XAdES (short for "XML Advanced Electronic Signatures") is a set of extensions to XML-DSig recommendation making it suitable for advanced electronic signature.

Description[edit]

While XML-DSig is a general framework for digitally signing documents, XAdES specifies precise profiles of XML-DSig for use with advanced electronic signature in the meaning of European Union Directive 1999/93/EC. One important benefit from XAdES is that electronically signed documents can remain valid for long periods, even if underlying cryptographic algorithms are broken.

Profiles[edit]

XAdES defines six profiles (forms) differing in protection level offered.

• XAdES (also named XAdES-BES for "Basic Electronic Signature"), basic form just satisfying Directive legal requirements for advanced signature;
• XAdES-T (timestamp), adding timestamp field to protect against repudiation;
• XAdES-C (complete), adding references to verification data (certificates and revocation lists) to the signed documents to allow off-line verification and verification in future (but does not store the actual data);
• XAdES-X (extended), adding timestamps on the references introduced by XAdES-C to protect against possible compromise of certificates in chain in future;
• XAdES-X-L (extended long-term), adding actual certificates and revocation lists to the signed document to allow verification in future even if their original source is not available;
• XAdES-A (archival), adding possibility for periodical timestamping (e.g. each year) of the archived document to prevent compromise caused by weakening signature during long-time storage period.

See also[edit]

• European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI)
• XML Signature
• CAdES, CMS Advanced Electronic Signature
• PAdES, PDF Advanced Electronic Signature
• Trusted timestamping

External links[edit]

• W3C XAdES version 1.1.1 from 2003
• ETSI TS 101 903 XAdES version 1.1.1 from 2002-02-12
• ETSI TS 101 903 XAdES version 1.2.2 from 2004-04-02
• ETSI TS 101 903 XAdES version 1.3.2 from 2006-03-07
• ETSI TS 101 903 XAdES version 1.4.1 from 2009-06-15
• ETSI TS 101 903 V1.2.2 Technical Specification, XSD and DTD
• ETSI TS 101 903 V1.3.2 XSD and DTD
• ETSI TS 101 903 V1.4.1 XSD
• SD-DSS : A free and open-source Java library for creating/manipulating PAdES/CAdES/XAdES/ASiC Signatures
• SD-DSS : GitHub repository