[Python-Dev] [python-committers] Do we need to sign Windows files with GnuPG?

Sat Apr 4 16:35:40 CEST 2015

Small clarification: there certificates *are* the same format as for SSL, and OpenSSL it's able to validate them in the same way as well as generate them (but not extract embedded ones, AFAICT). But generally SSL certificates are not marked as suitable for code signing so you need to buy a separate one.

Both Martin and I have the PSF's code signing cert private key, which is how we can sign with the "Python Software Foundation" name. The public key is embedded into every signed file, just like an SSL cert is attached to a site or an S/MIME cert is embedded in a signed email.

Cheers,
Steve

Top-posted from my Windows Phone
________________________________
From: Steve Dower<mailto:Steve.Dower at microsoft.com>
Sent: ‎4/‎4/‎2015 7:25
To: Wes Turner<mailto:wes.turner at gmail.com>; M. -A. Lemburg<mailto:mal at egenix.com>
Cc: python-committers<mailto:python-committers at python.org>; Python-Dev<mailto:python-dev at python.org>
Subject: Re: [python-committers] [Python-Dev] Do we need to sign Windows files with GnuPG?

"Authenticode does not have a PKI"

If you got that from this discussion, I need everyone to at least skim read this:  https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ie/ms537361(v=vs.85).aspx

Authenticode uses the same certificate infrastructure as SSL (note: not the same certificates). As I see it, anyone running on Windows has access to verification that is at least as good as GPG, and the only people who would benefit from GPG sigs are those checking Windows files on another OS or those with an existing GPG workflow on Windows (before this thread, I knew nobody who used GPG on Windows for anything, so forgive me for thinking this is very rare).

Cheers,
Steve

Top-posted from my Windows Phone
________________________________
From: Wes Turner<mailto:wes.turner at gmail.com>
Sent: ‎4/‎4/‎2015 6:42
To: M. -A. Lemburg<mailto:mal at egenix.com>
Cc: Python-Dev<mailto:python-dev at python.org>; python-committers<mailto:python-committers at python.org>; Larry Hastings<mailto:larry at hastings.org>; Steve Dower<mailto:Steve.Dower at microsoft.com>
Subject: Re: [Python-Dev] [python-committers] Do we need to sign Windows files with GnuPG?

So, AFAIU from this discussion:

* Authenticode does not have a PKI
* GPG does have PKI
* ASC signatures are signed checksums

As far as downstream packaging on Windows (people who should/could be subscribed to release ANNs):

For Choclatey NuGet:

* https://chocolatey.org/packages/python
* https://chocolatey.org/packages/python.x86
* https://chocolatey.org/packages/python2
* https://chocolatey.org/packages/python-x86_32
* https://chocolatey.org/packages/python3

Python(x,y):

* https://code.google.com/p/pythonxy/

For Anaconda (the MS Azure chosen python distribution):

* http://docs.continuum.io/anaconda/install.html#windows-install

...

These should/could/are checking GPG signatures for Windows packages downstream.

http://www.scipy.org/install.html

On Apr 3, 2015 5:38 PM, "M.-A. Lemburg" <mal at egenix.com<mailto:mal at egenix.com>> wrote:
On 04.04.2015 00:14, Steve Dower wrote:
> The thing is, that's exactly the same goodness as Authenticode gives, except everyone gets that for free and meanwhile you're the only one who has admitted to using GPG on Windows :)
>
> Basically, what I want to hear is that GPG sigs provide significantly better protection than hashes (and I can provide better than MD5 for all files if it's useful), taking into consideration that (I assume) I'd have to obtain a signing key for GPG and unless there's a CA involved like there is for Authenticode, there's no existing trust in that key.

Hashes only provide checks against file corruption (and then
only if you can trust the hash values). GPG provides all the
benefits of public key encryption on arbitrary files (not just
code).

The main benefit in case of downloadable installers is to
be able to make sure that the files are authentic, meaning that
they were created and signed by the people listed as packagers.

There is no CA infrastructure involved as for SSL certificates
or Authenticode, but it's easy to get the keys from key servers
given the key signatures available from python.org<http://python.org>'s download
pages.

If you want to sign a package file using GPG, you will need
to create your own key, upload it to the key servers and then
place the signature up on the download page.

Relying only on Authenticode for Windows installers would
result in a break in technology w/r to the downloads we
make available for Python, since all other files are (usually)
GPG signed:

https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.4.3/

Cheers,
--
Marc-Andre Lemburg
eGenix.com

Professional Python Services directly from the Source
>>> Python/Zope Consulting and Support ...        http://www.egenix.com/
>>> mxODBC.Zope.Database.Adapter ...             http://zope.egenix.com/
>>> mxODBC, mxDateTime, mxTextTools ...        http://python.egenix.com/
________________________________________________________________________

::: Try our new mxODBC.Connect Python Database Interface for free ! ::::

   eGenix.com Software, Skills and Services GmbH  Pastor-Loeh-Str.48
    D-40764 Langenfeld, Germany. CEO Dipl.-Math. Marc-Andre Lemburg
           Registered at Amtsgericht Duesseldorf: HRB 46611
               http://www.egenix.com/company/contact/

> Cheers,
> Steve
>
> Top-posted from my Windows Phone
> ________________________________
> From: M.-A. Lemburg<mailto:mal at egenix.com<mailto:mal at egenix.com>>
> Sent: ‎4/‎3/‎2015 10:55
> To: Steve Dower<mailto:Steve.Dower at microsoft.com<mailto:Steve.Dower at microsoft.com>>; Larry Hastings<mailto:larry at hastings.org<mailto:larry at hastings.org>>; Python Dev<mailto:python-dev at python.org<mailto:python-dev at python.org>>; python-committers<mailto:python-committers at python.org<mailto:python-committers at python.org>>
> Subject: Re: [python-committers] [Python-Dev] Do we need to sign Windows files with GnuPG?
>
> On 03.04.2015 19:35, Steve Dower wrote:
>>> My Windows development days are firmly behind me. So I don't really have an
>>> opinion here. So I put it to you, Windows Python developers: do you care about
>>> GnuPG signatures on Windows-specific files? Or do you not care?
>>
>> The later replies seem to suggest that they are general goodness that nobody on Windows will use. If someone convinces me (or steamrolls me, that's fine too) that the goodness of GPG is better than a hash then I'll look into adding it into the process. Otherwise I'll happily add hash generation into the upload process (which I'm going to do anyway for the ones displayed on the download page).
>
> FWIW: I regularly check the GPG sigs on all important downloaded
> files, regardless of which platform they target, including the
> Windows installers for Python or any other Windows installers
> I use which provide such sigs.
>
> The reason is simple:
> The signature is a proof of authenticity which is not bound to
> a particular file format or platform and before running .exes
> it's good to know that they were built by the right people and
> not manipulated by trojans, viruses or malicious proxies.
>
> Is that a good enough reason to continue providing the GPG
> sigs or do you need more proof of goodness ? ;-)
>
> --
> Marc-Andre Lemburg
> eGenix.com
>
> Professional Python Services directly from the Source
>>>> Python/Zope Consulting and Support ...        http://www.egenix.com/
>>>> mxODBC.Zope.Database.Adapter ...             http://zope.egenix.com/
>>>> mxODBC, mxDateTime, mxTextTools ...        http://python.egenix.com/
> ________________________________________________________________________
>
> ::: Try our new mxODBC.Connect Python Database Interface for free ! ::::
>
>
>    eGenix.com Software, Skills and Services GmbH  Pastor-Loeh-Str.48
>     D-40764 Langenfeld, Germany. CEO Dipl.-Math. Marc-Andre Lemburg
>            Registered at Amtsgericht Duesseldorf: HRB 46611
>                http://www.egenix.com/company/contact/
>

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