RE: "POP3 SASL Authentication Mechanism" submitted for publication

["Kurt D. Zeilenga" <Kurt@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:02 PM 1/15/2007, Paul Leach wrote:
>Since DIGEST-MD5 was the MTI for SASL in LDAP, I don't quite get the
>complaints about implementability -- plenty of people did it as a
>result. 

Was but is no longer LDAP's "strong" authentication method.
LDAP's current "strong" authentication method is currently
TLS-protected simple DN/password.  LDAPbis concluded DIGEST-MD5
interoperability, especially in regards to security layers,
just wasn't there.  I don't think any of LDAPbis's concerns
about DIGEST-MD5 were specific to LDAP.

>I really think that all use of plain text passwords, even over an
>encrypted tunnel to a trusted party, should be discouraged. (At
>the very least, a stern passage in the security considerations section is needed.)

I concur.

-- Kurt