DigiCert Elevates Industry Standards with New Open-Source DCV Library

DigiCert confidently continues to improve validations for digital certificates. At this time, it keeps up with new ideas and the new rules set by the industry for this much-needed release.

Its latest development is an open-source library on Domain Control Validation. This makes it easier, more automated, and more dependable for an organization that wants to validate its domains.

With this significant release, several new capabilities were introduced and repeatedly proved that DigiCert is solid in its commitment to further empowering developers and IT administrators.

This gives them essential tools that make it much easier to follow many industry standards.

A History of Innovation: Pkilint for Auto-Testing Certificates

DigiCert launched Pkilint test automation tool, which came public in August 2023. It is the testing tool that checks and validates certificates for S/MIME and other types of digital certificates.

A new certificate linter can find mistakes and ensure everything follows the latest PKI standards. This reduces mistakes and makes it easier for organizations to get a certificate.

One of the significant powers a digital certificate system had, especially with S/MIME certificates, was Pkilint. It was very effective and could automate helping check the certificate’s policies.

Such a new way of managing policies with a toolset is an excellent foundation for the work of DigiCert. That will help them keep actively contributing to numerous open-source projects.

All of them have successfully reached a milestone after the recent launch of a library known as the DCV library.

What is Domain Control Validation (DCV)?

This is one of the most critical steps in the issuance process of TLS/SSL certificates. This is what makes online communication secure.

This process mainly tries to determine if an organization has control over a specific domain for which it asks for the certificate.

This organization should first prove to DigiCert or any other Certificate Authority that it controls the domain before the Certificate Authority can start giving out the certificate.

Simply speaking, it is a step that can shut up all PKI system security problems based on some certificates that will be issued fraudulently.

DigiCert offers various DCV methods, making it flexible regarding organizational preference and technical infrastructure.

Supported DCV Methods

DigiCert’s DCV library supports multiple methods, ensuring compatibility with diverse setups while adhering to strict industry standards:

Email-Based DCV:

DigiCert sends verification emails to predefined email addresses, allowing domain administrators to confirm ownership. This includes:

• DNS TXT-based Email: Sends the email to an address specified in the DNS TXT record.
• Constructed Email: Uses standard administrative addresses such as [email protected].

DNS-Based DCV:

• DNS TXT Record: Organizations add a random value provided by DigiCert to their DNS as a TXT record.
• DNS CNAME Record: A DNS CNAME Record is created using a randomly generated value to populate the DigiCert DNS system, pointing to servers where DigiCert operates.

HTTP Practical Demonstration

• The organization maintains a file of some random value; access to that file is allowed via a predetermined URL. DigiCert checks for that file to ensure the owner’s authenticity in the concerned domain.

Prevalidation

• This helps prevalidate the domains so that the certificates may be issued quicker, especially in OV and EV TLS/SSL. This helps the domains be instantly ready for the certificate request.

Email DCV Method: Ensuring Simplicity and Reliability

The most straightforward and reliable form of proof of ownership for the domain is email DCV. DigiCert will send emails to three different contacts-DNS TXT-based email addresses, constructed emails like [email protected], and WHOIS-based email addresses in case that applies-and the recipient will verify control over the domain by following the instructions in those emails.

This method is popular because it doesn’t require much technical proficiency, and it’s fast and easy to implement, therefore being the perfect means for most domain owners aiming to secure their online presence quite quickly and efficiently. Email DCV remains a trusted tool for validating domains.

Key Benefits of the Open-Source DCV Library

Standards-Compliant Domain Validation

The DCV library developed by DigiCert and open source is an uncluttered and thoroughly vetted solution, completely adhering to the standards established within the industry for this domain control validation process.

The innovative approach perfectly puts an end to having the certificate authorities waste their time and resources in establishing proprietary implementations of their own, which often come along with inconsistencies.

Giving it an integrated and thoroughly tested framework ensures that it is highly responsive to the industry’s existing standards and, therefore, will lower the possibility of any errors that can creep into the validation process.

This also enhances the level of security and reliability in the overall certification system, ensuring that only verified domain owners have certificates issued to them.

This benefit is especially valuable to the smaller CAs because they don’t have the required resources to build and test their compliant DCV process.

Enhanced Transparency

Transparency is the basis of trust in this complex digital certificate ecosystem. In making DCV library open source, DigiCert allows the global Web PKI community to examine the underlying code for completeness, test it properly, and validate it thoroughly.

This level of openness builds further trust for all as it allows all to independently verify and validate whether the library follows the best security practices and whether any appropriate regulations are in place.

Such an approach encourages broad participation and maturity in the codebase, making it robust, dependable, and reliable with time.

Community-Driven Security Enhancements

This library model enables the general public concerned with the cyber world and its security to contribute additional contributions to its ongoing development and maintenance.

Public exposure ensures that there is quickly accelerated discovery of possible flaws and their correction, thereby improving the overall security of this library over time.

Among other advantages DigiCert has in its library over others is that most usually closed-sourced implementations suffer since resources, which are typically necessary to facilitate thorough testing, are very scarce.

The overall efficiency and strength of library security are, therefore, enhanced. Still, it goes ahead and facilitates improved efficiency for all of those who would benefit from it.

Scalable Solution for Developers and Certificate Authorities

DCV library is open-source and scalable, making it quite friendly to small organizations. Since the library can easily integrate into the developer’s and CA’s existing workflow, it avoids expensive, resource-intensive custom solutions.

As DigiCert presents field-tested and scalable processes in DCV, it equips even the smallest of entities with a way of getting compliant and securing data without overextending its resources.

Streamlined Implementation and Efficiency

A ready library can help significantly reduce organizations’ time and effort enforcing compliant DCV practices.

This means that the CAs and the developers can deal with other essential affairs concerning their operations, such as improving customer services or designing features.

This simplification has ensured the smooth onboarding process of even new users into accessing.

How to Access the DigiCert’s DCV Library?

Developers and CAs can explore and implement the DCV library through:

• Maven Central: Library Overview
• GitHub Repository: Source Code
• JavaDocs: Documentation

Conclusion

Keep your digital presence safe with best-in-class trust and security. DigiCert’s innovative approach includes the open-source DCV library and premium SSL certificates, which protect your organization with the latest technology.