CertLedger: A New PKI Model with Certificate Transparency Based on Blockchain

TL;DR

CertLedger introduces a blockchain-based PKI model that ensures transparent, trustworthy certificate management and revocation, effectively preventing split-world attacks and reducing reliance on traditional trusted CAs.

Contribution

This paper presents CertLedger, a novel blockchain-based PKI architecture that enhances security and transparency in certificate validation and revocation processes.

Findings

CertLedger effectively prevents split-world attacks.

It offers a more efficient certificate validation process.

The system reduces reliance on traditional trusted CAs.

Abstract

In conventional PKI, CAs are assumed to be fully trusted. However, in practice, CAs' absolute responsibility for providing trustworthiness caused major security and privacy issues. To prevent such issues, Google introduced the concept of Certificate Transparency (CT) in 2013. Later, several new PKI models (e.g., AKI, ARPKI, and DTKI) are proposed to reduce the level of trust to the CAs. However, all of these proposals are still vulnerable to split-world attacks if the adversary is capable of showing different views of the log to the targeted victims. In this paper, we propose a new PKI architecture with certificate transparency based on blockchain, what we called CertLedger, to eliminate the split-world attacks and to provide an ideal certificate/revocation transparency. All TLS certificates, their revocation status, entire revocation process, and trusted CA management are conducted in the CertLedger. CertLedger provides a unique, efficient, and trustworthy certificate validation process eliminating the conventional inadequate and incompatible certificate validation processes implemented by different software vendors. TLS clients in the CertLedger also do not require to make certificate validation and store the trusted CA certificates anymore. We analyze the security and performance of the CertLedger and provide a comparison with the previous proposals.