XML token

XML tokens are offered in two well-known formats called Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) and eXtensible rights Markup Language (XrML).

In WebSphere Application Server Versions 6 and later, we can plug in our own implementation. By using extensibility of the <wsse:Security> header in XML-based security tokens, we can directly insert these security tokens into the header. SAML assertions are attached to Web Services Security messages using web services by placing assertion elements inside the <wsse:Security> header. The following example illustrates a Web Services Security message with a SAML assertion token.

<S:Envelope xmlns:S="...">
<S:Header>
      <wsse:Security xmlns:wsse="...">
          <saml:Assertion
                    MajorVersion="1"                      MinorVersion="0"
                    AssertionID="SecurityToken-ef375268"
                       Issuer="elliotw1"                         IssueInstant="2002-07-23T11:32:05.6228146-07:00"
                     xmlns:saml="urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:1.0:assertion">
                     ...
           </saml:Assertion>
      </wsse:Security>
 </S:Header>
 <S:Body>
 ...
 </S:Body>
</S:Envelope>

For a complete list of the supported standards and specifications, read about web services specifications and APIs.

Related concepts

What is new for securing web services

Web services

Web services specifications and APIs