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Configure the server for response signing: choosing the digital signature method

 

Use an assembly tool to specify which digital signature method to use when configuring the server for response signing.

There is an important distinction between Version 5.x and V6 and later applications. The information in this article supports V5.x applications only that are used with WebSphere Application Server V6.0.x and later. The information does not apply to Version 6.0.x and later applications. Prior to completing these steps, read either of the following topics to become familiar with the Extensions tab and the Binding configurations tab in the Web services editor within the IBM assembly tools:

These two tabs are used to configure the Web services security extensions and the Web services security bindings, respectively.

 

Overview

Complete the following steps to specify which digital signature method to use when configuring the server for response signing:

 

Procedure

  1. Launch an assembly tool. For more information on the assembly tools, see Assembly tools.

  2. Switch to the J2EE perspective. Click Window > Open Perspective > J2EE.

  3. Click EJB Projects > application _name >ejbModule > META-INF

  4. Right-click the webservices.xml file and click Open with > Web services editor.

  5. Click the Binding Configurations tab.

  6. Expand Response sender binding configuration details > Signing information.

  7. Click Edit to choose a signing method. The signing info dialog is displayed and either select or enter the following information:

    The following table describes the purpose of this information. Some of these definitions are based on the XML-Signature specification, which is located at the following address: http://www.w3.org/TR/xmldsig-core.

    Name Purpose
    Canonicalization method algorithm Canonicalizes the <SignedInfo> element before the information is digested as part of the signature operation. Use the same algorithm on the client response receiver. The algorithm selected for the server response sender configuration must match the algorithm selected in the client response receiver configuration.
    Digest method algorithm Applies to the data after transforms are applied, if specified, to yield the <DigestValue> element. Signing the <DigestValue> binds resource content to the signer key. The algorithm selected for the server response sender configuration must match the algorithm selected in the client response receiver configuration.
    Signature method algorithm Converts the canonicalized <SignedInfo> element into the <SignatureValue> element. The algorithm selected for the server response sender configuration must match the algorithm selected in the client response receiver configuration.
    Signing key name Represents the key entry associated with the signing key locator. The key entry refers to an alias of the key, which is found in the key store and is used to sign the request.
    Signing key locator Represents a reference to a key locator implementation class that locates the correct key store where the alias and certificate exists. For more information on configuring key locators, see any of the following files:

     

  8. Optional: Select Show only FIPS Compliant Algorithms if you only want the FIPS compliant algorithms to be shown in the Signature method algorithm and Digest method algorithm drop-down lists. Use this option if you expect this application to be run on a WebSphere Application Server that has set the Use the United States Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) algorithms option in the SSL certificate and key management panel of the console for WebSphere Application Server.

 

Results

You have specified which method is used to digitally sign a message when the server sends a message to a client.

 

What to do next

After you configure the server to digitally sign the response message, configure the client to verify the digital signature contained in the response message. See Configure the client for response digital signature verification: verifying the message parts for more information.

 

Related concepts


Response sender
Response receiver
XML digital signature

 

Related tasks


Configure key locators using an assembly tool
Configure key locators using the console
Configure server and cell level key locators using the administrative console
Configure the server for response signing: digitally signing message parts
Configure the server security bindings using an assembly tool
Configure the server security bindings using the console
Securing Web services for V5.x applications using XML digital signature