Extension Manager:Addon Update Security:Signature

This page sets out more details about the digital signature method of securing add-on update manifests.

Update Public Key

In order to verify the signature in the update manifest, a public key is required. This must be included in the original add-on xpi. Including the key in the install.rdf makes checking for a key on install and retrieving the key at update time easier than the alternative option of including it as a file in the xpi.

The key shall be DER encoded and then base64 encoded for inclusion as an em:updateKey resource in the install manifest. An example of this is below:

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<RDF:RDF xmlns:RDF="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
         xmlns="http://www.mozilla.org/2004/em-rdf#">
	<RDF:Description about="urn:mozilla:install-manifest">
		<id>{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}</id>
		
		<name>Console²</name>
		<version>0.3.8</version>
		
		<description>The next generation error console.</description>
		<iconURL>chrome://console2/skin/import/Error.png</iconURL>
		<homepageURL>http://console2.mozdev.org/index.html</homepageURL>
		<updateURL>http://console2.mozdev.org/update.xml</updateURL>
		
		<creator>zeniko</creator>
		<contributor>Philip Chee</contributor>
		<contributor>All contributors to the Toolkit 1.8 JavaScript Console</contributor>
		<targetApplication><!-- Firefox -->
			<RDF:Description>
				<id>{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}</id>
				<minVersion>1.5</minVersion>
				<maxVersion>3.0.*</maxVersion>
			</RDF:Description>
		</targetApplication>
		
		<targetApplication><!-- Thunderbird -->
			<RDF:Description>
				<id>{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}</id>
				<minVersion>1.5</minVersion>
				<maxVersion>3.0.*</maxVersion>
			</RDF:Description>
		</targetApplication>
		
		<targetApplication><!-- SeaMonkey -->
			<RDF:Description>
				<id>{92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}</id>
				<minVersion>1.0</minVersion>
				<maxVersion>2.0.*</maxVersion>
			</RDF:Description>
		</targetApplication>
		
		<targetApplication><!-- Flock -->
			<RDF:Description>
				<id>{a463f10c-3994-11da-9945-000d60ca027b}</id>
				<minVersion>0.5</minVersion>
				<maxVersion>0.*</maxVersion>
			</RDF:Description>
		</targetApplication>

		<targetApplication><!-- Sunbird -->
			<RDF:Description>
				<id>{718e30fb-e89b-41dd-9da7-e25a45638b28}</id>
				<minVersion>0.3.1</minVersion>
				<maxVersion>0.6.*</maxVersion>
			</RDF:Description>
		</targetApplication>

		<targetApplication><!-- eMusic DLM -->
			<RDF:Description>
				<id>dlm@emusic.com</id>
				<minVersion>4.0a1</minVersion>
				<maxVersion>4.0.0.*</maxVersion>
			</RDF:Description>
		</targetApplication>

		<targetApplication><!-- Netscape Navigator-->
			<RDF:Description>
				<id>{3db10fab-e461-4c80-8b97-957ad5f8ea47}</id>
				<minVersion>9.0a</minVersion>
				<maxVersion>9.0.*</maxVersion>
			</RDF:Description>
		</targetApplication>
		<em:publicKey>MIGfMA0GCSqGSIb3DQEBAQUAA4GNADCBiQKBgQC8tygA/cOMS/cyFn3Lf30Dskkd
		              Q0i6NlLfKVxTYUmLge/tEb3QMHlBdM9D0mMpzybq7rFI7aFscUFEcDo9WVd5ieyZ
		              cPotUd1WyUXZHXKluMfkE4asnXedLcICqrXEUJDxeWHSA36FrMW4uASxbl42/Ibi
		              e/liyRgPpmzDged+jQIDAQAB</em:publicKey>
  </RDF:Description>
</RDF:RDF>

Update Manifest Signature

The update signature is generated from a string of text that is pulled out of the update manifest. It is important that this string remains the same for a given update manifest no matter how the manifest was serialized. This is partly because our rdf code generally changes the format of the serialized data.

In order to make this signing forwards compatible as much as possible the string must essentially be a serialisation of all the data in the RDF relevant to the extension that is in use now or may be used in future versions. The simplest method for this is to serialise the data as an RDF fragment using certain rules to ensure that the serialisation remains the same as all. We serialise from the update resource for the given extension using the following rules:

When serialising a resource that is an RDF container (Seq, Bag, Alt), output as that container type and if the resource is not anonymous, include it's uri in the container tag. Include one <li> for every item in the container in order containing the serialisation of the contained resource. Following those output the other properties as detailed for a non-container resource.

When serialising a resource that is not an RDF container output as a Description including the uri of the resource if it is not anonymous. Inside the element output each property of the em namespace in order of property uri. Where a property has multiple targets, serialise each one and output in sorted order.

When a property points to a literal value output as a simple element with property name and containing the literal.

When a property points to a resource output as an element with property name and containing the serialisation of the resource.

There is one main issue with this serialisation. It cannot handle the situation where resources are referenced from multiple places or recursively. Resolving both of these would require coming up with a method of generating anonymous uri's that were not random in nature. Neither of these issues are possible with the current update RDF schema.

Given the following example update RDF:

<RDF xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:em="http://www.mozilla.org/2004/em-rdf#">

	<Description about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}">
		<em:updates>
			<Seq>
				<li resource="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.8"/>
				<li resource="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.7"/>
			</Seq>
		</em:updates>
	</Description>

	<Description about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.8">
		<em:version>0.3.7</em:version>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- Firefox -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>1.5</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>3.0.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- Thunderbird -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>1.5</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>3.0.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- SeaMonkey -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>1.0</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>1.5.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- Flock -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{a463f10c-3994-11da-9945-000d60ca027b}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>0.5</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>0.9.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- Sunbird -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{718e30fb-e89b-41dd-9da7-e25a45638b28}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>0.3.1</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>0.7.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- eMusic DLM -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>dlm@emusic.com</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>4.0a1</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>4.0.0.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>

		<em:targetApplication><!-- Netscape -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{3db10fab-e461-4c80-8b97-957ad5f8ea47}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>9.0a</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>9.0.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
	</Description>

	<Description about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.7">
		<em:version>0.3.7</em:version>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- Firefox -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>1.5</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>3.0.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- Thunderbird -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>1.5</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>3.0.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- SeaMonkey -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>1.0</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>1.5.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- Flock -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{a463f10c-3994-11da-9945-000d60ca027b}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>0.5</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>0.8.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- Sunbird -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{718e30fb-e89b-41dd-9da7-e25a45638b28}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>0.3.1</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>0.6.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
		
		<em:targetApplication><!-- eMusic DLM -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>dlm@emusic.com</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>4.0a1</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>4.0.0.*</em:maxVersion>
				<em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
	</Description>

</RDF>

We serialise as the following:

<RDF:Description about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}">
  <em:updates>
    <RDF:Seq>
      <RDF:li>
        <RDF:Description about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.8">
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>dlm@emusic.com</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>4.0.0.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>4.0a1</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>3.0.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>1.5</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{3db10fab-e461-4c80-8b97-957ad5f8ea47}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>9.0.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>9.0a</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{718e30fb-e89b-41dd-9da7-e25a45638b28}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>0.7.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>0.3.1</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>1.5.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>1.0</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{a463f10c-3994-11da-9945-000d60ca027b}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>0.9.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>0.5</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>3.0.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>1.5</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:version>0.3.7</em:version>
        </RDF:Description>
      </RDF:li>
      <RDF:li>
        <RDF:Description about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.7">
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>dlm@emusic.com</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>4.0.0.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>4.0a1</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>3.0.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>1.5</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{718e30fb-e89b-41dd-9da7-e25a45638b28}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>0.6.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>0.3.1</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>1.5.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>1.0</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{a463f10c-3994-11da-9945-000d60ca027b}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>0.8.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>0.5</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:targetApplication>
            <RDF:Description>
              <em:id>{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}</em:id>
              <em:maxVersion>3.0.*</em:maxVersion>
              <em:minVersion>1.5</em:minVersion>
              <em:updateLink>http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi</em:updateLink>
            </RDF:Description>
          </em:targetApplication>
          <em:version>0.3.7</em:version>
        </RDF:Description>
      </RDF:li>
    </RDF:Seq>
  </em:updates>
</RDF:Description>

This is then signed using the author's private key. The signature is base64 encoded and added as an em:signature resource to the add-on's update manifest. Following is the example update manifest with an included signature. Note the vast difference between the original hand written rdf and what mozilla's rdf serialiser generates. Despite this the rdf remains the same and so the above method of generating the string to sign yields the same result.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<RDF:RDF xmlns:em="http://www.mozilla.org/2004/em-rdf#"
         xmlns:NC="http://home.netscape.com/NC-rdf#"
         xmlns:RDF="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$F6q1N"
                   em:id="{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}"
                   em:minVersion="1.5"
                   em:maxVersion="3.0.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$77q1N"
                   em:id="dlm@emusic.com"
                   em:minVersion="4.0a1"
                   em:maxVersion="4.0.0.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$w7q1N"
                   em:id="{92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}"
                   em:minVersion="1.0"
                   em:maxVersion="1.5.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.7"
                   em:version="0.3.7">
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$k7q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$q7q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$w7q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$C7q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$I7q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$O7q1N"/>
  </RDF:Description>
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.8"
                   em:version="0.3.7">
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$F6q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$L6q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$R6q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$X6q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$17q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$77q1N"/>
    <em:targetApplication RDF:resource="rdf:#$d7q1N"/>
  </RDF:Description>
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$C7q1N"
                   em:id="{a463f10c-3994-11da-9945-000d60ca027b}"
                   em:minVersion="0.5"
                   em:maxVersion="0.8.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$R6q1N"
                   em:id="{92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}"
                   em:minVersion="1.0"
                   em:maxVersion="1.5.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$X6q1N"
                   em:id="{a463f10c-3994-11da-9945-000d60ca027b}"
                   em:minVersion="0.5"
                   em:maxVersion="0.9.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$L6q1N"
                   em:id="{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}"
                   em:minVersion="1.5"
                   em:maxVersion="3.0.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$O7q1N"
                   em:id="dlm@emusic.com"
                   em:minVersion="4.0a1"
                   em:maxVersion="4.0.0.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$d7q1N"
                   em:id="{3db10fab-e461-4c80-8b97-957ad5f8ea47}"
                   em:minVersion="9.0a"
                   em:maxVersion="9.0.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi" />
  <RDF:Seq RDF:about="rdf:#$C6q1N">
    <RDF:li RDF:resource="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.8"/>
    <RDF:li RDF:resource="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}:0.3.7"/>
  </RDF:Seq>
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$I7q1N"
                   em:id="{718e30fb-e89b-41dd-9da7-e25a45638b28}"
                   em:minVersion="0.3.1"
                   em:maxVersion="0.6.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$17q1N"
                   em:id="{718e30fb-e89b-41dd-9da7-e25a45638b28}"
                   em:minVersion="0.3.1"
                   em:maxVersion="0.7.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.8.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$k7q1N"
                   em:id="{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}"
                   em:minVersion="1.5"
                   em:maxVersion="3.0.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi" />
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="urn:mozilla:extension:{1280606b-2510-4fe0-97ef-9b5a22eafe80}">
    <em:updates RDF:resource="rdf:#$C6q1N"/>
    <em:signature>cDwqOLlQYeSg0Kt05tW4uF80ySlQV6d5T9yTfw6rsA8Suf8TJy2rjeBCujIDwPrG
W/OQpjm+RgWbMHU9Qqp1NLs7Eia//Y4RGGAsieVvczX4MkXZiZlwnIi+7hb7lxXR
zpIR6DXAtvZHquXr02hXEa86xnlQt/1/rzwzBYHuI9Y=</em:signature>
  </RDF:Description>
  <RDF:Description RDF:about="rdf:#$q7q1N"
                   em:id="{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}"
                   em:minVersion="1.5"
                   em:maxVersion="3.0.*"
                   em:updateLink="http://downloads.mozdev.org/console2/console2-0.3.7.xpi" />
</RDF:RDF>

Note that the location of the signature requires multiple signatures in the manifest if the manifest contains information about multiple add-ons. This allows different add-ons to be signed by different keys.

Algorithms and Key Types

In order to make this work we must choose an appropriate key type and hashing algorithm for generating the digital signature. As far as the implementation goes this choice is largely irrelevant. So long as NSS supports the choice it is a trivial change to make the code work.

Key Type

• RSA
• DSA

Must also consider key size.

Hashing Algorithm

If the key type is DSA then the hashing algorithm must be SHA1, otherwise any of the following may be used:

• MD2
• MD5
• SHA1
• SHA256
• SHA384
• SHA512

If we select SHA1 as the hashing algorithm then either key type can be chosen, indeed it would not be necessary to standardise on the key type at all, the key type can be detected from the key specified in the install.rdf file.