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Security context token


Web Services Trust (WS-Trust) and Web Services Secure Conversation (WS-SecureConversation) support in the appserver provides the ability to issue a security context token (SCT). Requests for a security context token are processed by the security token service.

The security token service for WAS is called the trust service. However, the appserver does not provide a full security token service that implements all the contents of the WS-Trust specification.

The secure session is referred to as secure conversation because the message protocols that are used are defined by WS-SecureConversation and WS-Trust. WAS supports secure conversation.

To request a security context token, a RequestSecurityToken (RST), which is defined by WS-Trust and WS-SecureConversation protocols, is sent to the service endpoint to which we are setting up a secure conversation. These requests are transparently rerouted to the trust service. The trust service processes the RST and responds with a RequestSecurityTokenResponse (RSTR). This response is returned to the requestor as if it was generated by the endpoint service.

The WAS token provider support is limited to the Security Context Token provider. WS-SecureConversation in the appserver focuses on the establishing of the security context token between the initiating party and the recipient party for secure conversation.

WAS includes caching support for the Security Context Token in both cluster and non-cluster environments as well as on both the client and server. WAS also provides trust policy set management for each of the trust service operations: issue, cancel, validate, and renew. Trust system policy sets can be managed for each of these trust operations relative to an explicit service endpoint or the trust service default. The default trust service policy set for a trust operation is enforced when there is not an explicit attachment.

See the information about Web Services Trust for the WS-Trust functions that are supported. For the security context token, we can:

The Security Context Token provider does not support the following operations:

 

Definitions

To better understand security tokens, the following terms are defined:

security token

A security token represents a collection of claims.

security context

A security context is an abstract concept that refers to an established authentication state and negotiated key or keys that can have additional security-related properties. A security context needs to be created and shared by the communicating parties before being used. A security context is shared among the communicating parties for the lifetime of a communications session and a security context token is the wire representation of this abstract security context.

WAS does not support a security context token created by one of the communicating parties and propagated with a message WAS does not support creating a security context token through negotiation and exchanges.

security context token

A security context token is a wire representation of that security context abstract concept, which allows a context to be named by a URI and to be used with WS-Security. A secured communication with a security context token between two parties is realized with WS-Trust and WS-SecureConversation.

security token service

A security token service (STS) is a Web service that issues security tokens, meaning it makes assertions that are based on evidence that it trusts, to whoever trusts it (or to specific recipients).

Trust service

The trust service is the security token service and supporting code that is provided by Websphere Application Server.

RequestSecurityToken (RST)

A RST is a message sent to a security token service to request a security token.

RequestSecurityToken Response (RSTR)

A RSTR is a response to a request for a security token from a security token service to a requestor after receiving an RST message.

To communicate trust, a service requires proof, such as a signature, to prove knowledge of a security token or set of security tokens. A service itself can generate tokens or it can rely on a separate security token service to issue a security token with its own trust statement. Note that, for some security token formats, communicating trust can just be a re-issuance or a co-signature that forms the basis of trust brokering.

 

Syntax for the <wsc:SecurityContextToken> element

A security context is shared among the communicating parties for the lifetime of a communications session and a security context token is the wire representation of this abstract security context. In the WS-SecureConversation specification, a security context is represented by the <wsc:SecurityContextToken> security token.

The following URI represents the security context token type that is required to establish a secure conversation. 

http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct

The syntax for <wsc:SecurityContextToken> element is as follows: 

<wsc:SecurityContextToken wsu:Id="..." ...>
    <wsc:Identifier>...</wsc:Identifier>
    <wsc:Instance>...</wsc:Instance>
    ...
</wsc:SecurityContextToken>

The security context token does not support references to it by using key identifiers or key names. All references must use an ID (to a wsu:Id attribute) or use a URI reference, <wsse:Reference>, to the <wsc:Identifier> element in the security context token.

 

Example

This example shows a RST request to issue a security token. The URI http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct, which is used in this example, represents the token type: 

<wsc:SecurityContextToken>
<soapenv:Envelope
  
    xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">

   <soapenv:Header>
    <wsa:To 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
    </wsa:To>
    <wsa:MessageID 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      fc0632828e1252b4:487cee53:11cbfa7916e:-7fb6
    </wsa:MessageID>
    <wsa:Action 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/RST/SCT
    </wsa:Action>
  </soapenv:Header>

 <soapenv:Body>
    
    <wst:RequestSecurityToken
      
    xmlns:wst="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512"
      Context="http://www.ibm.com/login/">
      <wst:TokenType>
        http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct
      </wst:TokenType>
      <wst:RequestType>
        http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/Issue
      </wst:RequestType>
      <wsp:AppliesTo
        
    xmlns:wsp="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2004/09/policy">
        -
        <wsa:EndpointReference
          
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">
          <wsa:Address>
            http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
          </wsa:Address>
        </wsa:EndpointReference>
      </wsp:AppliesTo>
      <wst:Entropy>
        <wst:BinarySecret
          Type="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/Nonce">
          zb
//KsawV6DmfC8kB6vNOQ==
        </wst:BinarySecret>
      </wst:Entropy>
      <wst:KeySize>128</wst:KeySize>
    </wst:RequestSecurityToken>
  </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

This example shows a RSTR request to issue a security token: 

<soapenv:Envelope
  
    xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">

 <soapenv:Header 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">
    <wsa:Action>
      http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/RSTR/SCT
    </wsa:Action>
    <wsa:RelatesTo>
      fc0632828e1252b4:487cee53:11cbfa7916e:-7fb6
    </wsa:RelatesTo>
  </soapenv:Header>

 <soapenv:Body>
    <wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponseCollection
      
    xmlns:wst="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512">
      <wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponse
        Context="http://www.ibm.com/login/">
        <wst:RequestedSecurityToken>
          <wsc:SecurityContextToken
            
    xmlns:wsc="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512"
            
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd"
            wsu:Id="uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1222986227363">
            <wsc:Identifier>
              uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1222986227346
            </wsc:Identifier>
            <wsc:Instance>
              uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1222986227345
            </wsc:Instance>
          </wsc:SecurityContextToken>
        </wst:RequestedSecurityToken>
        <wsp:AppliesTo
          
    xmlns:wsp="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/07/securitypolicy">
          <wsa:EndpointReference
            
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">
            <wsa:Address>
              http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
            </wsa:Address>
          </wsa:EndpointReference>
        </wsp:AppliesTo>
        <wst:RequestedProofToken>
          <wst:ComputedKey>
            http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/CK/PSHA1
          </wst:ComputedKey>
        </wst:RequestedProofToken>
        <wst:Entropy>
          <wst:BinarySecret
            Type="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/Nonce">
            rF1Yp5zhRhamLQNPAOm4TA==
          </wst:BinarySecret>
        </wst:Entropy>
        <wst:Lifetime>
          <wsu:Created
            
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd">
            2008-10-02T22:23:44.765Z
          </wsu:Created>
          <wsu:Expires
            
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd">
            2008-10-02T22:35:44.765Z
          </wsu:Expires>
        </wst:Lifetime>
        <wst:RequestedAttachedReference>
          <wsse:SecurityTokenReference
            
    xmlns:wsse="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-secext-1.0.xsd">
            <wsse:Reference
              URI="#uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1222986227363"
              ValueType="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct" />
          </wsse:SecurityTokenReference>
        </wst:RequestedAttachedReference>
        <wst:RequestedUnattachedReference>
          <wsse:SecurityTokenReference
            
    xmlns:wsse="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-secext-1.0.xsd">
            <wsse:Reference
              URI="uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1222986227346"
              ValueType="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct" />
          </wsse:SecurityTokenReference>
        </wst:RequestedUnattachedReference>
        <wst:Renewing Allow="true" OK="false" />
        <wst:KeySize>128</wst:KeySize>
      </wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponse>
    </wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponseCollection>
  </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

 

Example

This example shows a RST request to cancel a security token. 

<soapenv:Envelope
  
    xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">

 <soapenv:Header>
    <wsa:To 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
    </wsa:To>
    <wsa:MessageID 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      fc0632828e1252b4:-270287b7:11cc22c16ed:-7fa8
    </wsa:MessageID>
    <wsa:Action 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/RST/Cancel
    </wsa:Action>
  </soapenv:Header>

 <soapenv:Body>
    <wst:RequestSecurityToken
      
    xmlns:wst="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512"
      Context="http://www.ibm.com/login/">
      <wst:TokenType>
        http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct
      </wst:TokenType>
      <wst:RequestType>
        http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/Cancel
      </wst:RequestType>
      <wsp:AppliesTo
        
    xmlns:wsp="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2004/09/policy">
        <wsa:EndpointReference
          
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">
          <wsa:Address>
            http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
          </wsa:Address>
        </wsa:EndpointReference>
      </wsp:AppliesTo>
      <wst:CancelTarget>
        <wsc:SecurityContextToken
          
    xmlns:wsc="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512"
          
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd"
          wsu:Id="uuid:AC4764EB4BE91011501223028453769">
          <wsc:Identifier>
            uuid:AC4764EB4BE91011501223028453768
          </wsc:Identifier>
          <wsc:Instance>
            uuid:AC4764EB4BE91011501223028453751
          </wsc:Instance>
        </wsc:SecurityContextToken>
      </wst:CancelTarget>
    </wst:RequestSecurityToken>
  </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

This example shows a RSTR request to cancel a security token: 

<soapenv:Envelope
  
    xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/"
  
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">

 <soapenv:Header>
        <wsa:Action>
             http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/RSTR/Cancel
        </wsa:Action>
        <wsa:RelatesTo>
             fc0632828e1252b4:-270287b7:11cc22c16ed:-7fa8
        </wsa:RelatesTo>
    </soapenv:Header>

  <soapenv:Body>
        <wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponse
             Context="http://www.ibm.com/login/" 
                
    xmlns:wst="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512">
            <wst:RequestedTokenCancelled>
        </wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponse>
   </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

 

Example

This example shows a RST request to renew a security token. 

<soapenv:Envelope
  
    xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">

  <soapenv:Header>
    <wsa:To 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
    </wsa:To>
    <wsa:MessageID 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      fc0632828e1252b4:487cee53:11cbfa7916e:-7f8e
    </wsa:MessageID>
    <wsa:Action 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/RST/Renew
    </wsa:Action>
  </soapenv:Header>

  <soapenv:Body>
    <wst:RequestSecurityToken
      
    xmlns:wst="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512"
      Context="http://www.ibm.com/login/">
      <wst:TokenType>
        http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct
      </wst:TokenType>
      <wst:RequestType>
        http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/Renew
      </wst:RequestType>
      <wst:RenewTarget>
        <wsc:SecurityContextToken
          
    xmlns:wsc="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512"
          
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd"
          wsu:Id="uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1223026418869">
          <wsc:Identifier>
            uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1223026418868
          </wsc:Identifier>
          <wsc:Instance>
            uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1223026418867
          </wsc:Instance>
        </wsc:SecurityContextToken>
      </wst:RenewTarget>
      <wsp:AppliesTo
        
    xmlns:wsp="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2004/09/policy">
        <wsa:EndpointReference
          
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">
          <wsa:Address>
            http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
          </wsa:Address>
        </wsa:EndpointReference>
      </wsp:AppliesTo>
      <wst:Entropy>
        <wst:BinarySecret
          Type="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/Nonce">
          U8rH9l/wLV1gpsBf/yCooA==
        </wst:BinarySecret>
      </wst:Entropy>
      <wst:KeySize>128</wst:KeySize>
    </wst:RequestSecurityToken>
  </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

This example shows a RSTR request to renew a security token: 

<soapenv:Envelope
  
    xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">

 <soapenv:Header 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">
    <wsa:Action>
      http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/RSTR/RenewFinal
    </wsa:Action>
    <wsa:RelatesTo>
      fc0632828e1252b4:487cee53:11cbfa7916e:-7f8e
    </wsa:RelatesTo>
  </soapenv:Header>

 <soapenv:Body>
    <wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponse
      
    xmlns:wst="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512"
      Context="http://www.ibm.com/login/">
      <wst:RequestedSecurityToken>
        <wsc:SecurityContextToken
          
    xmlns:wsc="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512"
          
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd"
          wsu:Id="uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1223026990448">
          <wsc:Identifier>
            uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1223026418868
          </wsc:Identifier>
          <wsc:Instance>
            uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1223026990447
          </wsc:Instance>
        </wsc:SecurityContextToken>
      </wst:RequestedSecurityToken>
      <wst:Entropy>
        <wst:BinarySecret
          Type="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/Nonce">
          lFkKSI/pajtTZzRpQalNMA==
        </wst:BinarySecret>
      </wst:Entropy>
      <wst:Lifetime>
        <wsu:Created
          
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd">
          2008-10-03T09:43:07.421Z
        </wsu:Created>
        <wsu:Expires
          
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd">
          2008-10-03T09:55:07.421Z
        </wsu:Expires>
      </wst:Lifetime>
      <wst:RequestedAttachedReference>
        <wsse:SecurityTokenReference
          
    xmlns:wsse="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-secext-1.0.xsd">
          <wsse:Reference
            URI="#uuid:FFA51A32EB818FB6EA1223026990448"
            ValueType="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct">
          </wsse:Reference>
        </wsse:SecurityTokenReference>
      </wst:RequestedAttachedReference>
      <wst:Renewing Allow="true" OK="false"></wst:Renewing>
    </wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponse>
  </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

 

Example

This example shows a RST request to validate a security token. 

<soapenv:Envelope
  
    xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">

 <soapenv:Header>
    <wsa:To 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
    </wsa:To>
    <wsa:MessageID 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      fc0632828e1252b4:-673f2c18:11cc328886a:-7fa7
    </wsa:MessageID>
    <wsa:Action 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing"
      soapenv:mustUnderstand="0">
      http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/RST/Validate
    </wsa:Action>
  </soapenv:Header>

  <soapenv:Body>
    <wst:RequestSecurityToken
      
    xmlns:wst="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512"
      Context="http://www.ibm.com/login/">
      <wst:TokenType>
        http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512/sct
      </wst:TokenType>
      <wst:RequestType>
        http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/Validate
      </wst:RequestType>
      <wst:ValidateTarget>
        <wsc:SecurityContextToken
          
    xmlns:wsc="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-secureconversation/200512"
          
    xmlns:wsu="http://docs.oasis-open.org/wss/2004/01/oasis-200401-wss-wssecurity-utility-1.0.xsd"
          wsu:Id="uuid:6B77A2DA28C1E523BD1223045150688">
          <wsc:Identifier>
            uuid:6B77A2DA28C1E523BD1223045150687
          </wsc:Identifier>
          <wsc:Instance>
            uuid:6B77A2DA28C1E523BD1223045150670
          </wsc:Instance>
        </wsc:SecurityContextToken>
      </wst:ValidateTarget>
      <wsp:AppliesTo
        
    xmlns:wsp="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2004/09/policy">
        <wsa:EndpointReference
          
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">
          <wsa:Address>
            http://localhost:80/WSSampleSei/EchoService
          </wsa:Address>
        </wsa:EndpointReference>
      </wsp:AppliesTo>
    </wst:RequestSecurityToken>
  </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

This example shows a RSTR request to validate a security token: 

<soapenv:Envelope
  
    xmlns:soapenv="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/">

 <soapenv:Header 
    xmlns:wsa="http://www.w3.org/2005/08/addressing">
    <wsa:Action>
      http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/RSTR/ValidateFinal
    </wsa:Action>
    <wsa:RelatesTo>
      fc0632828e1252b4:-673f2c18:11cc328886a:-7fa7
    </wsa:RelatesTo>
  </soapenv:Header>

 <soapenv:Body>
    <wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponse
      
    xmlns:wst="http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512"
      Context="http://www.ibm.com/login/">
      <wst:Status>
        <wst:Code>
          http://docs.oasis-open.org/ws-sx/ws-trust/200512/status/valid
        </wst:Code>
      </wst:Status>
    </wst:RequestSecurityTokenResponse>
  </soapenv:Body>
</soapenv:Envelope>

For additional information, review the two example scenario topics that discuss establishing the security context token.


 

Related concepts


Web Services Secure Conversation
Trust service
Derived key token

 

Related tasks


Secure requests to the trust service using system policy sets
Enable secure conversation

 

Related


Example: Establishing a security context token to secure a secure conversation
Example: Establishing a security context token to secure reliable messaging