Guide 8. Non-repudiation

Data transactions within the DSGO are legally binding. The DSGO is a technical framework which enables technical interoperability in multiple use cases within or outside the DSGO network. On top of that, the DSGO is a legal framework in which data transactions have legal binding.

To make data transactions non-repudiation and traceable, all requests and responses can be signed with the electronic seal (AdES or QSeal) certificate. This guide explains how data transactions can be signed.

Non-repudiation is optional within DSGO, since not all use cases may need this.

Step 1. Generate a Non-repudiation JWT

A non-repudiation JWT is generated in the form of a JSON Web Token (JWT). This token encompasses the JWT header, the JWT payload (payload) encoded in JSON format, digitally signed to protect the authenticity and integrity of its data content.

JWT standard libraries

The JWT standard has been so widely accepted as to have implementations in nearly 40 languages.

A JWT consists of three parts:

1. JWT Header

2. JWT Payload

3. Signature

The JWT Header of the non-repudiation JWT consists of the following data:

{
  "alg": "RS256",
  "b64": false,
  "crit":[
    "sigD",
    "b64"
  ],
  "sigD":{
    "pars":[
      "(request-target)",
      "host",
      "content-type",
      "content-encoding",
      "digest"
    ],
    "mId":"http://uri.etsi.org/19182/HttpHeaders"
  },
  "typ": "JOSE",
  "x5c":[
    "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",
    "MIIGBDCCA+ygAwIBAgICEAAwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQELBQAwgZAxCzAJBgNVBAYTAk5MMQswCQYDVQQIDAJOSDESMBAGA1UEBwwJQW1zdGVyZGFtMQ8wDQYDVQQKDAZpU0hBUkUxETAPBgNVBAsMCFNlY3VyaXR5MRQwEgYDVQQDDAtpU0hBUkUgUm9vdDEmMCQGCSqGSIb3DQEJARYXaW5mb0Bpc2hhcmUtcHJvamVjdC5vcmcwHhcNMTcwNjI3MDYxNDM0WhcNMjcwNjI1MDYxNDM0WjCBkDELMAkGA1UEBhMCTkwxCzAJBgNVBAgMAk5IMQ8wDQYDVQQKDAZpU0hBUkUxETAPBgNVBAsMCFNlY3VyaXR5MSgwJgYDVQQDDB9pU0hBUkUgTkwgQ2VydGlmaWNhdGUgQXV0aG9yaXR5MSYwJAYJKoZIhvcNAQkBFhdpbmZvQGlzaGFyZS1wcm9qZWN0Lm9yZzCCAiIwDQYJKoZIhvcNAQEBBQADggIPADCCAgoCggIBAKiuQXA3R14zhAZ59xu4J6j8h5LaMYoMzFIRzeV+665E8bnoK2eQSC5aYMvsb80o8DxHHjiqPJiJW1n1oT86UAKgaEEnJ8/GhF+2kyOlybdpM21Q6bNwkJ5vL4SD/GYBPmWsVt7X6pLAkFsweXu6wRzvrYXWcVm/z/3SHX9AZFg6HDZRsGGDnnRw14nHYpb/oh7p5h6atI+X0aOD4HhQJ1ahQLVozIbbCFDfpKu9mrDXzKYDaNstrYn2DmbtV40BC5FW1OT0HLO/texnnhtNrjq6IVgUkZ54NHT8Y2EQNmajy8RilrLU1FHS/ka03w8sV0sXDsLeBwbxl3BYHpisPMWpMJDFU8b92tlYjk2lUDnHqDUi5BHRdRYqVZeWBSL+Qevpezr3mCL9ynhGPy+tNyDjyVjb/y7hlftAzZzodRwItQPzpKHCWQLsWX+JwM9lwu5uq6lcqxHGPSAB0o/ME80KE3a4KnjCGYvlZiPJtrad0HZDRR/hEAnen3HE3fTZE42u2wBLTfZB1D8Kxjc44vJv8L4JOaLlt/ooMT913sGCSJDPQUwv+/VvYDV8ngkgzRCpFng2NrPaWao6RKJ99bBMkKFQ4vsdtvwi42GK2OBK7ozXnNS7B5qcljdVnrmmH8fCPJ/s7L9BDYw/IKrd5wHaSH1kZ7/DRa0fa2mMJjfLAgMBAAGjZjBkMB0GA1UdDgQWBBSORk3TFImqVyJlVIvU9tWbAjfc6zAfBgNVHSMEGDAWgBRLYazzoNpuBb//4Sr1Ior0iP04RjASBgNVHRMBAf8ECDAGAQH/AgEAMA4GA1UdDwEB/wQEAwIBhjANBgkqhkiG9w0BAQsFAAOCAgEAQ7GRIQ3Q+TRUumxOXc+dGJnx98EK1qD8E1uEptlS+VROWAZ22QeLCPk/nNDVs2AmCADZF0JoX2+RJNjq7pX2+AxcL1owWQoi3GRtL6GABHByulTfJfvodYjUipI1zmIvcWKzNnNCC9A0rdtUJyRjZvGZt32K77aiRNGiSCtVyCBuFBPtqCkXIz86e/wzQ1fwBeCRB0WDMoSdXbSkt/tapyGoU7oAj2DVWbtKaCnkKiysE19r1RCiZI2WAHLcuU9iLvNM1Mfowv9avI+rVq2YlKUOuCIrD7s/ILRLXg55VwqMJT33/50NFnu3H8ebmqEhkGYStk7p3FGRxgptd2OJnqAt5nG1pspHQuD+vYBoKkkMw40qvy+eeYkhyzKcJTKeOsfI29fyQx/eFSmWRheT188+jZQyCqEQpZRgtku+2KPQbCBxVeCfHacyS16+9ZOVs1zXWGfIqXKXwZF1v6CDyL7bedJZEuTU1wUpkEUJH/IPmdp2ZMNMcss/BIdyf/+pYwyMnB6DJocDwMjlm3cUEsbtT393wIie0mohWiu8myTxkCfN1VJs4W9chSx5/DxVwDtFoT4nsqVK9F6DKYJAJ95UR+C+RiCS+x7t4r8cup0AiJpg7JEGr5I9kdlBXKAk78Pr/oqZogFymWPzoWUy48Ye6WxaAA1s+h6hVQ22MCg=",
    "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"
  ]
}

The following rules apply to the content of the JWT header:

• Signed JWTs MUST use and specify the RS256 algorithm in the alg header parameter.

• Signed JWTs MUST contain an array of the complete certificate chain that should be used for validating the JWT’s signature in the x5c header parameter up until an Issuing CA is listed from the DSGO Trusted List.

  • Certificates MUST be formatted as base64 encoded PEM.

  • The certificate of the Client (in this example Party A) MUST be the first in the array, the root certificate MUST be the last.

• Signed JWTs must use and specify the:

  • b64 parameter with the value false.

  • crit parameter with the value ["sigD","b64"].

  • sigD parameter with the values:

    • mId parameter with the value http://uri.etsi.org/19182/HttpHeaders

    • pars parameter, an array of strings containing parameters signed with this mechanism MUST be populated with the fields described below (as described in ETSI TS 119 182-1):

      • (request target): applicable to HTTP requests

      • host: if applicable

      • content-type: if applicable

      • content-encoding: if applicable

      • digest: Signing this ensures that the content of the data service is bound to the execution of the data service.

      • LicensePurpose: details the license under which the data is provided.

  • typ parameter with the value of JOSE.

• Except from the above parameters, the JWT header SHALL NOT contain other header parameters.

The following rules apply to the content of the payload:

• The JWT MUST always contain the iat claim

• The JWT MUST be set to expire in 30 seconds. The combination of iat and exp claims MUST reflect that. Both iat and exp MUST be in seconds, NOT milliseconds. See UTC Time formatting for requirements.

• The JWT MUST contain the jti claim for audit trail purposes. The jti is not necessary a GUID/UUID.

• The iss and sub claims MUST contain the valid DSGO identifier (EORI) of the Client (Party A).

• The aud claim MUST contain only the valid DSGO identifier of the Server (Party B). Including multiple audiences creates a risk of impersonation and is therefore not allowed.

• Depending on the use of the JWT other JWT payload data MAY be defined.

The JWT is signed with the private key from the electronic seal (AdES or QSeal) certificate. All JWTs MUST be signed using the JSON Web Signature (JWS) standard which can be found at RFC 7515.

Key vaults

It is recommended to use a key vault solution for securing access to private key information. For more information see the Certificates page.

Step 2. Add the Non-repudiation JWT to the Header

Within the DSGO the Header is used to transport the Non-repudiation JWT to the other party. The HTTP header is extended with:

• Digest header: a SHA256 of the HTTP body including the alg parameter SHA-256.

• client_assertion header: the signed Non-repudiation JWT is added to this header.

More information can be found within the DSGO framework.

---

Further reading

Source	Description	Author	Language
JSON Web Tokens	Detailed description of applying JSON Web Tokens within the DSGO framework.	digiGO	Dutch
JWT signing	Detailed description of signing JWT according to the DSGO framework.	digiGO	Dutch
JWT libraries	Libraries for Token Signing/Verification	jwt.io	English
Non-repudiation	Detailed description of the application of Non-repudiation with the DSGO framework.	digiGO	Dutch