Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL) is a framework for authentication and data security in Internet protocols. It decouples authentication mechanisms from application protocols, in theory allowing any authentication mechanism supported by SASL to be used in any application protocol that uses SASL. Authentication mechanisms can also support proxy authorization, a facility allowing one user to assume the identity of another. They can also provide a data security layer offering data integrity and data confidentiality services. DIGEST-MD5 provides an example of mechanisms which can provide a data-security layer. Application protocols that support SASL typically also support Transport Layer Security (TLS) to complement the services offered by SASL.

John Gardiner Myers wrote the original SASL specification (RFC 2222) in 1997. In 2006, that document was replaced by RFC 4422 authored by Alexey Melnikov and Kurt D. Zeilenga. SASL, as defined by RFC 4422 is an IETF Standard Track protocol and is, as of 2006[update], a Proposed Standard.

SASL mechanisms

A SASL mechanism implements a series of challenges and responses. Defined SASL mechanisms include:

EXTERNAL

where authentication is implicit in the context (e.g., for protocols already using IPsec or TLS)

ANONYMOUS

for unauthenticated guest access

PLAIN

a simple cleartext password mechanism, defined in RFC 4616

OTP

a one-time password mechanism. Obsoletes the SKEY mechanism.

SKEY

an S/KEY mechanism.

CRAM-MD5

a simple challenge-response scheme based on HMAC-MD5.

DIGEST-MD5

(historic), partially HTTP Digest compatible challenge-response scheme based upon MD5. DIGEST-MD5 offered a data security layer.

SCRAM

(RFC 5802), modern challenge-response scheme based mechanism with channel binding support

NTLM

an NT LAN Manager authentication mechanism

GS2-

family of mechanisms supports arbitrary GSS-API mechanisms in SASL. It is now standardized as RFC 5801.

GSSAPI

for Kerberos V5 authentication via the GSSAPI. GSSAPI offers a data-security layer.

BROWSERID-AES128

for Mozilla Persona authentication

EAP-AES128

for GSS EAP authentication

MSN Chat GateKeeper (& GateKeeperPassport)

a challenge-response mechanism developed by Microsoft for MSN Chat

OAUTHBEARER

OAuth 2.0 bearer tokens (RFC 6750), communicated through TLS

OAUTH10A

OAuth 1.0a message-authentication-code tokens (RFC 5849, Section 3.4.2)

SASL-aware application protocols

Application protocols define their representation of SASL exchanges with a profile. A protocol has a service name such as "ldap" in a registry shared with GSSAPI and Kerberos.

As of 2012[update] protocols currently supporting SASL include:

See also

External links

  • RFC - Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL) - obsoletes RFC
  • RFC - Anonymous Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL) Mechanism - obsoletes RFC
  • RFC - The PLAIN Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL) Mechanism - updates RFC
  • The IETF , chartered to revise existing SASL specifications, as well as to develop a family of GSSAPI mechanisms
  • , a free and portable SASL library providing generic security for various applications
  • , a free and portable SASL command-line utility and library, distributed under the GNU GPLv3 and LGPLv2.1, respectively
  • , an SASL implementation
  • RFC (historic) - Using Digest Authentication as a SASL Mechanism, obsoleted in RFC
  • Programming and Deployment Guide