OAuth URN namespace: An IETF URN Sub-Namespace for OAuth
A reserved place in the URN space where OAuth specifications can register stable names.
Campbell, B. and H. Tschofenig, "An IETF URN Sub-Namespace for OAuth", RFC 6755, DOI 10.17487/RFC6755, October 2012, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6755>.
@misc{rfc6755,
series = {Request for Comments},
number = 6755,
howpublished = {RFC 6755},
publisher = {RFC Editor},
doi = {10.17487/RFC6755},
url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc6755},
author = {B. Campbell and H. Tschofenig},
title = {{An IETF URN Sub-Namespace for OAuth}},
pagetotal = 5,
year = 2012,
month = oct,
} RFC text
Contents
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
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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
§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.