We describe a system for access control on the web that is based on the ideas of proof-carrying authorization (PCA). Our system is implemented as modules that extend a standard web server and web browser to use PCA to control access to web pages. The web browser generates proofs mechanically by iteratively fetching proof components until a proof can be constructed. We provide for iterative authorization, by which a server can require a browser to prove a series of challenges. Our implementation includes a series of optimizations, such as speculative proving, and modularizing and caching proofs, and demonstrates that the goals of generality, flexibility, and interoperability are compatible with reasonable performance.
Citation:
Lujo Bauer, Michael A. Schneider, Edward W. Felten, Andrew W. Appel, "Access Control on the Web Using Proof-carrying Authorization," discex, vol. 2, pp.117, DARPA Information Survivability Conference and Exposition - Volume II, 2003