DSS (Digital Signature Services) is an open-source software library for electronic signature creation and validation. DSS supports the creation and verification of interoperable and secure electronic signatures in line with European legislation. In particular, DSS aims to follow the eIDAS Regulation and related standards closely.
DSS can be re-used in an IT solution for electronic signatures to ensure that signatures are created and verified in line with European legislation and standards. DSS allows re-use in a variety of different ways: in an applet, in a stand-alone application or in a server application. DSS can also be used as a reference implementation for IT solutions which do not directly re-use it. Demos are also available to assist the use of DSS as a reference implementation. DSS was developed by Nowina Solutions and is maintained up-to-date via new releases.
Users of the service
The Digital Europe eSignature DSS service is intended for Service Providers active in the implementation of e-signature solutions.
Benefits of the service
Digital Europe eSignature's DSS open-source library delivers the following benefits to its users:
Open-source software under LGPL 2.1, a non-viral open source license;
Written in Java, guaranteeing portability on numerous platforms;
Interoperability of the e-signatures;
Supports both e-signatures and e-seals;
Validation of countersignatures and multiple signatures;
A flexible library, that can be:
Reused in different topologies: in an applet, as a stand-alone application, server-based, or any combination;
Used in its entirety or on a module-by-module basis;
Adapted to numerous usages via configuration files or extension points;
Alignment with the eIDAS Regulation and related standards;
Supports EU standards on:
Signature formats and packaging methods;
Signature validation procedures;
Validation relying on Member States' trusted lists:
Status of trust service providers/trust service, compensation of information, path validation.
How can it be used?
The library, realised in Java, is open-source, available to all Member States, businesses and citizens for re-use in electronic signature solutions. It is continuously updated and maintained to anticipate and follow developments in regulations and standards.
Anyone can integrate it and redistribute it under the terms of the Lesser General Public License (LGPL 2.1).
In accordance with ETSI standards, DSS supports various document and signature formats including PAdES, XAdES, CAdES and ASiC and is compliant with Implementing Decision 2015/1506/EU. A “cook-book” is also provided with documentation targeting implementers/developers and aiming at facilitating the integration and use of DSS in their applications.
Validation of qualified and advanced signatures and seals
In anticipation of the ETSI standard, TS 119 172-4, which is currently being drafted with the aim of standardising a “signature validation policy for European qualified electronic signatures/seals using trusted lists”, eSignature Building Block’s provides its interpretation of the eIDAS Regulation's requirements for the validation of qualified and advanced signatures and seals.
This algorithm has been designed following discussions and meetings with experts involved in the field, in the context of the Digital Europe eSignature Building Block. This algorithm is to be considered as guidelines for implementers, or parties interested in understanding how QES validation is implemented in DSS.
The algorithm (available below) focuses on determining 3 sub-conclusions:
- Whether the certificate is qualified
- What is the type of this certificate
- Whether the corresponding private key is protected by a QSCD.
Demos of DSS for electronic signature creation, extension and validation
The Digital Europe eSignature building block maintains a demonstration tool that allows everybody interested in the DSS functionalities to try them out.
The demo tool is a web application that, among others, allows users to:
upload and sign a document
upload and sign multiple documents
access REST / SOAP webservices
extend an electronic signature
validate an electronic signature
The DSS demonstration tool is accessible from here
Releases and Bitbucket
DSS releases are part of the eSignature service offering.
The Digital Europe eSignature building block collects all issues, bugs, or requests for change in theDSS project's JIRA. More information on how to use JIRA can be found here.
Improvements regarding visual representation of a signature
Alternative packaging: Image docker / spring-boot
CRL streaming, the demo won’t use the X509CRL java object by default (it can be changed). With some signatures, we had large CRLs (+60Mo in Estonia) and that could cause memory issues.
RSASSA-PSS support, I received some requests to support these algorithms :
Refactoring of ASiC format handling, following the ETSI ASiC Plugtest
Signature of multiple files (ASiC and XAdES)
Integration of the Qualification matrix as described in draft ETSI 119 172-4, for supporting signatures before and after 01/07/2016 (eIDAS entry into force)
Migration to PDFBox 2 for handling PDFs
Complete refactoring of the ASiC part (creation, extension and validation)
A XAdES PlugTest is planned in October / November 2015. Remaining changes resulting from this PlugTest and not included in v4.6 may be included in this release.
An eSignature Validation PlugTest is planned in April 2016. Depending on the actual timeframe, impacts from this PlugTest may be included in this release, and the release of DSS 4.7 will be postponed accordingly.
Signature formats when creating a signature: baseline profiles ETSI TS 103 171, 103 172, 103 173, and 103 174
Signature formats when validating a signature: baseline profiles, and core specs ETSI TS 101 903, 101 733, 102 778 and 102 918
Signature validation process ETSI TS 102 853
Improvements in packaging and core functionalities:
CAdES optimisation, CAdES multiple Signer Information. A CAdES PlugTest is occurring in June and July 2015. Changes resulting from this PlugTest will be included in this release. CAdES countersignature will not be supported.
Impacts from XAdES PlugTest of October 2015
Processing of large files
Further refactoring of demo applet (size, validation policy editor)
The main purpose of this milestone is to align DSS on the Implementing Acts of Art. 27, 37 of eIDAS published in September 2015.
Please note that, as these Implementing Acts published in September 2015 will first designate the “former standards” (baseline profiles ETSI TS 103 171, 103 172, 103 173, and 103 174) and not the upcoming ETSI EN 319 1x2, it was decided to rename this release as DSS 4.6 and not DSS 5.0. The major version DSS 5.0 will be used when these Implementing Acts will be modified in 2016 to point to ETSI EN 319 1x2.
Security information
Following a security assessment from the Ruhr-Universität Bochum, we are delivering security patches for DSS versions 5.2 and 5.3.
Please consider that use of older versions should be discouraged.
XAdES / ASiC with XAdES / TL-based signature validation
If your DSS integration is using XAdES, ASiC with XAdES, or TL-based signature validation, it is strongly encouraged to upgrade your version.
The patches enforce signature validations against different kinds of attack: XML Signature Wrapping (XSW), XPath injections, Server Side Request Forgeries (SSRF) and XML External Entities (XEE).
While upgrading, be sure that your integration :
doesn't use Xalan or XercesImpl dependencies
uses a patched Java version (JDK7u40+, JDK8 or higher)
PAdES
If you use dss-pades, it is also strongly encouraged to upgrade your DSS version, as these releases include a fix of PdfBox to patch vulnerabilities.
Contribute
If you would like to speak to us about suggested improvement for Digital Europe eSignature, we would love to hear from you. Please contact us by clicking on the button below.
Click here to see the DSS Jira project's current issue list.
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