner as the XPath transform
parameterized by the XPath expression above.
6.6.5 XSLT Transform
Identifier:
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xslt-19991116
The normative specification for XSL Transformations is [XSLT]. Specification of a namespacequalified stylesheet element, which MUST be the sole child of the Transform element, indicates
that the specified style sheet should be used. Whether this instantiates in-line processing of
local XSLT declarations within the resource is determined by the XSLT processing model; the
ordered application of multiple stylesheet may require multiple Transforms. No special provision
is made for the identification of a remote stylesheet at a given URI because it can be
communicated via an xsl:include or xsl:import within the stylesheet child of the Transform.
This transform requires an octet stream as input. If the actual input is an XPath node-set, then
the signature application should attempt to convert it to octets (apply Canonical XML]) as
described in the Reference Processing Model (section 4.3.3.2).
The output of this transform is an octet stream. The processing rules for the XSL style sheet or

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transform element are stated in the XSLT specification [XSLT]. We RECOMMEND that XSLT
transform authors use an output method of xml for XML and HTML. As XSLT implementations
do not produce consistent serializations of their output, we further RECOMMEND inserting a
transform after the XSLT transform to canonicalize the output. These steps will help to ensure
interoperability of the resulting signatures among applications that support the XSLT transform.
Note that if the output is actually HTML, then the result of these steps is logically equivalent
[XHTML].

7.0 XML Canonicalization and Syntax Constraint Considerations

Digital signatures only work if the verification calculations are performed on exactly the same
bits as the signing calculations. If the surface representation of the signed data can change
between signing and verification, then some way to standardize the changeable aspect must be
used before signing and verification. For example, even for simple ASCII text there are at least
three widely used line ending sequences. If it is possible for signed text to be modified from one
line ending convention to another between the time of signing and signature verification, then
the line endings need to be canonicalized to a standard form before signing and verification or
the signatures will break.
XML is subject to surface representation changes and to processing which discards some
surface information. For this reason, XML digital signatures have a provision for indicating
canonicalization methods in the signature so that a verifier can use the same canonicalization
as the signer.
Throughout this specification we distinguish between the canonicalization of a Signature
element and other signed XML data objects. It is possible for an isolated XML document to be
treated as if it were binary data so that no changes can occur. In that case, the digest of the
document will not change and it need not be canonicalized if it is signed and verified as such.
However, XML that is read and processed using standard XML parsing and processing
techniques is frequently changed such that some of its surface representation information is
lost or modified. In particular, this will occur in many cases for the Signature and enclosed
SignedInfo elements since they, and possibly an encompassing XML document, will be
processed as XML.
Similarly, these considerations apply to Manifest, Object, and SignatureProperties elements if
those elements have been digested, their DigestValue is to be checked, and they are being
processed as XML.
The kinds of changes in XML that may need to be canonicalized can be divided into four
categories. There are those related to the basic [XML], as described in 7.1 below. There are
those related to [DOM], [SAX], or similar processing as described in 7.2 below. Third, there is
the possibility of coded character set conversion, such as between UTF-8 and UTF-16, both of
which all [XML] compliant processors are required to support, which is described in the
paragraph immediately below. And, fourth, there are changes that related to namespace
declaration and XML namespace attribute context as described in 7.3 below.
Any canonicalization algorithm should yield output in a specific fixed coded character set. All
canonicalization algorithms identified in this document use UTF-8 (without a byte order mark
(BOM)) and do not provide character normalization. We RECOMMEND that signature
applications create XML content (Signature elements and their descendents/content) in
Normalization Form C [NFC, NFC-Corrigendum] and check that any XML being consumed is in
that form as well; (if not, signatures may consequently fail to validate). Additionally, none of
these algorithms provide data type normalization. Applications that normalize data types in
varying formats (e.g., (true, false) or (1,0)) may not be able to validate each other's signatures.

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7.1 XML 1.0, Syntax Constraints, and Canonicalization

XML 1.0 [XML] defines an interface where a conformant application reading XML is given certain
information from that XML and not other information. In particular,
1. line endings are normalized to the single character #xA by dropping #xD characters if they
are immediately followed by a #xA and replacing them with #xA in all other cases,
2. missing attributes declared to have default values are provided to the application as if
present with the default value,
3. character references are replaced with the corresponding character,
4. entity references are replaced with the corresponding declared entity,
5. attribute values are normalized by
1. replacing character and entity references as above,
2. replacing occurrences of #x9, #xA, and #xD with #x20 (space) except that the
sequence #xD#xA is replaced by a single space, and
3. if the attribute is not declared to be CDATA, stripping all leading and trailing spaces
and replacing all interior runs of spaces with a single space.
Note that items (2), (4), and (5.3) depend on the presence of a schema, DTD or similar
declarations. The Signature element type is laxly schema valid [XML-schema], consequently
external XML or even XML within the same document as the signature may be (only)
well-formed or from another namespace (where permitted by the signature schema); the noted
items may not be present. Thus, a signature with such content will only be verifiable by other
signature applications if the following syntax constraints are observed when generating any
signed material including the SignedInfo element:
1. attributes having default values be explicitly present,
2. all entity references (except "amp", "lt", "gt", "apos", "quot", and other character entities
not representable in the encoding chosen) be expanded,
3. attribute value white space be normalized

7.2 DOM/SAX Processing and Canonicalization

In addition to the canonicalization and syntax constraints discussed above, many XML
applications use the Document Object Model [DOM] or the Simple API for XML [SAX]. DOM
maps XML into a tree structure of nodes and typically assumes it will be used on an entire
document with subsequent processing being done on this tree. SAX converts XML into a series
of events such as a start tag, content, etc. In either case, many surface characteristics such as
the ordering of attributes and insignificant white space within start/end tags is lost. In addition,
namespace declarations are mapped over the nodes to which they apply, losing the namespace
prefixes in the source text and, in most cases, losing where namespace declarations appeared
in the original instance.
If an XML Signature is to be produced or verified on a system using the DOM or SAX
processing, a canonical method is needed to serialize the relevant part of a DOM tree or
sequence of SAX events. XML canonicalization specifications, such as [XML-C14N], are based
only on information which is preserved by DOM and SAX. For an XML Signature to be verifiable
by an implementation using DOM or SAX, not only must the XML 1.0 syntax constraints given in
the previous section be followed but an appropriate XML canonicalization MUST be specified so
that the verifier can re-serialize DOM/SAX mediated input into the same octet stream that was
signed.

7.3 Namespace Context and Portable Signatures

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In [XPath] and consequently the Canonical XML data model an element has namespace nodes
that correspond to those declarations within the element and its ancestors:
"Note: An element E has namespace nodes that represent its namespace
declarations as well as any namespace declarations made by its ancestors that have
not been overridden in E's declarations, the default namespace if it is non-empty,
and the declaration of the prefix xml." [XML-C14N]
When serializing a Signature element or signed XML data that's the child of other elements
using these data models, that Signature element and its children, may contain namespace
declarations from its ancestor context. In addition, the Canonical XML and Canonical XML with
Comments algorithms import all xml namespace attributes (such as xml:lang) from the nearest
ancestor in which they are declared to the apex node of canonicalized XML unless they are
already declared at that node. This may frustrate the intent of the signer to create a signature in
one context which remains valid in another. For example, given a signature which is a child of B
and a grandchild of A:
<A xmlns:n1="&foo;">
<B xmlns:n2="&bar;">
<Signature xmlns="&dsig;">
...
<Reference URI="#signme"/> ...
</Signature>
<C ID="signme" xmlns="&baz;"/>
</B>
</A>

when either the element B or the signed element C is moved into a [SOAP] envelope for
transport:
<SOAP:Envelope xmlns:SOAP="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">
...
<SOAP:Body>
<B xmlns:n2="&bar;">
<Signature xmlns="&dsig;">
...
</Signature>
<C ID="signme" xmlns="&baz;"/>
</B>
</SOAP:Body>
</SOAP:Envelope>

The canonical form of the signature in this context will contain new namespace declarations
from the SOAP:Envelope context, invalidating the signature. Also, the canonical form will lack
namespace declarations it may have originally had from element A's context, also invalidating
the signature. To avoid these problems, the application may:
1. Rely upon the enveloping application to properly divorce its body (the signature payload)
from the context (the envelope) before the signature is validated. Or,
2. Use a canonicalization method that "repels/excludes" instead of "attracts" ancestor
context. [XML-C14N] purposefully attracts such context.

8.0 Security Considerations

The XML Signature specification provides a very flexible digital signature mechanism.
Implementors must give consideration to their application threat models and to the following
factors.

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8.1 Transforms
A requirement of this specification is to permit signatures to "apply to a part or totality of a XML
document." (See [XML-Signature-RD, section 3.1.3].) The Transforms mechanism meets this
requirement by permitting one to sign data derived from processing the content of the identified
resource. For instance, applications that wish to sign a form, but permit users to enter limited
field data without invalidating a previous signature on the form might use [XPath] to exclude
those portions the user needs to change. Transforms may be arbitrarily specified and may
include encoding transforms, canonicalization instructions or even XSLT transformations. Three
cautions are raised with respect to this feature in the following sections.
Note, core validation behavior does not confirm that the signed data was obtained by applying
each step of the indicated transforms. (Though it does check that the digest of the resulting
content matches that specified in the signature.) For example, some applications may be
satisfied with verifying an XML signature over a cached copy of already transformed data. Other
applications might require that content be freshly dereferenced and transformed.
8.1.1 Only What is Signed is Secure
First, obviously, signatures over a transformed document do not secure any information
discarded by transforms: only what is signed is secure.
Note that the use of Canonical XML [XML-C14N] ensures that all internal entities and XML
namespaces are expanded within the content being signed. All entities are replaced with their
definitions and the canonical form explicitly represents the namespace that an element would
otherwise inherit. Applications that do not canonicalize XML content (especially the SignedInfo
element) SHOULD NOT use internal entities and SHOULD represent the namespace explicitly
within the content being signed since they can not rely upon canonicalization to do this for
them. Also, users concerned with the integrity of the element type definitions associated with
the XML instance being signed may wish to sign those definitions as well (i.e., the schema,
DTD, or natural language description associated with the namespace/identifier).
Second, an envelope containing signed information is not secured by the signature. For
instance, when an encrypted envelope contains a signature, the signature does not protect the
authenticity or integrity of unsigned envelope headers nor its ciphertext form, it only secures the
plaintext actually signed.
8.1.2 Only What is "Seen" Should be Signed
Additionally, the signature secures any information introduced by the transform: only what is
"seen" (that which is represented to the user via visual, auditory or other media) should be
signed. If signing is intended to convey the judgment or consent of a user (an automated
mechanism or person), then it is normally necessary to secure as exactly as practical the
information that was presented to that user. Note that this can be accomplished by literally
signing what was presented, such as the screen images shown a user. However, this may
result in data which is difficult for subsequent software to manipulate. Instead, one can sign the
data along with whatever filters, style sheets, client profile or other information that affects its
presentation.
8.1.3 "See" What is Signed
Just as a user should only sign what he or she "sees," persons and automated mechanism that
trust the validity of a transformed document on the basis of a valid signature should operate

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over the data that was transformed (including canonicalization) and signed, not the original
pre-transformed data. This recommendation applies to transforms specified within the signature
as well as those included as part of the document itself. For instance, if an XML document
includes an embedded style sheet [XSLT] it is the transformed document that should be
represented to the user and signed. To meet this recommendation where a document
references an external style sheet, the content of that external resource should also be signed
as via a signature Reference otherwise the content of that external content might change which
alters the resulting document without invalidating the signature.
Some applications might operate over the original or intermediary data but should be extremely
careful about potential weaknesses introduced between the original and transformed data. This
is a trust decision about the character and meaning of the transforms that an application needs
to make with caution. Consider a canonicalization algorithm that normalizes character case
(lower to upper) or character composition ('e and accent' to 'accented-e'). An adversary could
introduce changes that are normalized and consequently inconsequential to signature validity
but material to a DOM processor. For instance, by changing the case of a character one might
influence the result of an XPath selection. A serious risk is introduced if that change is
normalized for signature validation but the processor operates over the original data and returns
a different result than intended.
As a result:
All documents operated upon and generated by signature applications MUST be in [NFC,
NFC-Corrigendum] (otherwise intermediate processors might unintentionally break the
signature)
Encoding normalizations SHOULD NOT be done as part of a signature transform, or (to
state it another way) if normalization does occur, the application SHOULD always "see"
(operate over) the normalized form.

8.2 Check the Security Model

This specification uses public key signatures and keyed hash authentication codes. These have
substantially different security models. Furthermore, it permits user specified algorithms which
may have other models.
With public key signatures, any number of parties can hold the public key and verify signatures
while only the parties with the private key can create signatures. The number of holders of the
private key should be minimized and preferably be one. Confidence by verifiers in the public
key they are using and its binding to the entity or capabilities represented by the corresponding
private key is an important issue, usually addressed by certificate or online authority systems.
Keyed hash authentication codes, based on secret keys, are typically much more efficient in
terms of the computational effort required but have the characteristic that all verifiers need to
have possession of the same key as the signer. Thus any verifier can forge signatures.
This specification permits user provided signature algorithms and keying information
designators. Such user provided algorithms may have different security models. For example,
methods involving biometrics usually depend on a physical characteristic of the authorized user
that can not be changed the way public or secret keys can be and may have other security
model differences.

8.3 Algorithms, Key Lengths, Certificates, Etc.

The strength of a particular signature depends on all links in the security chain. This includes
the signature and digest algorithms used, the strength of the key generation [RANDOM] and

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the size of the key, the security of key and certificate authentication and distribution
mechanisms, certificate chain validation policy, protection of cryptographic processing from
hostile observation and tampering, etc.
Care must be exercised by applications in executing the various algorithms that may be
specified in an XML signature and in the processing of any "executable content" that might be
provided to such algorithms as parameters, such as XSLT transforms. The algorithms specified
in this document will usually be implemented via a trusted library but even there perverse
parameters might cause unacceptable processing or memory demand. Even more care may be
warranted with application defined algorithms.
The security of an overall system will also depend on the security and integrity of its operating
procedures, its personnel, and on the administrative enforcement of those procedures. All the
factors listed in this section are important to the overall security of a system; however, most are
beyond the scope of this specification.

9.0 Schema, DTD, Data Model, and Valid Examples

XML Signature Schema Instance
xmldsig-core-schema.xsd
Valid XML schema instance based on the 20001024 Schema/DTD [XML-Schema].
XML Signature DTD
xmldsig-core-schema.dtd
RDF Data Model
xmldsig-datamodel-20000112.gif
XML Signature Object Example
signature-example.xml
A cryptographical fabricated XML example that includes foreign content and validates
under the schema, it also uses schemaLocation to aid automated schema fetching and
validation.
RSA XML Signature Example
signature-example-rsa.xml
An XML Signature example with generated cryptographic values by Merlin Hughes and
validated by Gregor Karlinger.
DSA XML Signature Example
signature-example-dsa.xml
Similar to above but uses DSA.

10.0 Definitions
Authentication Code (Protected Checksum)
A value generated from the application of a shared key to a message via a cryptographic
algorithm such that it has the properties of message authentication (and integrity) but not
signer authentication. Equivalent to protected checksum, "A checksum that is computed
for a data object by means that protect against active attacks that would attempt to
change the checksum to make it match changes made to the data object." [SEC]
Authentication, Message
The property, given an authentication code/protected checksum, that tampering with both
the data and checksum, so as to introduce changes while seemingly preserving integrity,
are still detected. "A signature should identify what is signed, making it impracticable to
falsify or alter either the signed matter or the signature without detection." [Digital
Signature Guidelines, ABA].
Authentication, Signer

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The property that the identity of the signer is as claimed. "A signature should indicate who
signed a document, message or record, and should be difficult for another person to
produce without authorization." [Digital Signature Guidelines, ABA] Note, signer
authentication is an application decision (e.g., does the signing key actually correspond to
a specific identity) that is supported by, but out of scope, of this specification.
Checksum
"A value that (a) is computed by a function that is dependent on the contents of a data
object and (b) is stored or transmitted together with the object, for the purpose of
detecting changes in the data." [SEC]
Core
The syntax and processing defined by this specification, including core validation. We use
this term to distinguish other markup, processing, and applications semantics from our
own.
Data Object (Content/Document)
The actual binary/octet data being operated on (transformed, digested, or signed) by an
application -- frequently an HTTP entity [HTTP]. Note that the proper noun Object
designates a specific XML element. Occasionally we refer to a data object as a document
or as a resource's content. The term element content is used to describe the data between
XML start and end tags [XML]. The term XML document is used to describe data objects
which conform to the XML specification [XML].
Integrity
"The property that data has not been changed, destroyed, or lost in an unauthorized or
accidental manner." [SEC] A simple checksum can provide integrity from incidental
changes in the data; message authentication is similar but also protects against an active
attack to alter the data whereby a change in the checksum is introduced so as to match
the change in the data.
Object
An XML Signature element wherein arbitrary (non-core) data may be placed. An Object
element is merely one type of digital data (or document) that can be signed via a
Reference.
Resource
"A resource can be anything that has identity. Familiar examples include an electronic
document, an image, a service (e.g., 'today's weather report for Los Angeles'), and a
collection of other resources.... The resource is the conceptual mapping to an entity or set
of entities, not necessarily the entity which corresponds to that mapping at any particular
instance in time. Thus, a resource can remain constant even when its content---the
entities to which it currently corresponds---changes over time, provided that the
conceptual mapping is not changed in the process." [URI] In order to avoid a collision of
the term entity within the URI and XML specifications, we use the term data object, content
or document to refer to the actual bits/octets being operated upon.
Signature
Formally speaking, a value generated from the application of a private key to a message
via a cryptographic algorithm such that it has the properties of integrity, message
authentication and/or signer authentication. (However, we sometimes use the term
signature generically such that it encompasses Authentication Code values as well, but
we are careful to make the distinction when the property of signer authentication is
relevant to the exposition.) A signature may be (non-exclusively) described as detached,
enveloping, or enveloped.
Signature, Application
An application that implements the MANDATORY (REQUIRED/MUST) portions of this
specification; these conformance requirements are over application behavior, the structure
of the Signature element type and its children (including SignatureValue) and the
specified algorithms.

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Signature, Detached
The signature is over content external to the Signature element, and can be identified via
a URI or transform. Consequently, the signature is "detached" from the content it signs.
This definition typically applies to separate data objects, but it also includes the instance
where the Signature and data object reside within the same XML document but are
sibling elements.
Signature, Enveloping
The signature is over content found within an Object element of the signature itself. The
Object (or its content) is identified via a Reference (via a URI fragment identifier or
transform).
Signature, Enveloped
The signature is over the XML content that contains the signature as an element. The
content provides the root XML document element. Obviously, enveloped signatures must
take care not to include their own value in the calculation of the SignatureValue.
Transform
The processing of a data from its source to its derived form. Typical transforms include
XML Canonicalization, XPath, and XSLT.
Validation, Core
The core processing requirements of this specification requiring signature validation and
SignedInfo reference validation.
Validation, Reference
The hash value of the identified and transformed content, specified by Reference,
matches its specified DigestValue.
Validation, Signature
The SignatureValue matches the result of processing SignedInfo with
CanonicalizationMethod and SignatureMethod as specified in Core Validation (section
3.2).
Validation, Trust/Application
The application determines that the semantics associated with a signature are valid. For
example, an application may validate the time stamps or the integrity of the signer key -though this behavior is external to this core specification.

11.0 References
ABA
Digital Signature Guidelines.
http://www.abanet.org/scitech/ec/isc/dsgfree.html
DOM
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 1 Specification. W3C Recommendation. V. Apparao,
S. Byrne, M. Champion, S. Isaacs, I. Jacobs, A. Le Hors, G. Nicol, J. Robie, R. Sutor, C.
Wilson, L. Wood. October 1998.
http://www.w3.org/TR/1998/REC-DOM-Level-1-19981001/
DSS
FIPS PUB 186-2. Digital Signature Standard (DSS). U.S. Department of
Commerce/National Institute of Standards and Technology.
http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/fips186-2/fips186-2-change1.pdf
HMAC
RFC 2104. HMAC: Keyed-Hashing for Message Authentication. H. Krawczyk, M. Bellare,
R. Canetti. February 1997.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2104.txt
HTTP
RFC 2616. Hypertext Transfer Protocol -- HTTP/1.1. J. Gettys, J. Mogul, H. Frystyk, L.
Masinter, P. Leach, T. Berners-Lee. June 1999.

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http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2616.txt
KEYWORDS
RFC 2119. Key words for use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels. S. Bradner. March
1997.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2119.txt
LDAP-DN
RFC4514 . Lightweight Directory Access Protocol : String Representation of Distinguished
Names. K. Zeilenga, Ed. June 2006.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc4514.txt
MD5
RFC 1321. The MD5 Message-Digest Algorithm. R. Rivest. April 1992.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1321.txt
MIME
RFC 2045. Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) Part One: Format of Internet
Message Bodies. N. Freed & N. Borenstein. November 1996.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2045.txt
NFC
TR15, Unicode Normalization Forms. M. Davis, M. Drst. Revision 18: November 1999.
http://www.unicode.org/unicode/reports/tr15/tr15-18.html.
NFC-Corrigendum
Normalization Corrigendum. The Unicode Consortium. http://www.unicode.org/unicode
/uni2errata/Normalization_Corrigendum.html.
PGP
RFC 2440. OpenPGP Message Format. J. Callas, L. Donnerhacke, H. Finney, R. Thayer.
November 1998.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2440.txt
RANDOM
RFC 1750. Randomness Recommendations for Security. D. Eastlake, S. Crocker, J.
Schiller. December 1994.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1750.txt
RDF
Resource Description Framework (RDF) Schema Specification 1.0. W3C Candidate
Recommendation. D. Brickley, R.V. Guha. March 2000.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/CR-rdf-schema-20000327/
Resource Description Framework (RDF) Model and Syntax Specification. W3C
Recommendation. O. Lassila, R. Swick. February 1999.
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-rdf-syntax-19990222/
1363
IEEE 1363: Standard Specifications for Public Key Cryptography. August 2000.
PKCS1
RFC 2437. PKCS #1: RSA Cryptography Specifications Version 2.0. B. Kaliski, J. Staddon.
October 1998.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2437.txt
SAX
SAX: The Simple API for XML. D. Megginson, et al. May 1998.
http://www.megginson.com/downloads/SAX/
SEC
RFC 2828. Internet Security Glossary. R. Shirey. May 2000.
http://www.faqs.org/rfcs/rfc2828.html
SHA-1
FIPS PUB 180-2. Secure Hash Standard. U.S. Department of Commerce/National Institute
of Standards and Technology.
http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/fips180-2/fips180-2withchangenotice.pdf

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SOAP
Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) Version 1.1. W3C Note. D. Box, D. Ehnebuske, G.
Kakivaya, A. Layman, N. Mendelsohn, H. Frystyk Nielsen, S. Thatte, D. Winer. May 2001.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/NOTE-SOAP-20000508/
TESTCASES
Test Cases for C14N 1.1 and XMLDSig Interoperability. W3C Working Group Note. J.C.
Cruellas, K. Lanz, S. Mullan. June 2008.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/NOTE-xmldsig2ed-tests-20080610/
UTF-16
RFC 2781. UTF-16, an encoding of ISO 10646. P. Hoffman , F. Yergeau. February 2000.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2781.txt
UTF-8
RFC 2279. UTF-8, a transformation format of ISO 10646. F. Yergeau. January 1998.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2279.txt
URI
RFC 3986. Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI): Generic Syntax. T. Berners-Lee, R.
Fielding, L. Masinter. January 2005.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3986.txt
URL
RFC 1738. Uniform Resource Locators (URL). T. Berners-Lee, L. Masinter, and M.
McCahill. December 1994.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc1738.txt
URN
RFC 2141. URN Syntax. R. Moats. May 1997.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2141.txt
RFC 2611. URN Namespace Definition Mechanisms. L. Daigle, D. van Gulik, R. Iannella,
P. Falstrom. June 1999.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2611.txt
X509v3
ITU-T Recommendation X.509 version 3 (1997). "Information Technology - Open Systems
Interconnection - The Directory Authentication Framework" ISO/IEC 9594-8:1997.
XHTML 1.0
XHTML(tm) 1.0: The Extensible Hypertext Markup Language. W3C Recommendation. S.
Pemberton, D. Raggett, et al. January 2000.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2000/REC-xhtml1-20000126/
XLink
XML Linking Language. W3C Recommendation. S. DeRose, E. Maler, D. Orchard. June
2001.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xlink-20010627/
XML
Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0 (Fourth Edition). W3C Recommendation T. Bray,
E. Maler, J. Paoli, C. M. Sperberg-McQueen, F.Yergeau. 16 August 2006, edited in place
29 September 2006.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/REC-xml-20060816/
XML-C14N
Canonical XML. W3C Recommendation. J. Boyer. March 2001.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xml-c14n-20010315
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3076.txt
XML-C14N11
Canonical XML 1.1. W3C Recommendation. J. Boyer, G. Marcy. 2 May 2008.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2008/REC-xml-c14n11-20080502/
XML-exc-C14N
Exclusive XML Canonicalization Version 1.0 W3C Recommendation. J. Boyer, D. Eastlake

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3rd., J. Reagle. July 2002.

http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/REC-xml-exc-c14n-20020718/
XML-Japanese
XML Japanese Profile. W3C Note. M. Murata April 2000 http://www.w3.org/TR/2000
/NOTE-japanese-xml-20000414/
XML-MT
RFC 2376 . XML Media Types. E. Whitehead, M. Murata. July 1998.
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2376.txt
XML-ns
Namespaces in XML 1.0 (Second Edition). W3C Recommendation. T. Bray, D. Hollander,
A. Layman, R. Tobin. 16 August 2006.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2006/REC-xml-names-20060816/
XML-schema
XML Schema Part 1: Structures. W3C Recommendation. H. Thompson,D. Beech, M.
Maloney, N. Mendelsohn. October 2004.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2004/REC-xmlschema-1-20041028/
XML Schema Part 2: Datatypes W3C Recommendation. P. Biron, A. Malhotra. May 2001.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xmlschema-2-20010502/
XML-Signature-RD
RFC 2807. XML Signature Requirements. W3C Working Draft. J. Reagle, April 2000.
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/WD-xmldsig-requirements-19991014
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2807.txt
http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/REC-xmldsig-core-20020212//
XMLDSIG-2002
XML-Signature Syntax and Processing. D. Eastlake, J. Reagle, and D. Solo. W3C
Recommendation, February 2002.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/REC-xmldsig-core-20020212/
XPath
XML Path Language (XPath) Version 1.0. W3C Recommendation. J. Clark, S. DeRose.
October 1999.
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xpath-19991116
XPath Filter-2
XML-Signature XPath Filter 2.0. W3C Recommendation. J. Boyer, M. Hughes, J. Reagle.
November 2002.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/REC-xmldsig-filter2-20021108/
XPTR-2001
XML Pointer Language (XPointer). W3C Candidate Recommendation. S. DeRose, R.
Daniel, E. Maler. January 2001.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/CR-xptr-20010911/
XPointer-Element
XPointer element() Scheme. W3C Recommendation. P. Grosso, E. Maler, J. Marsh, N.
Walsh. March 2003.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2003/REC-xptr-element-20030325/
XPointer-Framework
XPointer Framework. W3C Recommendation. P. Grosso, E. Maler, J. Marsh, N. Walsh.
March 2003.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2003/REC-xptr-framework-20030325/
XPointer-xpointer
XPointer xpointer() Scheme. W3C Working Draft. S. DeRose, E. Maler, R. Daniel.
December 2002.
http://www.w3.org/TR/2002/WD-xptr-xpointer-20021219/
XPointer-xmlns
XPointer xmlns() Scheme. W3C Working Recommendation. S. DeRose, R. Daniel, E.
Maler, J. Marsh. March 2003.

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XML Signature Syntax and Processing (Second Edition)

53 of 53

http://www.w3.org/TR/xmldsig-core/

http://www.w3.org/TR/2003/REC-xptr-xmlns-20030325/
http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/REC-xsl-20011015/
XSLT
XSL Transforms (XSLT) Version 1.0. W3C Recommendation. J. Clark. November 1999.
http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xslt-19991116.html

12. Authors' Address

Donald E. Eastlake 3rd
Motorola Laboratories
111 Locke Drive
Marlborough, MA 01752 USA
Phone: +1-508-786-7554
Email: d3e3e3@gmail.com
Joseph M. Reagle Jr.
Department of Media, Culture, and Communication
New York University
Email: reagle@mit.edu
David Solo
Citigroup
909 Third Ave, 16th Floor
NY, NY 10043 USA
Phone +1-212-559-2900
Email: dsolo@alum.mit.edu

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