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Domain-validated certificate
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A domain validated certificate (DV) is an X.509 public key certificate typically used for Transport Layer Security (TLS) where the domain name of the applicant is validated by proving some control over a DNS domain.[1] Domain validated certificates were first distributed by GeoTrust in 2002 before becoming a widely accepted method.[2]
Issuing criteria
[edit]The sole criterion for a domain validated certificate is proof of control over whois records, DNS records file, email or web hosting account of a domain. Typically control over a domain is determined using one of the following:
- Response to email sent to the email contact in the domain's whois details
- Response to email sent to a well-known administrative contact in the domain, e.g. (admin@, postmaster@, etc.)
- Publishing a DNS TXT record
- Publishing a nonce provided by an automated certificate issuing system
A domain validated certificate is distinct from an Extended Validation Certificate in that this is the only requirement for issuing the certificate.[3] In particular, domain validated certificates do not assure that any particular legal entity is connected to the certificate, even if the domain name may imply a particular legal entity controls the domain.
User interface
[edit]As of 2020, all major browsers user interfaces display EV, OV, and DV certificates identically, but provide options to query the type of certificate via multiple clicks.
Characteristics
[edit]As the low assurance requirements allow domain validated certificates to be issued quickly without requiring human intervention, domain validated certificates have a number of unique characteristics:
- Domain validated certificates are used in automated X.509 certificate issuing systems, such as Let's Encrypt.
- Domain validated certificates are often cheap or free.
- Domain validated certificates can be generated and validated without any documentation.
- Most domain validated certificates can be issued instantly (in less than a minute) via special tools which automate issuing process.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Coclin, Dean (2013-08-13). "What Are the Different Types of SSL Certificates?". Certificate Authority Security Council. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
- ^ "There's certs and certs – VeriSign badmouths rivals". www.theregister.com.
- ^ "What's the difference between DV, OV & EV SSL certificates?". www.digicert.com. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
Domain-validated certificate
View on Grokipedia- Email verification: Sending a confirmation message to addresses associated with the domain's WHOIS record, DNS CAA records, or other domain contacts (methods 3.2.2.4.4, 3.2.2.4.13, 3.2.2.4.14).[1]
- DNS-based methods: Requiring the addition of a specific TXT record to the domain's DNS configuration (methods 3.2.2.4.7, 3.2.2.4.22).[1]
- HTTP-based methods: Placing a designated file or meta tag on the web server hosting the domain, often via the Automated Certificate Management Environment (ACME) protocol (methods 3.2.2.4.18, 3.2.2.4.19).[1][2]
Definition and Background
Definition
A domain-validated certificate (DV certificate) is an X.509 v3 public key certificate employed within the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol to facilitate secure HTTPS connections over the Internet. It serves as a digital credential that binds a cryptographic public key to one or more domain names, enabling servers to authenticate their identity to clients during TLS handshakes. This binding ensures that encrypted data exchanges occur between the intended parties, thereby protecting against eavesdropping and tampering in web communications.[3][4] Unlike more rigorous certificate types, the validation for a DV certificate is strictly confined to demonstrating the applicant's control over the specified domain name, without any assessment of the underlying legal entity, organization, or physical address. This limited scope allows for rapid issuance, as it relies solely on domain-level proof rather than broader identity vetting. As a result, DV certificates do not convey assurances about the certificate holder's organizational legitimacy, focusing instead on domain ownership exclusivity.[5][4] The primary purpose of a DV certificate is to enable end-to-end encryption for web traffic while offering basic identity assurance at the domain level, which is particularly suitable for individual users, small-scale sites, or automated deployment scenarios where speed and simplicity are prioritized over detailed organizational verification. In practice, it supports the padlock icon in browsers to indicate secure connections, though without enhanced visual indicators of entity trustworthiness.[5][6] From a technical standpoint, the certificate achieves the public key-to-domain binding via the subject alternative name (SAN) extension in the X.509 structure, where the dNSName identifier explicitly lists the fully qualified domain name(s) under the applicant's control. This extension, as defined in the Internet X.509 Public Key Infrastructure (PKIX) standards, ensures interoperability in TLS deployments by allowing clients to match the server's presented hostname against the certificate's domain entries during authentication.[7][3]History
Domain-validated (DV) certificates emerged as a response to the need for more accessible SSL/TLS security options beyond the resource-intensive organization-validated certificates prevalent in the early 2000s. In 2002, GeoTrust pioneered the first commercial issuance of DV certificates, introducing a streamlined validation process focused solely on domain control rather than organizational identity, which significantly reduced costs and issuance times compared to prior methods.[8][9] This innovation addressed the barriers faced by small websites seeking encryption, positioning DV certificates as a practical alternative for basic security needs. The mid-2000s marked a surge in DV certificate adoption, driven by the explosive growth of e-commerce and heightened awareness of web security risks following incidents like phishing attacks and data breaches. As online transactions proliferated, demand for affordable encryption solutions intensified, with DV certificates enabling small businesses and individuals to secure their sites without the expense of higher-assurance options. By the late 2000s, DV certificates had become an important tool in securing websites amid the expansion of digital commerce, though widespread HTTPS deployment accelerated in the 2010s as browsers began enforcing stricter security indicators around 2014. Standardization efforts in the 2010s solidified DV certificates as the foundational standard for public TLS implementations. The CA/Browser Forum, formed in 2005 to harmonize certificate practices, published its inaugural Baseline Requirements in 2011, outlining mandatory issuance and management protocols that emphasized DV methods for domain control verification and established them as the minimum baseline for trusted certificates.[10][11] These guidelines, adopted by major certificate authorities and browsers, ensured consistency and interoperability, fostering broader trust in DV-secured connections. A pivotal advancement occurred in 2015 with the launch of Let's Encrypt, a nonprofit certificate authority that leveraged the Automated Certificate Management Environment (ACME) protocol to automate DV certificate issuance and renewal at no cost. This initiative dramatically scaled access to free DV certificates, issuing the first ones on December 3, 2015, and enabling millions of websites to adopt HTTPS seamlessly through open-source tools.[12][13] By prioritizing automation and accessibility, Let's Encrypt accelerated the global shift toward ubiquitous encryption, reinforcing DV's role in modern web infrastructure.Validation and Issuance
Domain Control Validation Methods
Domain-validated (DV) certificates require proof of domain control through specific validation methods approved by the CA/Browser Forum's Baseline Requirements. These methods ensure that the applicant controls the domain without verifying organizational identity. The primary techniques include DNS-based validation, HTTP-based validation, and email-based validation, each involving unique challenges such as nonces or tokens to prevent unauthorized issuance.[1] In DNS-based validation, the applicant demonstrates control by modifying the domain's DNS records. For the widely used ACME DNS-01 challenge, the certificate authority (CA) generates a unique token and key authorization string derived from the applicant's ACME account key thumbprint. The applicant then adds a TXT record at_acme-challenge.example.com (for domain example.com) containing this authorization string. The CA queries the DNS resolver to verify the record matches the expected value, typically within minutes, confirming control. CAA records can also support validation by specifying allowed CAs and method bindings, such as restricting to DNS-01, via DNS TXT contact emails or phone details, though primary use remains for authorization rather than direct proof. This method supports wildcard certificates and is resilient to web server changes but requires DNS provider API access for automation.[14][15]
HTTP-based validation, often via the ACME HTTP-01 challenge, proves control by serving a specific file over HTTP. The CA provides a token, and the applicant creates a file at http://[example.com](/page/Example.com)/.well-known/acme-challenge/<TOKEN> containing the token concatenated with the account key thumbprint. The CA attempts to fetch this file from port 80 (following limited redirects to ports 80 or 443), verifying the content matches. This approach is straightforward for web-hosted domains, automates easily with tools like Certbot, and validates the server's IP reachability, but it requires an accessible HTTP server and does not support wildcards.[14][16]
Email-based validation historically involved sending a confirmation message to addresses obtained from the domain's WHOIS data, such as registrant, technical, or administrative contacts (e.g., admin@example.com), or generic roles like postmaster@example.com. The CA includes a unique validation code or link in the email; the applicant accesses the account, clicks the link, or replies with the code to confirm control. This method was simple for manual processes but relied on public WHOIS data, raising privacy concerns under regulations like GDPR. Effective July 15, 2025, the CA/Browser Forum prohibited reliance on WHOIS-sourced emails for domain validation, deprecating this approach entirely and shifting emphasis to DNS and HTTP methods; prior validations using it remain unusable post-date. Alternative email options, like those from DNS CAA or TXT records, persist but are less common.[1][17][18]
The Automated Certificate Management Environment (ACME) protocol standardizes these validations for automation, enabling clients like Certbot to handle challenges seamlessly. Certbot, developed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, integrates with ACME to perform DNS-01 or HTTP-01 validations via command-line options (e.g., --preferred-challenges dns for TXT records), querying DNS APIs or placing files automatically before requesting the certificate. This facilitates rapid, scriptable issuance for DV certificates, reducing manual intervention.[19][20][16]