Custom JWS implementation

[ts5746]

Description

Blockchains may use other signing algorithms than allowed by JSON Web Signature (JWS) as specified in RFC 7518. This is problem for Whiteflag authentication method 1, that requires to sign the JWS with the native algorithm of the blockchain. As a practical result, available JWS software libraries do not work.

See also:
Whiteflag API issue 28
Whiteflag Standard issue 21

Environment / Versions

Blockchain

Affected blockchains:

• Bitcoin and Ethereum use the secp256k1 curve, instead of the prime256v1 curve.
• Polkadot uses sr25519, which is not in RFC 7518 at all.

Solution

Use a custom JWS implementation for Whiteflag authentication signatures.

[ts5746]

Custom implementation works for the Fennel blockchain and will be incorporated for v1.1. Bitcoin and Ethereum still use the workaround from issue 28 in v1.1 and are planned to be updated in v1.2.