RFC 6755 INFORMATIONAL OAUTH · URN · IANA

OAuth URN namespace: An IETF URN Sub-Namespace for OAuth

A reserved place in the URN space where OAuth specifications can register stable names.

On rfc-editor.org ↗
PUBLISHED
October 2012
AUTHORS
B. Campbell, H. Tschofenig
STREAM
IETF
SUB-NAMESPACE
urn:ietf:params:oauth
REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
Specification Required
REGISTRY NAME
OAuth URI
DOI
10.17487/RFC6755

RFC text

Contents
Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)                       B. Campbell
Request for Comments: 6755                           Ping Identity Corp.
Category: Informational                                    H. Tschofenig
ISSN: 2070-1721                                   Nokia Siemens Networks
                                                            October 2012


                  An IETF URN Sub-Namespace for OAuth

Abstract

   This document establishes an IETF URN Sub-namespace for use with
   OAuth-related specifications.

Status of This Memo

   This document is not an Internet Standards Track specification; it is
   published for informational purposes.

   This document is a product of the Internet Engineering Task Force
   (IETF).  It represents the consensus of the IETF community.  It has
   received public review and has been approved for publication by the
   Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG).  Not all documents
   approved by the IESG are a candidate for any level of Internet
   Standard; see Section 2 of RFC 5741.

   Information about the current status of this document, any errata,
   and how to provide feedback on it may be obtained at
   http://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6755.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (c) 2012 IETF Trust and the persons identified as the
   document authors.  All rights reserved.

   This document is subject to BCP 78 and the IETF Trust's Legal
   Provisions Relating to IETF Documents
   (http://trustee.ietf.org/license-info) in effect on the date of
   publication of this document.  Please review these documents
   carefully, as they describe your rights and restrictions with respect
   to this document.  Code Components extracted from this document must
   include Simplified BSD License text as described in Section 4.e of
   the Trust Legal Provisions and are provided without warranty as
   described in the Simplified BSD License.

Table of Contents

   1. Introduction ....................................................2
   2. Registration Template ...........................................2
      2.1. Example Registration Request ...............................3
   3. Security Considerations .........................................3
   4. IANA Considerations .............................................3
      4.1. IETF URN Sub-Namespace Registration urn:ietf:params:oauth ..4
   5. References ......................................................4
      5.1. Normative References .......................................4
      5.2. Informative Reference ......................................4
   Appendix A.  Acknowledgements ......................................5

1.  Introduction

   Various extensions and companion specifications to the OAuth 2.0
   Authorization Framework [OAUTH-V2] utilize URIs to identify the
   extension in use or other relevant context.  This document creates
   and registers an IETF URN Sub-namespace, as documented in RFC 3553
   [RFC3553], for use with such specifications.  The new 'oauth' Sub-
   namespace is urn:ietf:params:oauth, and OAuth relevant parameters
   will be established underneath it.

2.  Registration Template

   If a registrant wishes to have an OAuth URI registered, then a URN of
   the form urn:ietf:params:oauth:<value> will be requested where
   <value> is a suitable representation of the functionality or concept
   being registered.

   The registration procedure for new entries requires a request in the
   form of the following template and is "Specification Required" per
   RFC 5226 [RFC5226].

   URN:
      The URI that identifies the registered functionality.

   Common Name:
      The name by which the functionality being registered is generally
      known.

   Change Controller:  For Standards Track RFCs, state "IETF".  For
      others, give the name of the responsible party.  Other details
      (e.g., postal address, email address, and home page URI) may also
      be included.

   Specification Document(s):  Reference to the document that specifies
      the URI, preferably including a URI that can be used to retrieve a
      copy of the document.  An indication of the relevant sections may
      also be included but is not required.

   The registration request for the urn:ietf:params:oauth URN Sub-
   namespace is found in the IANA Considerations section of this
   document (Section 4).

2.1.  Example Registration Request

   The following is an example registration request for a URI underneath
   the urn:ietf:params:oauth Sub-namespace.  The requested URI
   represents a new OAuth 2.0 grant type.

   This is a request to IANA to please register the value
   "grant-type:example" in the registry urn:ietf:params:oauth
   established in an IETF URN Sub-namespace for OAuth.

   o  URN: urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:example

   o  Common Name: An Example Grant Type for OAuth 2.0

   o  Change controller: IETF

   o  Specification Document: [the document URI]

3.  Security Considerations

   There are no additional security considerations beyond those already
   inherent to using URNs.  Security considerations for URNs in general
   can be found in RFC 2141 [RFC2141].

   Any work that is related to OAuth would benefit from familiarity with
   the security considerations of the OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework
   [OAUTH-V2].

4.  IANA Considerations

   IANA has created the following:

   o  The registration of a new IANA URN Sub-namespace,
      urn:ietf:params:oauth:, per RFC 3553 [RFC3553].  The registration
      request can be found in Section 4.1 below.

   o  A new registry called the "OAuth URI" registry for URNs
      subordinate to urn:ietf:params:oauth.  The registry "OAuth URI"
      has been added to a new top-level registry called "OAuth
      Parameters" as defined by [OAUTH-V2].  Instructions for a
      registrant to request the registration of such a URN are in
      Section 2.

4.1.  IETF URN Sub-Namespace Registration urn:ietf:params:oauth

   Per RFC 3553 [RFC3553], IANA has registered a new URN Sub-namespace,
   urn:ietf:params:oauth.

   o  Registry name: oauth

   o  Specification: [this document]

   o  Repository: [The registry created in Section 2.]

   o  Index value: values subordinate to urn:ietf:params:oauth are of
      the form urn:ietf:params:oauth:<value> with <value> as the index
      value.  It is suggested that <value> include both a "class" and an
      "identifier-within-class" component, with the two components being
      separated by a colon (":"); other compositions of the <value> may
      also be used.

5.  References

5.1.  Normative References

   [RFC2141]   Moats, R., "URN Syntax", RFC 2141, May 1997.

   [RFC3553]   Mealling, M., Masinter, L., Hardie, T., and G. Klyne, "An
               IETF URN Sub-namespace for Registered Protocol
               Parameters", BCP 73, RFC 3553, June 2003.

   [RFC5226]   Narten, T. and H. Alvestrand, "Guidelines for Writing an
               IANA Considerations Section in RFCs", BCP 26, RFC 5226,
               May 2008.

5.2.  Informative Reference

   [OAUTH-V2]  Hardt, D., "The OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework", Work
               in Progress, July 2012.

Appendix A.  Acknowledgements

   The authors thank the following for their helpful contributions:
   Stephen Farrell, Barry Leiba, Peter Saint-Andre, Eran Hammer, John
   Bradley, Ben Campbell, and Michael B. Jones.

Authors' Addresses

   Brian Campbell
   Ping Identity Corp.

   EMail: brian.d.campbell@gmail.com


   Hannes Tschofenig
   Nokia Siemens Networks

   EMail: hannes.tschofenig@gmx.net

AI ELI5

On this page
PROBLEMOAuth 2.0 extensions use URIs to identify themselves, and they need a shared, collision-free place to get those names.
MECHANISMIt registers the IETF URN sub-namespace urn:ietf:params:oauth and creates an IANA registry under it, with a template and Specification Required as the procedure.
WHY IT MATTERSOAuth-related URNs can now be registered in the form urn:ietf:params:oauth followed by a colon and a value.

§1Why an OAuth URN Space

Extensions and companion specifications to the OAuth 2.0 Authorization Framework use URIs to identify the extension in use or other context. This document creates and registers an IETF URN sub-namespace, as RFC 3553 allows, for such specifications. The new sub-namespace is urn:ietf:params:oauth, and OAuth parameters are established beneath it.

OAuth gets its own shelf in a huge name library, so its names stay together and never clash.

§2How to Register a Name

A registrant requests a URN of the form urn:ietf:params:oauth:<value>, where the value represents the functionality being registered. The procedure is Specification Required under RFC 5226, and the request uses a template with these fields:

  • URN: the URI that identifies the functionality.
  • Common Name: the name by which it is generally known.
  • Change Controller: state IETF for Standards Track RFCs, otherwise the responsible party.
  • Specification Document(s): a reference to the document defining it.

To get a name, you fill in a short form saying what it is, what people call it, who is in charge and where it is written down.

§2.1An Example Request

The RFC gives an example request for a new OAuth 2.0 grant type: URN urn:ietf:params:oauth:grant-type:example, Common Name "An Example Grant Type for OAuth 2.0", Change controller IETF.

It suggests that the value include a class and an identifier-within-class separated by a colon, though other compositions may be used.

The example is a filled-in form for a pretend new kind of OAuth permission.

§4IANA Actions and Security

IANA has registered the sub-namespace urn:ietf:params:oauth per RFC 3553. It also created an "OAuth URI" registry for URNs under it, placed in a new top-level registry called "OAuth Parameters".

There are no additional security considerations beyond those inherent to using URNs (RFC 2141), though anyone working on OAuth is advised to know the security considerations of OAuth 2.0.

The librarians made the new shelf and a sign-in book for it. There is no special danger beyond what names already have.

§5References