RFC 2069 (rfc2069) - Page 1 of 18
An Extension to HTTP : Digest Access Authentication
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group J. Franks
Request for Comments: 2069 Northwestern University
Category: Standards Track P. Hallam-Baker
CERN
J. Hostetler
Spyglass, Inc.
P. Leach
Microsoft Corporation
A. Luotonen
Netscape Communications Corporation
E. Sink
Spyglass, Inc.
L. Stewart
Open Market, Inc.
January 1997
An Extension to HTTP : Digest Access Authentication
Status of this Memo
This document specifies an Internet standards track protocol for the
Internet community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
improvements. Please refer to the current edition of the "Internet
Official Protocol Standards" (STD 1) for the standardization state
and status of this protocol. Distribution of this memo is unlimited.
Abstract
The protocol referred to as "HTTP/1.0" includes the specification for
a Basic Access Authentication scheme. This scheme is not considered
to be a secure method of user authentication, as the user name and
password are passed over the network as clear text. A specification
for a different authentication scheme is needed to address this
severe limitation. This document provides specification for such a
scheme, referred to as "Digest Access Authentication". Like Basic,
Digest access authentication verifies that both parties to a
communication know a shared secret (a password); unlike Basic, this
verification can be done without sending the password in the clear,
which is Basic's biggest weakness. As with most other authentication
protocols, the greatest sources of risks are usually found not in the
core protocol itself but in policies and procedures surrounding its
use.
Franks, et. al. Standards Track