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Apple Passkey

developer.apple.com

201–210 of 421 posts

Re: Apple Passkey

#201

Beta support for Passkey is already in the current macOS/iOS releases: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/authenticationserv... I am already using Passkeys on some websites.

Yup, I think the bigger announcement today is around it becoming available on non-Apple devices.

Re: Apple Passkey

#202
post #46

This is based on the open standards WebAuthn and FIDO2, where the credentials (“passkeys”) are synced via iCloud Keychain. Currently you need remember to register at least 2 security keys, in case one is lost/misplaced. The syncing of passkeys in iCloud solves this backup problem. https://fidoalliance.org/apple-google-and-microsoft-commit-t...

>Currently you need remember to register at least 2 security keys, in case one is lost/misplaced. This is always my issue with 2FA or passwordless auth. You're forced to have 2 devices and are kind of screwed if you don't hvae two on you. I was on a trip and broke my iPhone. It had my plane tickets on it to get home. I was able to get a replacement from Apple, they just gave it to me and sent me on my way. When I tur…

Apple’s implementation uses SMS as a backup. Thinking is probably that if you only have one device, it’s usually your phone; so you would have been able get your 2FA code via text. It’s not easily discoverable though, so easy for you to miss it.

Re: Apple Passkey

#203

For context: https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2022/05/how-a...

> available to the masses in the form of a standard adopted by Apple, Google, and Microsoft that allows for cross-platform and cross-service passkeys. Any way to use this standard if you're not Apple/Google/Microsoft? I'd prefer an option that Apple/Google/Microsoft can call a service (that I control and authorize). I want to be able to self host such a service or have an open marketplace that can compete to serve th…

No post body was provided.

Re: Apple Passkey

#204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Passwords in iCloud Keychain are already E2EE, it seems reasonable the private passkeys would be too.

> iCloud ... backup > E2EE If you can lose all your existing devices, and can still restore your data, then that data isn't end to end encrypted. I'm taking the "end" in e2ee to mean your devices. Nothing but your devices can decrypt your e2ee prospected data. If a new device can enter the circle of trust without an existing device's corporation then there is a backdoor. I imagine icloud keychain supports synchroniza…

Maybe usage of user account password would allow for E2E without any device?

Re: Apple Passkey

#205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How will this work on Linux?

FIDO usb devices just use the HID protocol so they work fine on linux. Chrome and Firefox both support them. I wrote a FIDO implementation that protects the signing key using the system's TPM specifically for linux: https://github.com/psanford/tpm-fido There is no reason why you couldn't implement a similar syncing strategy in a tool like this if you wanted to.

Isn't this approach significantly less secure than Apple's though? As far as I understand the secure enclave coprocessor in Apple devices stores key material and implements user verification (TouchID etc.), right? Instead software like tpm-fido bridges (in software) a user verification mechanism (maybe even a fingerprint reader) and the system's TPM. But such a system can be interposed with mere root access, and the TPM tricked in giving out its secrets, no? Please correct me if I'm getting it wrong, but Apple's approach is instead resistant even to full kernel compromise, precisely because the communication between TouchID/FaceID and the secure enclave cannot be interposed.

I'm a tpm-fido user myself by the way, thank you psanford!

Re: Apple Passkey

#206

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Passwords in iCloud Keychain are already E2EE, it seems reasonable the private passkeys would be too.

> iCloud ... backup > E2EE If you can lose all your existing devices, and can still restore your data, then that data isn't end to end encrypted. I'm taking the "end" in e2ee to mean your devices. Nothing but your devices can decrypt your e2ee prospected data. If a new device can enter the circle of trust without an existing device's corporation then there is a backdoor. I imagine icloud keychain supports synchroniza…

The password stored in your backup via iCloud Keychain use the passcode of your devices as a secondary encryption/lock method, which doesn’t have a password recovery mechanism like the Apple ID used to secure your iCloud backup. Not sure that meets the definition of E2EE but it’s not like the passwords are recoverable by another party (or even you, if you forget the passcode) just because they’re in your iCloud backup.

Re: Apple Passkey

#207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How will this work on Linux?

FIDO usb devices just use the HID protocol so they work fine on linux. Chrome and Firefox both support them. I wrote a FIDO implementation that protects the signing key using the system's TPM specifically for linux: https://github.com/psanford/tpm-fido There is no reason why you couldn't implement a similar syncing strategy in a tool like this if you wanted to.

> just use the HID protocol

This is literally true, and covers what was important in context, but warrants a little extra explanation. Since these devices are specifically for humans to interface with (they typically have a button or contact sensor, though some have keypads or a fingerprint reader) they are logically Human Interface Device class USB devices, but they do not speak the HID Keyboard or Pointing Device sub-protocols like your mouse or keyboard (or the built-in "take a photo" button on your web cam). Instead they provide a FIDO-specific HID sub-protocol, which is publicly documented, instead of operations like "Caps Lock pressed" it's got stuff like "Begin enrolment" or "PIN xxxx entered by the user" which only makes sense for this specific problem.

Re: Apple Passkey

#208
post #46

This is based on the open standards WebAuthn and FIDO2, where the credentials (“passkeys”) are synced via iCloud Keychain. Currently you need remember to register at least 2 security keys, in case one is lost/misplaced. The syncing of passkeys in iCloud solves this backup problem. https://fidoalliance.org/apple-google-and-microsoft-commit-t...

> The syncing of passkeys in iCloud solves this backup problem. But then apple has your keys....

It’s end to end encrypted. Apple doesn’t have access.

Re: Apple Passkey

#209
post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

FIDO usb devices just use the HID protocol so they work fine on linux. Chrome and Firefox both support them. I wrote a FIDO implementation that protects the signing key using the system's TPM specifically for linux: https://github.com/psanford/tpm-fido There is no reason why you couldn't implement a similar syncing strategy in a tool like this if you wanted to.

Isn't this approach significantly less secure than Apple's though? As far as I understand the secure enclave coprocessor in Apple devices stores key material and implements user verification (TouchID etc.), right? Instead software like tpm-fido bridges (in software) a user verification mechanism (maybe even a fingerprint reader) and the system's TPM. But such a system can be interposed with mere root access, and the…

Yes, having the verification done by the secure enclave itself is more secure. The TPM spec does allow for direct integration with biometric devices, but I'm not aware of any general purpose computers that ship in this configuration.

> TPM tricked in giving out its secrets

To be clear, the key can never leave the TPM (with how tpm-fido is implemented). The threat is an attacker can perform an online attack by getting the TPM to sign messages it shouldn't. But you couldn't steal the key from the TPM and use it somewhere else.

But it doesn't really matter for the Webauthn threat model. An attacker with root access can steal your browser sessions directly.

Re: Apple Passkey

#210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Currently you need remember to register at least 2 security keys, in case one is lost/misplaced. This is always my issue with 2FA or passwordless auth. You're forced to have 2 devices and are kind of screwed if you don't hvae two on you. I was on a trip and broke my iPhone. It had my plane tickets on it to get home. I was able to get a replacement from Apple, they just gave it to me and sent me on my way. When I tur…

Apple’s implementation uses SMS as a backup. Thinking is probably that if you only have one device, it’s usually your phone; so you would have been able get your 2FA code via text. It’s not easily discoverable though, so easy for you to miss it.

> Apple’s implementation uses SMS as a backup.

I hope they'll go away from this, or at least give the option. I won't use their password/key storage until they do. 2FA is only as good as the weakest link, and SMS is the weakest possibility.

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