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Re: [ietf-dkim] Please post issues with draft-dkim-rfc4871-errata-03

2009-02-09 15:39:08

On Feb 9, 2009, at 8:13 AM, Dave CROCKER wrote:

Folks,

In anticipation of a working group Last Call for the Errata, would  
anyone else with concerns about the draft please post them so we can  
discuss and resolve them?

 <http://dkim.org/ietf-dkim.htm#errata>

Dave,

The issue appears to be an over zealous use of the word opaque in an  
attempt to reiterate that there is an uncertain mapping of entities to  
email-addresses.  Such as, perhaps multiple entities might be able to  
use "jon(_dot_)doe(_at_)example(_dot_)com".   Of course, the issue of entity 
mapping is  
always an internal matter for the domain.   Combining this concept  
with DKIM definitions is fairly confusing.

Useful errata information might mention:

a) The display name, in conjunction with an email-address, is not  
directly validated by the DKIM verification process.

b) Only when the header containing the email-address is signed, can it  
be presumed that the display name is in compliance with the domain's  
practices.

c) Use of subdomains below the d= value domain requires an unverified  
assumption that the d= value domain is authoritative for the subdomain  
namespace.

d) When the i= identity is not found within the signed header fields,  
although it is in the form of a email-address, it should not be  
assumed to represent a valid email-address.


The proposed errata use of the word opaque to describe the d= value,  
in addition to the i= value offers _no_ additional clarity.  The DKIM  
signature validates a domain indicated by the d= value as possessing  
the private key used to sign the message.   There is little benefit  
calling this validated domain "opaque".

After all, authorization to include a Mail From domain for an SMTP  
client might be called "domain authentication" with respect to any  
purported responsible address. :^(

-Doug
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