I don’t think it can be done.  Remember, the entire point of various people not 
being in various working groups is because they don’t want to review, disclose, 
or grant licenses based on updates to the documents in that working group.

 

While it would be nice if everyone joined the NetSec working group, so that 
we’re sure that the NCSSRs are free from IPR encumbrances, I don’t think we can 
force everyone to do so.  Which is essentially what you’d be doing by expanding 
IPR review to all the CWGs.

 

-Tim

 

From: Ben Wilson <[email protected]> 
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 10:31 AM
To: Dimitris Zacharopoulos <[email protected]>
Cc: CABforum1 <[email protected]>; Tim Hollebeek <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [cabfpub] Draft Working Group Charter for Network Security WG

 

I can add your first point into the ballot.

 

Does anyone have any language that would address Dimitris' second point, about 
enforcement across the board for the entire CAB Forum? We don't want to have to 
track different versions among Working Groups.

 

Thanks,

 

Ben

 

On Tue, Nov 9, 2021, 11:36 PM Dimitris Zacharopoulos <[email protected] 
<mailto:[email protected]> > wrote:

Ben, 

To minimize the risk of including IP protected material in the NetSec 
Guidelines, I propose that the IPR review process includes all Chartered 
Working Groups. Exclusion notices might arrive by any Member of any CWG. 

At the same time, all CWG members will be aware of changes in the NetSec WG 
Guidelines because they would need to check for IPR issues. 

Thoughts about that? 

On the updated language and "enforcement" of updated NetSec Guidelines to other 
Working Groups, I'm afraid it is not allowed. Chartered Working Groups have the 
necessary isolation from the Bylaws so that one CWG doesn't affect the work of 
another CWG, so I'm afraid this language is inconsistent with the current 
Bylaws. 


Dimitris. 

 

Nov 10, 2021 05:20:40 Ben Wilson via Public <[email protected] 
<mailto:[email protected]> >:

Here is another iteration of the charter proposal, based on today's 
teleconference of the NetSec subcommittee: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nrUFymusJV7YrvQBQ-2v6XbJgLGXOIieQMHu6AlaEPc 

Of note, I replaced the previously proposed section 5 with: 

" 5. Applicability of new NCSSR versions – Discussion and voting on any ballot 
to change the NCSSRs shall proceed within the NetSec WG in accordance with 
sections 2.3 and 2.4 of the Bylaws. Additionally, notice of the proposed ballot 
and discussion period shall be given to the SCWG, the CSCWG, and the SMCWG via 
their Public Mail Lists. If the ballot to change the NCSSRs passes the Initial 
Vote, then the new version of the NCSSRs shall be considered binding and 
effective on any working group that does not pass a ballot rejecting the new 
version before the close of the IPR Review Period." 

 

On Fri, Nov 5, 2021 at 10:09 AM Tim Hollebeek <[email protected] 
<mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: 

So, the approach I’ve been advocating so far in various WGs is the following:

 

1.      NetSec WG produces and maintains versions of the NCSSRs
2.      Individual WGs point to a specific version of the NCSSRs
3.      Individual WGs from time to time, evaluate and consume new versions, 
and update the version of the NCSSRs they reference

 

With some iterative feedback and collaboration.  This is the standard way of 
handling standards dependencies, and is very much in line with how software 
dependencies are handled.  It’s also how, for example, the Code Signing WG 
manages it’s dependency on the TLS BRs.

 

However, that model might not be desirable in this case, as issuing systems for 
CAs are almost certainly shared across the use cases, and divergences among the 
WGs as to which version of the NCSSRs they reference would put certificate 
issuers in a bit of a pickle.  The WebTrust audit framework also might need to 
change, as it typically bundles the NCSSRs into other audits and can’t easily 
deal with multiple relevant versions of the NCSSRs.

 

I wanted to bring this issue up so we can discuss potential solutions, which 
might include potential modifications to this charter.  For example, we may 
want to modify the voting structure and/or procedures to make sure 
modifications to the NCSSRs have the support of all the downstream consumers 
before the changes are approved, instead of having to deal with that as a 
second step.  This would also avoid the other problem that the NetSec working 
group has had, which is where changes are debated and approved by NetSec, but 
then have to be relitigated at the Server Cert level, often with a lot of 
wasted effort.  I hope that certain recent changes mean that that problem has 
now been overtaken by events, but it does seem like it would be more productive 
if everyone agreed across all working groups on NCCSR updates before they’re 
approved, so that they can be adopted in a uniform way.

 

Any other thoughts or feedback?  I would love to hear other approaches that 
might work, I just want to avoid having to deal with version skew problems with 
the NCSSRs.

 

It’s possible that longer term, the NetSec working group should grow up to be 
the “Baseline Baseline” working group that was discussed during governance 
reform, that is tasked with handling all of the cross-cutting concerns that are 
best handled in a coordinated manner across all of the working groups.  While 
each working group does have its own unique needs and needs to have the ability 
to maintain their own requirements, there are lots of other cases beyond the 
NCSSRs where uniformity is more important, and now that we’re close to having 
all the policies in 3647 format, it’s relatively straightforward to maintain 
them in this way.

 

-Tim

 

From: Public <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> 
> On Behalf Of Ben Wilson via Public
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2021 12:35 PM
To: CABforum1 <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Subject: [cabfpub] Draft Working Group Charter for Network Security WG

 

All,

Here is a draft charter for a Network Security Working Group.  Please provide 
your comments, and then we will finalize this work in the form of a Forum 
Ballot and Server Certificate WG Ballot.

Thanks,

Ben

 

Overview

In January 2013 the CA/Browser Forum’s “Network and Certificate System Security 
Requirements” (NCSSRs) became effective. In June 2017, the Forum chartered a 
Network Security Working Group to re-visit the NCSSRs. That charter expired on 
June 19, 2018, and in October 2018, the Server Certificate Working Group (SCWG) 
established a Network Security Subcommittee (NetSec Subcommittee) to continue 
work on the NCSSRs.

This ballot proposes to charter a new Network Security Working Group (NetSec 
WG) to replace the NetSec Subcommittee, to continue work on the NCSSRs, and to 
conduct any and all business related to improving the security of Certification 
Authorities. 

Following the passage of this/these ballot(s):

1.      A new NetSec WG will be chartered under the CA/B Forum, pursuant to 
section 5.3.1 of the Bylaws;
2.      The SCWG’s existing NetSec Subcommittee will be dissolved by the SCWG 
and the Charter of the SCWG will be amended to note that work on the NCSSRs are 
within the authorized scope of the NetSec WG; 
3.      The existing mailing list and other materials developed for the NetSec 
Subcommittee will be repurposed for use by the NetSec WG; and
4.      The Forum will develop a procedure to coordinate the NetSec WG’s 
adoption of security-related recommendations for requirements or guidelines 
that are within the purview of the other Forum WGs (the BRs/EVGs by the SCWG, 
Baseline Requirements for Code Signing Certificates of the CSCWG, etc.). 

NetSec WG Charter

A chartered Working Group (“NetSec WG”) is created to perform the activities as 
specified in this Charter, subject to the terms and conditions of the 
CA/Browser Forum Bylaws (https://cabforum.org/bylaws/) and Intellectual 
Property Rights (IPR) Policy (https://cabforum.org/ipr-policy/), as such 
documents may change from time to time. This charter for the NetSec WG has been 
created according to CAB Forum Bylaw 5.3.1. In the event of a conflict between 
this Charter and any provision in either the Bylaws or the IPR Policy, the 
provision in the Bylaws or IPR Policy shall take precedence. The definitions 
found in the Forum’s Bylaws shall apply to capitalized terms in this Charter.

1. Scope - The scope of work performed by the NetSec WG includes:

1.   To modify and maintain the existing Network and Certificate System 
Security Requirements (NCSSRs), or a successor requirements document;

2.   To make recommendations for improvements to security controls in the 
requirements or guidelines adopted by other Forum WGs (e.g. see sections 5 and 
6 of the Baseline Requirements);

3.   To create new requirements, guidelines, and best practices related to the 
security of CA operations;

4.   To perform risk analyses, security analyses, and other types of reviews of 
threats and vulnerabilities applicable to CA operations involved in the 
issuance and maintenance of publicly trusted certificates (e.g. server 
certificates, code signing certificates, SMIME certificates, etc.); and

5.   To perform other activities ancillary to the primary activities listed 
above.

2. Out of Scope – The NetSec WG shall not adopt requirements, Guidelines, or 
Maintenance Guidelines concerning certificate profiles, validation processes, 
certificate issuance, certificate revocation, or subscriber obligations.

3. End Date – The NetSec WG shall continue until it is dissolved by a vote of 
the CA/B Forum.

4. Deliverables - The NetSec WG shall be responsible for delivering and 
maintaining the NCSSRs and any other documents the group may choose to develop 
and maintain.

5. Participation and Membership – Membership in the NetSec WG shall be limited 
to Certificate Issuer Members and Certificate Consumer Members of the Server 
Certificate Working Group, the Code Signing Certificate Working Group, or the 
SMIME Certificate Working Group.

In accordance with the IPR Policy, Members that choose to participate in the 
NetSec WG MUST declare their participation and shall do so prior to 
participating. A Member must declare its participation in the NetSec WG by 
requesting to be added to the mailing list. The Chair of the NetSec WG shall 
establish a list for declarations of participation and manage it in accordance 
with the Bylaws, the IPR Policy, and the IPR Agreement.

The NetSec WG shall  include Interested Parties and Associate Members as 
defined in the Bylaws.

Resignation from the NetSec WG does not prevent a participant from potentially 
having continuing obligations under the Forum’s IPR Policy or any other 
document.

6. Voting Structure

The NetSec WG shall consist of two classes of voting members, Certificate 
Issuers and Certificate Consumers. In order for a ballot to be adopted by the 
NetSec WG, two-thirds or more of the votes cast by the Certificate Issuers must 
be in favor of the ballot and more than 50% of the votes cast by the 
Certificate Consumers must be in favor of the ballot. At least one member of 
each class must vote in favor of a ballot for it to be adopted. Quorum is the 
average number of Member organizations (cumulative, regardless of Class) that 
have participated in the previous three NetSec WG Meetings or Teleconferences 
(not counting subcommittee meetings thereof). For transition purposes, if three 
meetings have not yet occurred, then quorum is ten (10).

7. Leadership

Chair – Clint Wilson shall be the initial Chair of the NetSec WG.

Vice-Chair -  David Kluge shall be the initial Vice-Chair of the NetSec WG.

Term.  The Chair and Vice-Chair will serve until October 31, 2022, or until 
they are replaced, resign, or are otherwise disqualified. Thereafter, elections 
shall be held for chair and vice chair every two years in coordination with the 
Forum’s election process and in conjunction with its election cycle. Voting 
shall occur in accordance with Bylaw 4.1(c). In the event of a midterm vacancy, 
the NetSec WG will hold a special election and the selected candidate will 
serve the remainder of the existing term.

8. Communication - NetSec WG communications and documents shall be posted on 
mailing-lists where the mail-archives are publicly accessible, and the NetSec 
WG shall publish minutes of its meetings to the Forum’s website.

9.  IPR Policy - The CA/Browser Forum Intellectual Rights Policy, v. 1.3 or 
later, shall apply to all Working Group activity.

10. Other Organizational Matters

Reserved.

Effect of Forum Bylaws Amendment on Working Group - In the event that Forum 
Bylaws are amended to add or modify general rules governing Forum Working 
Groups and how they operate, such provisions of the Bylaws take precedence over 
this charter.

 

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