specify selective disclosure and anchor policy

README.md

@@ -646,9 +646,12 @@ validated its own chain. There is no compatibility mode for that workflow.
 
 The replacement is the small, transport-neutral
 [`SSHSIGCHAIN v1`](docs/sshsigchain.md) specification. It starts from an
-operator-pinned chain ID, OpenSSH root public key, profile, and namespace;
+operator-pinned chain ID, OpenSSH root public key, and namespace. Parent hashes
-records are fixed-byte SSHSIG payloads linked by sequence and digest. Geth
+define order without a redundant sequence counter. Every record carries a
-already provides a verifier for independently produced JSONL transport files:
+public authority transition for devices, keys, causal revocation, scoped
+permissions, and anchor policy, plus optional profile commitments whose payloads
+can be selectively disclosed. Geth already provides a verifier for independently
+produced JSONL transport files:
 
 ```sh
 geth keychain verify-sigchain \
@@ -657,10 +660,13 @@ geth keychain verify-sigchain \
   --root-key ~/.ssh/geth-root.pub
 ```
 
-SSHSIGCHAIN local record storage, signing, publication, import, and accepted-head
+The verifier reports active authority devices/keys, disclosed and incomplete
-persistence remain follow-up work. Until they exist, do not substitute an
+profiles, the head digest, and current attester/backend anchor thresholds.
-unpinned checkpoint or a local operation-log view for the SSHSIGCHAIN trust
+SSHSIGCHAIN local
-tuple.
+record storage, signing, publication, import, accepted-head persistence, and
+concrete anchor adapters remain follow-up work. Until they exist, do not
+substitute an unpinned checkpoint or a local operation-log view for the
+SSHSIGCHAIN trust tuple.
 
 Signing is mediated by OpenSSH. `--signing-key` may point at a private key file,
 a FIDO/YubiKey OpenSSH security-key stub, or a public key whose private half is

crates/geth-cli/src/lib.rs

@@ -4113,7 +4113,10 @@ fn print_response(response: ControlResponse, output: OutputMode) -> Result<()> {
             devices,
             disclosed_profiles,
             incomplete_profiles,
-            anchor_threshold,
+            anchor_attester_threshold,
+            anchor_backend_threshold,
+            required_anchor_backends,
+            required_anchor_classes,
             note,
         } => {
             println!("sigchain: {}", input.display());
@@ -4124,7 +4127,10 @@ fn print_response(response: ControlResponse, output: OutputMode) -> Result<()> {
             println!("devices: {devices}");
             println!("disclosed_profiles: {disclosed_profiles}");
             println!("incomplete_profiles: {incomplete_profiles}");
-            println!("anchor_threshold: {anchor_threshold}");
+            println!("anchor_attester_threshold: {anchor_attester_threshold}");
+            println!("anchor_backend_threshold: {anchor_backend_threshold}");
+            println!("required_anchor_backends: {required_anchor_backends}");
+            println!("required_anchor_classes: {required_anchor_classes}");
             eprintln!("note: {note}");
         }
         ControlResponse::KeychainExplained { subject, lines } => {

crates/geth-control/src/lib.rs

@@ -750,7 +750,10 @@ pub enum ControlResponse {
         devices: usize,
         disclosed_profiles: usize,
         incomplete_profiles: usize,
-        anchor_threshold: u16,
+        anchor_attester_threshold: u16,
+        anchor_backend_threshold: u16,
+        required_anchor_backends: usize,
+        required_anchor_classes: usize,
         note: String,
     },
     KeychainExplained {

crates/geth-keychain/src/lib.rs

@@ -13,16 +13,17 @@
 mod sshsigchain;
 
 pub use sshsigchain::{
-    AnchorBackendPolicy, AnchorPolicy, AnchorReceipt, AnchorReceiptVerifier, AnchoredHistory,
+    AnchorAttesterPolicy, AnchorBackendPolicy, AnchorPolicy, AnchorReceipt, AnchorReceiptVerifier,
-    AuthorityDeviceState, AuthorityKey, AuthorityKeyId, AuthorityKeyState, AuthorityState,
+    AnchoredHistory, AuthorityDeviceState, AuthorityKey, AuthorityKeyId, AuthorityKeyState,
-    AuthorityTransition, ChainId as SshSigchainChainId, Digest as SshSigchainDigest, HeadClaim,
+    AuthorityState, AuthorityTransition, ChainId as SshSigchainChainId,
-    MAX_JSONL_BYTES, MAX_JSONL_LINE_BYTES, MAX_NAMESPACE_BYTES, Permission, ProfileDisclosure,
+    Digest as SshSigchainDigest, HeadClaim, MAX_JSONL_BYTES, MAX_JSONL_LINE_BYTES,
-    ProfileExtension, SSH_SIGCHAIN_ANCHOR_NAMESPACE, SSH_SIGCHAIN_KEY_PROOF_NAMESPACE,
+    MAX_NAMESPACE_BYTES, Permission, ProfileDisclosure, ProfileExtension,
-    SSH_SIGCHAIN_NAMESPACE, SSH_SIGCHAIN_VERIFIER_PRINCIPAL, SSH_SIGCHAIN_VERSION,
+    SSH_SIGCHAIN_ANCHOR_NAMESPACE, SSH_SIGCHAIN_KEY_PROOF_NAMESPACE, SSH_SIGCHAIN_NAMESPACE,
-    SshSigchainError, SshSigchainRecord, SshSigchainTrust, SshSigchainVerification,
+    SSH_SIGCHAIN_VERIFIER_PRINCIPAL, SSH_SIGCHAIN_VERSION, SshSigchainError, SshSigchainRecord,
-    SshSigchainVerifier, authority_key_id, decode_sshsigchain_jsonl, encode_sshsigchain_jsonl,
+    SshSigchainTrust, SshSigchainVerification, SshSigchainVerifier, VerifiedAnchoredHistory,
-    key_proof_signing_bytes, profile_payload_commitment, select_anchored_head,
+    authority_key_id, decode_sshsigchain_jsonl, encode_sshsigchain_jsonl, key_proof_signing_bytes,
-    verify_anchor_receipts, verify_head_claim, verify_sshsigchain,
+    profile_payload_commitment, select_anchored_head, verify_anchor_receipts,
+    verify_anchored_history, verify_head_claim, verify_sshsigchain,
 };
 
 use geth_types::{

crates/geth-keychain/src/sshsigchain.rs

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ pub enum Permission {
     KeyAddAny,
     KeyRevokeSelf,
     KeyRevokeAny,
-    PermissionManage,
+    ManagePermissions,
     AnchorPolicy,
     AnchorAttest,
     ProfileWrite(String),
@@ -140,23 +140,28 @@ pub struct AnchorBackendPolicy {
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 #[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
+pub struct AnchorAttesterPolicy {
+    pub key_id: AuthorityKeyId,
+    pub weight: u16,
+    pub required: bool,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[serde(deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub struct AnchorPolicy {
-    /// Zero disables required external anchoring while retaining rollback checks against cached heads.
+    /// Required weight from distinct authorized head-claim signers.
-    pub threshold: u16,
+    pub attester_threshold: u16,
+    /// Explicit attesters. An empty list with a zero threshold permits any active `AnchorAttest` key.
+    pub attesters: Vec<AnchorAttesterPolicy>,
+    /// At least one valid backend receipt must come from every named class.
+    pub required_classes: Vec<String>,
+    /// Required weight from distinct backends.
+    pub backend_threshold: u16,
     pub backends: Vec<AnchorBackendPolicy>,
 }
 
-impl Default for AnchorPolicy {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        Self {
-            threshold: 0,
-            backends: Vec::new(),
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
-#[serde(tag = "type", rename_all = "snake_case")]
+#[serde(tag = "type", rename_all = "snake_case", deny_unknown_fields)]
 pub enum AuthorityTransition {
     Genesis {
         device_id: String,
@@ -553,12 +558,12 @@ fn authorize_record<V: SshSigchainVerifier + ?Sized>(
             delegable_permissions,
             ..
         } => {
-            require_permission(signer, &Permission::PermissionManage)?;
+            require_permission(signer, &Permission::ManagePermissions)?;
             ensure_delegation(signer, permissions)?;
             ensure_delegation(signer, delegable_permissions)?;
         }
         AuthorityTransition::PermissionRevoke { .. } => {
-            require_permission(signer, &Permission::PermissionManage)?;
+            require_permission(signer, &Permission::ManagePermissions)?;
         }
         AuthorityTransition::AnchorPolicySet { .. } => {
             require_permission(signer, &Permission::AnchorPolicy)?;
@@ -820,6 +825,7 @@ pub fn verify_head_claim<V: SshSigchainVerifier + ?Sized>(
         return Err(SshSigchainError::UnauthorizedHeadClaim);
     }
     if claim.signature.is_empty()
+        || claim.signature.len() > MAX_SIGNATURE_BYTES
         || !verifier.verify(
             SSH_SIGCHAIN_ANCHOR_NAMESPACE,
             &claim.signing_bytes()?,
@@ -832,20 +838,83 @@ pub fn verify_head_claim<V: SshSigchainVerifier + ?Sized>(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn verify_head_claims<V: SshSigchainVerifier + ?Sized>(
+    policy: &AnchorPolicy,
+    verification: &SshSigchainVerification,
+    claims: &[HeadClaim],
+    verifier: &V,
+) -> Result<Vec<usize>, SshSigchainError> {
+    let mut valid_indices = Vec::new();
+    let mut seen = BTreeSet::new();
+    let mut weight = 0u32;
+    for (index, claim) in claims.iter().enumerate() {
+        if seen.contains(&claim.signer_key_id)
+            || verify_head_claim(verification, claim, verifier).is_err()
+        {
+            continue;
+        }
+        seen.insert(claim.signer_key_id);
+        let attester = policy
+            .attesters
+            .iter()
+            .find(|attester| attester.key_id == claim.signer_key_id);
+        if policy.attesters.is_empty() {
+            valid_indices.push(index);
+        } else if let Some(attester) = attester {
+            weight += u32::from(attester.weight);
+            valid_indices.push(index);
+        }
+    }
+    for attester in &policy.attesters {
+        if attester.required
+            && !valid_indices
+                .iter()
+                .any(|index| claims[*index].signer_key_id == attester.key_id)
+        {
+            return Err(SshSigchainError::RequiredAttesterMissing(attester.key_id));
+        }
+    }
+    if valid_indices.is_empty() {
+        return Err(SshSigchainError::NoAuthorizedHeadClaim);
+    }
+    if weight < u32::from(policy.attester_threshold) {
+        return Err(SshSigchainError::AttesterThresholdNotMet {
+            required: policy.attester_threshold,
+            actual: weight,
+        });
+    }
+    Ok(valid_indices)
+}
+
 pub fn verify_anchor_receipts<R: AnchorReceiptVerifier + ?Sized>(
     policy: &AnchorPolicy,
     claim: &HeadClaim,
     receipts: &[AnchorReceipt],
     verifier: &R,
+) -> Result<(), SshSigchainError> {
+    verify_anchor_receipts_for_claims(policy, std::slice::from_ref(claim), receipts, verifier)
+}
+
+fn verify_anchor_receipts_for_claims<R: AnchorReceiptVerifier + ?Sized>(
+    policy: &AnchorPolicy,
+    claims: &[HeadClaim],
+    receipts: &[AnchorReceipt],
+    verifier: &R,
 ) -> Result<(), SshSigchainError> {
     validate_anchor_policy(policy)?;
-    let claim_hash = claim.claim_hash()?;
     let mut weight = 0u32;
+    let mut witnessed_classes = BTreeSet::new();
     for backend in &policy.backends {
-        let valid = receipts.iter().any(|receipt| {
+        let valid = claims.iter().any(|claim| {
-            receipt.backend_id == backend.backend_id
+            let Ok(claim_hash) = claim.claim_hash() else {
+                return false;
+            };
+            receipts.iter().any(|receipt| {
+                receipt.evidence.len() <= MAX_PAYLOAD_BYTES
+                    && receipt.backend_id == backend.backend_id
                     && receipt.claim_hash == claim_hash
                     && verifier.verify_receipt(backend, claim, receipt)
+            })
         });
         if backend.required && !valid {
             return Err(SshSigchainError::RequiredAnchorMissing(
@@ -854,11 +923,17 @@ pub fn verify_anchor_receipts<R: AnchorReceiptVerifier + ?Sized>(
         }
         if valid {
             weight += u32::from(backend.weight);
+            witnessed_classes.insert(backend.class.clone());
         }
     }
-    if weight < u32::from(policy.threshold) {
+    for class in &policy.required_classes {
+        if !witnessed_classes.contains(class) {
+            return Err(SshSigchainError::RequiredAnchorClassMissing(class.clone()));
+        }
+    }
+    if weight < u32::from(policy.backend_threshold) {
         return Err(SshSigchainError::AnchorThresholdNotMet {
-            required: policy.threshold,
+            required: policy.backend_threshold,
             actual: weight,
         });
     }
@@ -868,18 +943,60 @@ pub fn verify_anchor_receipts<R: AnchorReceiptVerifier + ?Sized>(
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct AnchoredHistory<'a> {
     pub verification: &'a SshSigchainVerification,
-    pub claim: &'a HeadClaim,
+    pub claims: &'a [HeadClaim],
+    pub receipts: &'a [AnchorReceipt],
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct VerifiedAnchoredHistory<'a> {
+    verification: &'a SshSigchainVerification,
+}
+
+impl<'a> VerifiedAnchoredHistory<'a> {
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn verification(&self) -> &'a SshSigchainVerification {
+        self.verification
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn verify_anchored_history<'a, V, R>(
+    history: AnchoredHistory<'a>,
+    signature_verifier: &V,
+    receipt_verifier: &R,
+) -> Result<VerifiedAnchoredHistory<'a>, SshSigchainError>
+where
+    V: SshSigchainVerifier + ?Sized,
+    R: AnchorReceiptVerifier + ?Sized,
+{
+    let valid_claims = verify_head_claims(
+        &history.verification.state.head_anchor_policy,
+        history.verification,
+        history.claims,
+        signature_verifier,
+    )?;
+    let claims: Vec<_> = valid_claims
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|index| history.claims[index].clone())
+        .collect();
+    verify_anchor_receipts_for_claims(
+        &history.verification.state.head_anchor_policy,
+        &claims,
+        history.receipts,
+        receipt_verifier,
+    )?;
+    Ok(VerifiedAnchoredHistory {
+        verification: history.verification,
+    })
 }
 
 pub fn select_anchored_head<'a>(
-    histories: &'a [AnchoredHistory<'a>],
+    histories: &'a [VerifiedAnchoredHistory<'a>],
     cached_head: Option<Digest>,
-) -> Result<&'a AnchoredHistory<'a>, SshSigchainError> {
+) -> Result<&'a VerifiedAnchoredHistory<'a>, SshSigchainError> {
     let mut candidates: Vec<_> = histories
         .iter()
         .filter(|history| {
-            history.claim.head == history.verification.head
+            cached_head.is_none_or(|head| history.verification.history.contains(&head))
-                && cached_head.is_none_or(|head| history.verification.history.contains(&head))
         })
         .collect();
     if candidates.is_empty() {
@@ -1062,7 +1179,9 @@ pub enum SshSigchainError {
     UnknownKey,
     #[error("key is inactive")]
     InactiveKey,
-    #[error("anchor policy contains invalid, duplicate, or unsatisfiable backend rules")]
+    #[error(
+        "anchor policy contains invalid, duplicate, unsorted, or unsatisfiable attester/backend rules"
+    )]
     InvalidAnchorPolicy,
     #[error("head claim does not name the verified chain head")]
     ClaimHeadMismatch,
@@ -1070,8 +1189,16 @@ pub enum SshSigchainError {
     UnauthorizedHeadClaim,
     #[error("head claim signature is invalid")]
     InvalidHeadClaimSignature,
+    #[error("no supplied head claim has a distinct authorized signer at this head")]
+    NoAuthorizedHeadClaim,
+    #[error("required head attester {0:?} has no valid claim")]
+    RequiredAttesterMissing(AuthorityKeyId),
+    #[error("head attester threshold not met: required {required}, got {actual}")]
+    AttesterThresholdNotMet { required: u16, actual: u32 },
     #[error("required anchor backend {0} has no valid receipt")]
     RequiredAnchorMissing(String),
+    #[error("required anchor backend class {0} has no valid receipt")]
+    RequiredAnchorClassMissing(String),
     #[error("anchor threshold not met: required {required}, got {actual}")]
     AnchorThresholdNotMet { required: u16, actual: u32 },
     #[error("no valid anchored head was supplied")]
@@ -1156,6 +1283,34 @@ fn validate_authority_key(key: &AuthorityKey) -> Result<(), SshSigchainError> {
 }
 
 fn validate_anchor_policy(policy: &AnchorPolicy) -> Result<(), SshSigchainError> {
+    let mut attester_ids = BTreeSet::new();
+    let mut total_attester_weight = 0u32;
+    let mut previous_attester = None;
+    for attester in &policy.attesters {
+        if attester.weight == 0
+            || !attester_ids.insert(attester.key_id)
+            || previous_attester.is_some_and(|previous| previous >= attester.key_id)
+        {
+            return Err(SshSigchainError::InvalidAnchorPolicy);
+        }
+        previous_attester = Some(attester.key_id);
+        total_attester_weight += u32::from(attester.weight);
+    }
+    if u32::from(policy.attester_threshold) > total_attester_weight {
+        return Err(SshSigchainError::InvalidAnchorPolicy);
+    }
+    let required_classes: BTreeSet<_> = policy.required_classes.iter().cloned().collect();
+    if required_classes.len() != policy.required_classes.len()
+        || !policy
+            .required_classes
+            .windows(2)
+            .all(|pair| pair[0] < pair[1])
+    {
+        return Err(SshSigchainError::InvalidAnchorPolicy);
+    }
+    for class in &policy.required_classes {
+        validate_identifier(class.clone())?;
+    }
     let mut ids = BTreeSet::new();
     let mut total = 0u32;
     let mut previous_id: Option<&str> = None;
@@ -1173,7 +1328,15 @@ fn validate_anchor_policy(policy: &AnchorPolicy) -> Result<(), SshSigchainError>
         previous_id = Some(&backend.backend_id);
         total += u32::from(backend.weight);
     }
-    if u32::from(policy.threshold) > total {
+    if u32::from(policy.backend_threshold) > total {
+        return Err(SshSigchainError::InvalidAnchorPolicy);
+    }
+    if !required_classes.iter().all(|class| {
+        policy
+            .backends
+            .iter()
+            .any(|backend| &backend.class == class)
+    }) {
         return Err(SshSigchainError::InvalidAnchorPolicy);
     }
     Ok(())
@@ -1343,7 +1506,7 @@ fn encode_permissions(
             Permission::KeyAddAny => out.push(4),
             Permission::KeyRevokeSelf => out.push(5),
             Permission::KeyRevokeAny => out.push(6),
-            Permission::PermissionManage => out.push(7),
+            Permission::ManagePermissions => out.push(7),
             Permission::AnchorPolicy => out.push(8),
             Permission::AnchorAttest => out.push(9),
             Permission::ProfileWrite(profile) => {
@@ -1361,7 +1524,18 @@ fn encode_permissions(
 
 fn encode_anchor_policy(out: &mut Vec<u8>, policy: &AnchorPolicy) -> Result<(), SshSigchainError> {
     validate_anchor_policy(policy)?;
-    out.extend_from_slice(&policy.threshold.to_be_bytes());
+    out.extend_from_slice(&policy.attester_threshold.to_be_bytes());
+    push_u16(out, policy.attesters.len())?;
+    for attester in &policy.attesters {
+        out.extend_from_slice(&(attester.key_id.0).0);
+        out.extend_from_slice(&attester.weight.to_be_bytes());
+        out.push(u8::from(attester.required));
+    }
+    push_u16(out, policy.required_classes.len())?;
+    for class in &policy.required_classes {
+        push_u16_bytes(out, class.as_bytes())?;
+    }
+    out.extend_from_slice(&policy.backend_threshold.to_be_bytes());
     push_u16(out, policy.backends.len())?;
     for backend in &policy.backends {
         push_u16_bytes(out, backend.backend_id.as_bytes())?;
@@ -1467,6 +1641,19 @@ mod tests {
 
     struct TestVerifier;
 
+    struct TestReceiptVerifier;
+
+    impl AnchorReceiptVerifier for TestReceiptVerifier {
+        fn verify_receipt(
+            &self,
+            _: &AnchorBackendPolicy,
+            _: &HeadClaim,
+            receipt: &AnchorReceipt,
+        ) -> bool {
+            receipt.evidence == b"valid"
+        }
+    }
+
     impl SshSigchainVerifier for TestVerifier {
         fn verify(
             &self,
@@ -1537,6 +1724,17 @@ mod tests {
         record.with_signature(signature).expect("signed")
     }
 
+    fn signed_claim(trust: &SshSigchainTrust, verification: &SshSigchainVerification) -> HeadClaim {
+        let claim =
+            HeadClaim::unsigned(trust.chain_id, verification.head, ROOT_KEY).expect("claim");
+        let signature = test_signature(
+            SSH_SIGCHAIN_ANCHOR_NAMESPACE,
+            &claim.signing_bytes().expect("claim bytes"),
+            ROOT_KEY,
+        );
+        claim.with_signature(signature).expect("signed claim")
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn chain_order_uses_only_parent_hashes() {
         let trust = trust();
@@ -1654,7 +1852,33 @@ mod tests {
         )
         .expect("valid key add");
         assert_eq!(verified.state.active_key_count(), 2);
+        let invalid_proof = signed_record(
+            &trust,
+            Some(add_device.record_hash().expect("hash")),
+            ROOT_KEY,
+            AuthorityTransition::KeyAdd {
+                device_id: "device:phone".to_owned(),
+                key: key.clone(),
+                proof: vec![1],
+            },
+            vec![],
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            verify_sshsigchain(
+                &[first.clone(), add_device.clone(), invalid_proof],
+                &trust,
+                &TestVerifier
+            ),
+            Err(SshSigchainError::InvalidKeyProof)
+        );
         let bad_key = authority_key(SECOND_KEY, vec![Permission::AnchorPolicy]);
+        let bad_proof_message =
+            key_proof_signing_bytes(trust.chain_id, "device:phone", &bad_key).expect("proof bytes");
+        let bad_proof = test_signature(
+            SSH_SIGCHAIN_KEY_PROOF_NAMESPACE,
+            &bad_proof_message,
+            SECOND_KEY,
+        );
         let bad = signed_record(
             &trust,
             Some(add_device.record_hash().expect("hash")),
@@ -1662,13 +1886,15 @@ mod tests {
             AuthorityTransition::KeyAdd {
                 device_id: "device:phone".to_owned(),
                 key: bad_key,
-                proof: vec![1],
+                proof: bad_proof,
             },
             vec![],
         );
         assert!(matches!(
             verify_sshsigchain(&[first, add_device, bad], &trust, &TestVerifier),
-            Err(SshSigchainError::InvalidKeyProof | SshSigchainError::DeviceCeilingExceeded(_))
+            Err(SshSigchainError::DeviceCeilingExceeded(
+                Permission::AnchorPolicy
+            ))
         ));
     }
 
@@ -1745,32 +1971,20 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn head_claims_require_current_authority_and_policy_receipts() {
-        struct ReceiptVerifier;
-        impl AnchorReceiptVerifier for ReceiptVerifier {
-            fn verify_receipt(
-                &self,
-                _: &AnchorBackendPolicy,
-                _: &HeadClaim,
-                receipt: &AnchorReceipt,
-            ) -> bool {
-                receipt.evidence == b"valid"
-            }
-        }
-
         let trust = trust();
         let verification =
             verify_sshsigchain(&[genesis(&trust)], &trust, &TestVerifier).expect("chain");
-        let claim =
+        let claim = signed_claim(&trust, &verification);
-            HeadClaim::unsigned(trust.chain_id, verification.head, ROOT_KEY).expect("claim");
-        let signature = test_signature(
-            SSH_SIGCHAIN_ANCHOR_NAMESPACE,
-            &claim.signing_bytes().expect("bytes"),
-            ROOT_KEY,
-        );
-        let claim = claim.with_signature(signature).expect("signed claim");
         verify_head_claim(&verification, &claim, &TestVerifier).expect("authorized claim");
         let policy = AnchorPolicy {
-            threshold: 1,
+            attester_threshold: 1,
+            attesters: vec![AnchorAttesterPolicy {
+                key_id: trust.root_key_id().expect("root ID"),
+                weight: 1,
+                required: true,
+            }],
+            required_classes: vec!["transparency".to_owned()],
+            backend_threshold: 1,
             backends: vec![AnchorBackendPolicy {
                 backend_id: "transparency-main".to_owned(),
                 class: "transparency".to_owned(),
@@ -1784,9 +1998,20 @@ mod tests {
             claim_hash: claim.claim_hash().expect("claim hash"),
             evidence: b"valid".to_vec(),
         };
-        verify_anchor_receipts(&policy, &claim, &[receipt], &ReceiptVerifier).expect("receipts");
+        assert_eq!(
+            verify_head_claims(
+                &policy,
+                &verification,
+                std::slice::from_ref(&claim),
+                &TestVerifier
+            )
+            .expect("attesters"),
+            vec![0]
+        );
+        verify_anchor_receipts(&policy, &claim, &[receipt], &TestReceiptVerifier)
+            .expect("receipts");
         assert!(matches!(
-            verify_anchor_receipts(&policy, &claim, &[], &ReceiptVerifier),
+            verify_anchor_receipts(&policy, &claim, &[], &TestReceiptVerifier),
             Err(SshSigchainError::RequiredAnchorMissing(_))
         ));
     }
@@ -1796,7 +2021,7 @@ mod tests {
         let trust = trust();
         let first = genesis(&trust);
         let new_policy = AnchorPolicy {
-            threshold: 1,
+            backend_threshold: 1,
             backends: vec![AnchorBackendPolicy {
                 backend_id: "nostr-main".to_owned(),
                 class: "nostr".to_owned(),
@@ -1804,6 +2029,7 @@ mod tests {
                 weight: 1,
                 required: true,
             }],
+            ..AnchorPolicy::default()
         };
         let change = signed_record(
             &trust,
@@ -1852,32 +2078,34 @@ mod tests {
         );
         let va = verify_sshsigchain(&[first.clone(), a], &trust, &TestVerifier).expect("a");
         let vb = verify_sshsigchain(&[first, b], &trust, &TestVerifier).expect("b");
-        let ca = HeadClaim::unsigned(trust.chain_id, va.head, ROOT_KEY).expect("claim a");
+        let claims_a = vec![signed_claim(&trust, &va)];
-        let cb = HeadClaim::unsigned(trust.chain_id, vb.head, ROOT_KEY).expect("claim b");
+        let claims_b = vec![signed_claim(&trust, &vb)];
-        assert!(matches!(
+        let anchored_a = verify_anchored_history(
-            select_anchored_head(
-                &[
             AnchoredHistory {
                 verification: &va,
-                        claim: &ca
+                claims: &claims_a,
+                receipts: &[],
             },
+            &TestVerifier,
+            &TestReceiptVerifier,
+        )
+        .expect("anchored a");
+        let anchored_b = verify_anchored_history(
             AnchoredHistory {
                 verification: &vb,
-                        claim: &cb
+                claims: &claims_b,
-                    }
+                receipts: &[],
-                ],
+            },
-                None
+            &TestVerifier,
-            ),
+            &TestReceiptVerifier,
+        )
+        .expect("anchored b");
+        assert!(matches!(
+            select_anchored_head(&[anchored_a.clone(), anchored_b], None),
             Err(SshSigchainError::ForkDetected)
         ));
         assert!(matches!(
-            select_anchored_head(
+            select_anchored_head(&[anchored_a], Some(Digest([3; 32]))),
-                &[AnchoredHistory {
-                    verification: &va,
-                    claim: &ca
-                }],
-                Some(Digest([3; 32]))
-            ),
             Err(SshSigchainError::RollbackDetected)
         ));
     }
@@ -1900,4 +2128,28 @@ mod tests {
             Err(SshSigchainError::JsonLine { .. })
         ));
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn signing_bytes_match_the_published_base_vector() {
+        let record = SshSigchainRecord::unsigned(
+            ChainId([0; 32]),
+            None,
+            ROOT_KEY,
+            AuthorityTransition::Noop,
+            vec![],
+        )
+        .expect("unsigned vector");
+        assert_eq!(
+            hex::encode(record.signing_bytes().expect("bytes")),
+            concat!(
+                "5353435301",
+                "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
+                "00",
+                "eea8e117bae085d4a9793d8b7d726a89558b63e515a6e1ca32d526f93b24c8a2",
+                "00107373682d656432353531392041514944",
+                "08",
+                "0000"
+            )
+        );
+    }
 }

crates/geth-node/src/lib.rs

@@ -6518,7 +6518,16 @@ pub fn handle_request(
                 devices: verified.state.devices.values().filter(|device| device.active).count(),
                 disclosed_profiles: verified.state.disclosed_profiles.len(),
                 incomplete_profiles: verified.state.incomplete_profiles.len(),
-                anchor_threshold: verified.state.anchor_policy.threshold,
+                anchor_attester_threshold: verified.state.anchor_policy.attester_threshold,
+                anchor_backend_threshold: verified.state.anchor_policy.backend_threshold,
+                required_anchor_backends: verified
+                    .state
+                    .anchor_policy
+                    .backends
+                    .iter()
+                    .filter(|backend| backend.required)
+                    .count(),
+                required_anchor_classes: verified.state.anchor_policy.required_classes.len(),
                 note:
                     "verified sequence-free SSHSIGCHAIN v1 authority records and disclosed profile commitments against the explicitly pinned root key"
                         .to_owned(),
@@ -11090,7 +11099,7 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("unsigned init"),
         );
 
-        let verified = verify_keychain_sshsigchain_with_ssh(&[init.clone()], &trust)
+        let verified = verify_keychain_sshsigchain_with_ssh(std::slice::from_ref(&init), &trust)
             .expect("verify real OpenSSH SSHSIG chain");
         assert_eq!(verified.records, 1);
         assert_eq!(verified.state.active_key_count(), 1);

docs/adr/0018-sshsigchain.md

@@ -1,42 +1,64 @@
-# ADR 0018: Linked SSHSIGCHAIN v1
+# ADR 0018: Sequence-free SSHSIGCHAIN authority protocol
 
 ## Status
 
-Accepted for the generic core and geth keychain profile. The pre-standard
+Accepted for the generic core. The protocol is still pre-deployment and has no
-test-only static workflow is removed; it is not an alternate format or a
+legacy compatibility requirement.
-compatibility path.
 
 ## Context
 
-The prior static JSONL keychain flow replayed records after sorting mutable
+The first linked draft improved on a timestamp-sorted static bundle, but still
-timestamps and used a downloaded allowed-signers projection to verify its own
+made application profiles responsible for all key lifecycle semantics. It also
-checkpoint. That permits self-bootstrapping trust and makes revocation,
+included both a sequence counter and a parent hash, fixed one application
-rollback, and fork semantics inadequate for a trust foundation.
+profile for the whole chain, exposed every payload, and left rollback anchors
+outside the protocol model.
+
+That design would let applications fragment device/key behavior, made
+multi-profile least privilege awkward, and offered no standard way to disclose
+only selected profile data or compare independently anchored heads.
 
 ## Decision
 
-Geth adopts SSHSIGCHAIN version 1 as its one portable signed-chain design:
+SSHSIGCHAIN v1 is redesigned before deployment:
 
-- root trust is an explicit `(chain ID, profile, namespace, root key)` tuple;
+- the trust tuple is `(chain ID, SSHSIG namespace, root public key)`;
-- records are linearly ordered by sequence and linked by a digest over their
+- parent hashes alone define order; there is no sequence number;
-  signed content and SSHSIG signature;
+- link identity hashes the signed outer bytes, not the signature encoding;
-- the initial root is only a genesis requirement, not a permanent bypass;
+- every link carries a mandatory public Authority v1 transition;
-- profile authorization runs against the causally preceding state;
+- authority owns devices, keys, proof-of-possession, causal revocation,
-- key lifecycle is represented by causal add/revoke records, not timestamp
+  permission ceilings, delegation, and anchor policy;
-  validity fields; and
+- applications use profile-ID-scoped, salted payload commitments and cannot
-- payloads use deterministic binary codecs with a strict round-trip check.
+  mutate authority;
+- disclosures are transport additions which do not change a link or its hash;
+- authorized keys can sign head claims;
+- distinct head attesters and backend-neutral receipts are evaluated by
+  separate weighted/required thresholds and required backend classes;
+- cached ancestors are never replaced by older heads and incomparable verified
+  histories fail as forks; and
+- a policy-change head is witnessed under the preceding policy before the new
+  policy governs descendants.
 
-The generic core is transport-independent. Geth continues using Iroh for all
+The generic core defines backend interfaces and deterministic policy behavior,
-node-to-node communication; SSH remains an identity/signature integration and
+not Nostr, HTTP, blockchain, or transparency-log clients. Those adapters belong
-not a geth transport.
+outside `geth-keychain`. Backends provide evidence and discovery, not consensus.
+
+The generic protocol remains independent of geth transports. All geth
+node-to-node communication remains Iroh-only; SSH remains a trust and signature
+integration.
 
 ## Consequences
 
-The core can be published and implemented by applications without importing
+Device and key behavior is interoperable rather than reinvented in each
-geth's resource model. Geth's keychain profile is intentionally narrow and
+profile. A verifier can validate current authority while withholding application
-tested against self-bootstrap, fork, and backdated-revocation attacks.
+data, but must report affected profile state as incomplete. Proofs of possession
+prevent an administrator from silently enrolling a key it does not control.
+Device ceilings and delegable permission sets constrain later amplification.
 
-The old static bundle code and commands are deleted rather than supported beside
+The wire format is intentionally incompatible with every pre-deployment test
-SSHSIGCHAIN. There is no migration format because the repository has not been
+draft. No migration parser or version alias is retained.
-deployed. Head persistence and later witness/transparency support remain
+
-follow-up work; neither is implied by a single signed checkpoint.
+Rollback protection still depends on persistent local accepted heads and the
+operator's anchor policy. A Nostr relay, mutable HTTP URL, blockchain, or
+transparency service has only the guarantees its receipt verifier and deployment
+actually establish. Concrete publication, durable accepted-head storage, and
+cross-implementation vectors remain follow-up work.

docs/architecture.md

@@ -478,14 +478,19 @@ trust state; idempotent repeats leave the original bytes unchanged.
 
 The portable signed-chain design is specified in
 [`sshsigchain.md`](sshsigchain.md). Its reusable core has an explicit
-out-of-band `(chain ID, profile, SSHSIG namespace, root public key)` trust
+out-of-band `(chain ID, SSHSIG namespace, root public key)` trust tuple. Exact
-tuple, a strict sequence plus hash link, bounded fields, and a profile reducer
+parent hashes define causal order without a sequence counter. A mandatory,
-that authorizes each record from only the causally preceding state. Geth's
+public authority reducer owns devices, keys, proof-of-possession, revocation,
-`geth.keychain.sshsigchain.v1` profile rejects timestamp validity windows as authorization
+permission ceilings, delegation, and anchor policy; application profiles can
-policy and treats key revocation as a causal record. The prior test-only static
+only attach salted payload commitments and cannot mutate trust. Disclosures do
-workflow was removed rather than migrated. Iroh keychain sync remains the
+not change link identity, and missing disclosures leave profile state
-current replicated local operation-log path while explicit SSHSIGCHAIN
+explicitly incomplete. Signed head claims, backend-neutral receipts, cached-head
-production and import workflows are completed.
+rollback checks, and incomparable-history detection define the anchoring
+boundary. Concrete Nostr, HTTP, blockchain, and transparency adapters stay
+outside `geth-keychain` and do not select canonical history. The prior
+test-only static workflow was removed rather than migrated. Iroh keychain sync
+remains the current replicated local operation-log path while explicit
+SSHSIGCHAIN production and import workflows are completed.
 
 New devices can use the node enrollment flow instead of hand-editing keychain
 state. `geth node enroll join` explicitly imports an owner admin public key as

docs/roadmap.md

@@ -561,9 +561,21 @@ resource-scoped capability decisions.
   - `[x]` Publish a transport-neutral, deterministic SSHSIGCHAIN v1 record
     format with explicit trust-anchor, chain-link, size-limit, and
     non-claim documentation.
-  - `[x]` Provide a reusable verifier core and a geth keychain profile that
+  - `[x]` Remove the redundant sequence counter; exact parent hashes alone
-    rejects self-bootstrap, non-linked forks, non-canonical payloads, and
+    define genesis and causal order.
-    post-revocation timestamp replay.
+  - `[x]` Provide a mandatory Authority v1 reducer for devices, keys,
+    proof-of-possession, causal revocation, device permission ceilings, scoped
+    permissions, delegation, and anchor-policy changes.
+  - `[x]` Attach application data through profile-scoped salted commitments;
+    disclosures do not change link identity and missing payloads make profile
+    state explicitly incomplete.
+  - `[x]` Reject self-bootstrap, non-linked histories, noncanonical keys and
+    permission lists, permission amplification, invalid key proofs, and use of
+    a revoked device/key on later links.
+  - `[x]` Define signed head claims, separate weighted/required attester and
+    backend receipt policies, required backend classes, old-policy witnessing
+    of policy-change heads, cached-head rollback checks, and
+    incomparable-history fork failure.
   - `[~]` Add explicit CLI storage, signing, verification, publication, and
     import workflows for a pinned SSHSIGCHAIN trust tuple.
     - `[x]` `geth keychain verify-sigchain` verifies a JSONL transport file
@@ -572,15 +584,26 @@ resource-scoped capability decisions.
       head-advance workflows are complete.
   - `[ ]` Persist accepted heads and require proof of extension before a source
     can advance.
+  - `[ ]` Implement and separately test concrete anchor adapters.
+    - Acceptance criteria: immutable Nostr claim publication, signed HTTP or
+      transparency evidence, and any blockchain adapter all bind the canonical
+      `HeadClaim`; none treats backend ordering as SSHSIGCHAIN consensus.
+    - Acceptance criteria: adapter threat models document deletion, stale
+      reads, timestamp manipulation, backend equivocation, inclusion proof, and
+      operator-independence assumptions.
+  - `[ ]` Add record construction and disclosure-management commands which
+    generate unpredictable 32-byte nonces and never expose hidden payloads in
+    signing-byte diagnostics.
   - `[x]` Delete the previous test-only static export, publication,
     verification, import, checkpoint, and fetch workflow. It is not a
     compatibility target because it was never deployed.
   - `[~]` Add OpenSSH integration tests and independently generated wire test
     vectors for the published standard.
-    - `[x]` An OpenSSH `ssh-keygen -Y` integration test signs and verifies a
+    - `[x]` An OpenSSH `ssh-keygen -Y` integration test signs and verifies an
-      linked root/init chain.
+      Authority v1 genesis link.
-    - `[x]` The specification and reference implementation share a base
+    - `[~]` The specification and reference implementation share base signing,
-      signing-byte test vector.
+      key-proof, commitment, and head-claim vectors.
+      - `[ ]` Publish the complete vector set in the specification.
     - `[ ]` Add independently generated cross-implementation vectors.
 
 - `[x]` SSH-admin-rooted keychain initialization.

docs/sigchain-keychain.md

@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ authorization, and OpenSSH `allowed_signers` projection.
 [`sshsigchain.md`](sshsigchain.md) specifies SSHSIGCHAIN, the only portable
 signed-chain format in this repository. It is deliberately separate from the
 current local keychain operation log: SSHSIGCHAIN starts with an explicit
-out-of-band trust tuple, has a strict sequence and hash link, and never uses a
+out-of-band trust tuple, uses exact parent hashes without a sequence counter,
-downloaded `allowed_signers` file as a trust root. The previous test-only
+and never uses a downloaded `allowed_signers` file as a trust root. The previous
-static JSONL publication format was removed.
+test-only static JSONL publication format was removed.
 
 ## Local keychain model
 
@@ -56,28 +56,36 @@ key in the previously accepted local view verifies over the canonical payload.
 This is useful for the local Iroh-synchronized operation log, but it is not a
 portable SSHSIGCHAIN history and MUST NOT be presented as one.
 
-## SSHSIGCHAIN keychain profile
+## SSHSIGCHAIN authority and profiles
 
-Geth's SSHSIGCHAIN profile identifier is `geth.keychain.sshsigchain.v1` and its
+SSHSIGCHAIN uses the `sshsigchain.v1` SSHSIG namespace. Device/key management is
-SSHSIG namespace is `sshsigchain.v1`. Its canonical binary payload is a
+not a geth-specific profile: the mandatory Authority v1 reducer defines genesis,
-versioned mirror of a keychain operation; it is separate from the
+device add/revoke, key add/revoke, proof-of-possession, scoped and delegable
-human-facing, internally tagged JSON API type so a decoder can prove one unique
+permissions, device permission ceilings, anchor-policy changes, and no-op links.
-payload encoding.
+Authority is always public and evaluated from the exact parent state. The root
+key seeds authority only at genesis and can later be causally revoked.
 
-The profile requires:
+Applications attach profile-ID-scoped commitments. A fresh 32-byte nonce salts
+each payload commitment so a withheld small value is not directly vulnerable to
+dictionary guessing. A disclosure can be added to or removed from transport
+without changing the SSH signature or record hash. Hidden application data can
+never alter devices, keys, permissions, or anchor policy. Verification without
+all disclosures remains useful for authority, but affected application profile
+state is reported as incomplete.
 
-- sequence zero to be `KeychainInit` signed by the operator-pinned root key;
+Keys receive direct permissions such as `DeviceAdd`, `KeyAddSelf`,
-- sequence one to be an `AdminKeyAdd` recording that root key;
+`ManagePermissions`, `AnchorAttest`, and `ProfileWrite(<profile>)`. An attached
-- every following signer to be an active admin key in the causally prior
+key cannot exceed its device ceiling, and it cannot grant a permission outside
-  profile state;
+its delegable set. Newly added keys must sign the exact proposed key/device/
-- every keychain operation ID to occur only once in the chain;
+permission binding under `sshsigchain.key-proof.v1`.
-- each added admin key to have canonical key material matching its declared key
-  fingerprint; and
-- causal add/revoke records rather than validity windows or payload timestamps
-  as authorization policy.
 
-The root key seeds authorization at genesis only. A causally valid revocation
+Head claims are separately signed by an active `AnchorAttest` key. An authority
-removes it like any other admin key.
+anchor policy names weighted/required attesting keys plus backend IDs, classes,
+locators, weights, required backends/classes, and a separate backend threshold.
+Adapters verify backend-specific receipts, while the core
+rejects rollback behind a cached head and incomparable histories. Backends do
+not decide which history is canonical. The head that changes anchor policy is
+witnessed under the previous policy.
 
 To inspect an SSHSIGCHAIN JSONL transport file, pin the chain ID and root public
 key locally:
@@ -89,11 +97,11 @@ geth keychain verify-sigchain \
   --root-key ~/.ssh/geth-root.pub
 ```
 
-This verifier is experimental while geth adds its own record creation,
+This verifier is experimental while geth adds record creation, publication,
-publication, import, accepted-head persistence, and independently generated
+import, accepted-head persistence, concrete anchor adapters, and independently
-wire vectors. Those later workflows must preserve the same explicit trust
+generated wire vectors. Those later workflows must preserve the same explicit
-tuple; they must not introduce a compatibility route for the removed static
+trust tuple and Authority v1 semantics; they must not introduce a compatibility
-format.
+route for the removed static format.
 
 ## Local commands
 

docs/sshsigchain.md

@@ -1,270 +1,382 @@
 # SSHSIGCHAIN v1
 
-Status: Draft 1 (pre-deployment)
+Status: Draft 2 (pre-deployment)
 
-This document specifies a deliberately small, generic append-only signature
+SSHSIGCHAIN is a transport-independent, OpenSSH-signed authority chain. It is
-chain for applications that use OpenSSH `sshsig` signatures. Version 1 is the
+intended to be implementable outside geth. A chain can be carried by JSONL,
-first and only defined version of SSHSIGCHAIN. It is transport
+HTTP, an object store, Iroh, or another transport; SSH is a signature mechanism,
-independent: a chain may be carried by a file, object store, HTTP, database, or
+not a transport.
-mesh protocol. It does not make SSH a transport.
 
-The reference implementation lives in geth's `geth-keychain` crate. Geth uses
+Version 1 is the first and only format. There is no legacy grammar or downgrade
-the `geth.keychain.sshsigchain.v1` profile for identity-plane operations, but the format and
+mode.
-verification core do not depend on geth data types.
 
-## 1. Goals
+## 1. Security goals and non-goals
 
-SSHSIGCHAIN v1 provides:
+SSHSIGCHAIN provides:
 
-- a fixed, deterministic byte sequence for every signed record;
+- an explicit out-of-band `(chain_id, namespace, root_public_key)` trust tuple;
-- an explicit, out-of-band root public key rather than trust bootstrapped from
+- deterministic signing bytes and causal parent hashes, with no sequence number
-  downloaded chain content;
+  or timestamp ordering;
-- one causally ordered, hash-linked history, so a later record cannot be made
+- a mandatory public authority state machine for devices, keys, causal
-  earlier by changing a timestamp;
+  revocation, permissions, delegation, and anchor policy;
-- application-defined authorization and state transitions evaluated at each
+- proof-of-possession when a key is added;
-  chain position;
+- salted commitments for selectively disclosed application-profile payloads;
-- bounded field and chain sizes suitable for processing untrusted transport
+- signed head claims and a generic receipt policy for independent anchor
-  input; and
+  backends; and
-- direct use of OpenSSH's `ssh-keygen -Y sign` / `-Y verify` SSHSIG format.
+- fail-closed rollback and fork detection relative to a cached head or multiple
+  verified histories.
 
-It does not provide quorum, transparency, equivocation detection, secure clock
+It does not provide consensus, guaranteed publication, trusted time, anonymity,
-attestation, encrypted payloads, or a distributed consensus protocol. A valid
+zero-knowledge disclosure, payload encryption, or automatic compromise
-signature from an authorized key is still authority to make whatever change the
+recovery. An authorized key can perform every transition its effective
-application profile permits.
+permissions allow. Outer links reveal the chain ID, signer, authority
+transition, profile IDs, and payload commitments even when payloads are hidden.
 
-## 2. Terminology and required inputs
+## 2. Trust inputs and identifiers
 
-An implementation has four separately configured trust inputs:
+A verifier obtains these values through an authenticated channel, never from a
+downloaded chain:
 
-1. `chain_id`: exactly 32 random bytes, rendered as 64 hexadecimal characters
+1. `chain_id`: 32 independently generated random bytes;
-   when displayed.
+2. `namespace`: the 1–128 byte printable, non-whitespace SSHSIG namespace
-2. `profile`: an ASCII identifier naming the application payload rules.
+   (`sshsigchain.v1` by default); and
-3. `namespace`: the OpenSSH SSHSIG namespace passed to `ssh-keygen -Y`.
+3. `root_public_key`: canonical OpenSSH public-key text.
-4. `root_public_key`: one canonical OpenSSH public-key line.
 
-These values are a trust anchor. They must come from local configuration,
+Canonical key text is exactly:
-enrollment material, release metadata, or another authenticated out-of-band
-channel. A fetched `allowed_signers` file, checkpoint, or first record MUST NOT
-be used to discover or replace them.
-
-The v1 core accepts a single root key. A threshold or witness scheme is a
-separate protocol extension and must bind the same `chain_id`, profile, and
-head digest; it is not implied by multiple signatures attached to a record.
-
-## 3. Canonical public-key text
-
-The public-key field is exactly two ASCII whitespace-separated fields:
 
 ```text
-<key-type> SP <base64-encoded-OpenSSH-key-blob>
+<key-type> SP <canonical-base64-key-blob>
 ```
 
-Comments, leading/trailing whitespace, and extra fields are prohibited. The
+Comments, leading/trailing whitespace, and additional fields are prohibited.
-base64 form is the standard canonical encoding of the decoded key blob. An
+Keys are identified by:
-implementation MUST compare canonical text, not an operator-supplied comment,
-when binding a record signer to policy state. The SSHSIG verifier MUST still
-verify the actual OpenSSH key and signature; textual validation alone is not a
-cryptographic verification.
 
-## 4. Record model
+```text
+BLAKE3("sshsigchain.key-id.v1\0" || canonical_public_key)
+```
 
-A record has these logical fields:
+Protocol identifiers are 1–128 ASCII bytes containing letters, digits, `.`,
+`-`, `_`, `:`, or `/`.
 
-| Field | Type | Rule |
+## 3. Outer-link model
-| --- | --- | --- |
-| `chain_id` | 32 bytes | Must equal the configured chain ID. |
-| `profile` | UTF-8 ASCII identifier | Must equal the configured profile. |
-| `sequence` | unsigned 64-bit integer | Starts at zero and increases by exactly one. |
-| `previous` | absent or 32 bytes | Absent only at sequence zero; otherwise the preceding record digest. |
-| `payload` | opaque byte string | Profile-defined canonical payload, at most 1 MiB. |
-| `signer_public_key` | canonical key text | The key presented to SSHSIG verification. |
-| `signature` | byte string | An OpenSSH SSHSIG signature over the signing bytes below. |
 
-The profile identifier is 1–128 ASCII bytes containing only letters, digits,
+A record contains:
-`.`, `-`, and `_`. The namespace is 1–128 printable ASCII bytes without
-whitespace. Canonical public-key text is at most 16 KiB, signatures are at most
-64 KiB, and a verifier MUST reject a chain over 100,000 records before
-performing unbounded work. Implementations may set smaller limits.
 
-Timestamps are intentionally not fields in the generic ordering mechanism.
+| Field | Meaning |
-Applications may put timestamps in their payload, but MUST treat them as signed
+| --- | --- |
-metadata rather than a way to order, revoke, or retroactively authorize
+| `chain_id` | Exact configured 32-byte chain ID. |
-records. Sequence and `previous` define causal order.
+| `previous` | Absent only for genesis; otherwise the preceding record hash. |
+| `signer_key_id` | Hash-derived ID of `signer_public_key`. |
+| `signer_public_key` | Canonical OpenSSH public key used for SSHSIG verification. |
+| `authority` | Exactly one public authority transition. |
+| `extensions` | Strictly profile-ID-sorted payload commitments and optional disclosures. |
+| `signature` | OpenSSH SSHSIG signature over the canonical signing bytes. |
 
-## 5. Signing bytes
+There is deliberately no sequence field. A record's position and causality are
+fully determined by genesis plus the exact `previous` link. Record counts are
+local indexing metadata and are not signed protocol state.
 
-The signing byte string is the following binary grammar. `u16` and `u32` are
+The record hash named by its child is:
-unsigned big-endian lengths. `u64` is an unsigned big-endian integer. `bytes[n]`
+
-contains exactly `n` bytes; no implicit terminator or alignment is present.
+```text
+BLAKE3("sshsigchain.record-hash.v1\0" || signing_bytes)
+```
+
+The signature is verified but excluded from record identity. This prevents two
+valid encodings of a signature over identical outer content from creating
+different chain identities.
+
+## 4. Binary signing grammar
+
+Integers are unsigned big-endian. `string16` and `bytes16` are a `u16` byte
+length followed by that many bytes; `bytes32` uses a `u32` length. Lists begin
+with a `u16` element count. No alignment or terminator bytes are present.
 
 ```text
 "SSCS"                         4 bytes
-0x01                   1 byte (protocol version)
+0x01                           protocol version
 chain_id                       32 bytes
-sequence               u64
+has_previous                   u8: 0 or 1
-has_previous           1 byte: 0 or 1
+previous                       32 bytes when present
-previous               32 bytes, only when has_previous is 1
+signer_key_id                  32 bytes
-profile_length         u16
+signer_public_key              string16
-profile                bytes[profile_length]
+authority_transition           transition (section 5)
-payload_length         u32
+extension_count                u16
-payload                bytes[payload_length]
+repeated extension_count times:
-signer_key_length      u16
+    profile_id                 string16
-signer_public_key      bytes[signer_key_length]
+    payload_commitment         32 bytes
 ```
 
-The `signature` field is not in the signing bytes because SSHSIG signs those
+Transport-only disclosure bytes and the SSHSIG signature are not part of these
-bytes. The record digest, which binds the signature into the next link, is:
+bytes. The `signer_key_id` MUST match the canonical public key. Extensions MUST
+be strictly sorted by profile ID with no duplicates.
+
+### 4.1 Base signing vector
+
+For an unsigned structural link with a zero `chain_id`, absent `previous`,
+signer `ssh-ed25519 AQID`, `Noop` authority, and no extensions, the signing
+bytes are:
 
 ```text
-BLAKE3("sshsigchain.record-hash.v1\\0" || signing_bytes || u32(signature_length) || signature)
+5353435301000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000eea8e117bae085d4a9793d8b7d726a89558b63e515a6e1ca32d526f93b24c8a200107373682d656432353531392041514944080000
 ```
 
-`previous` in record `n + 1` MUST equal this digest for record `n`. A JSON or
+The derived signer key ID in that vector is
-JSONL transport envelope is allowed for convenience, but JSON bytes MUST NOT
+`eea8e117bae085d4a9793d8b7d726a89558b63e515a6e1ca32d526f93b24c8a2`.
-be signed or hashed as the record representation.
+This vector fixes the outer grammar; it is not a valid chain genesis because a
+valid first record must carry `Genesis` authority.
 
-### JSONL transport
+## 5. Mandatory Authority v1 state machine
 
-This specification defines JSONL as a convenient interchange transport. Each
+Authority is part of the protocol suite, not an optional application profile.
-non-empty physical line contains exactly one JSON object with these fields:
+Every record contains exactly one transition. Transition tags and fields are:
-`chain_id`, `profile`, `sequence`, `previous`, `payload`,
-`signer_public_key`, and `signature`. `chain_id`, `previous` when present,
-`payload`, and `signature` are JSON arrays of unsigned octets; `previous` is
-`null` when absent. `profile` and `signer_public_key` are JSON strings, and
-`sequence` is an unsigned integer. Unknown or duplicate fields MUST be
-rejected. Object-member order and JSON whitespace carry no meaning.
 
-Blank lines MAY be ignored. A JSONL line is limited to 5 MiB and one complete
+| Tag | Transition | Fields after tag |
-input to 64 MiB. Implementations reading an arbitrary stream MUST enforce those
+| --- | --- | --- |
-limits before buffering an unbounded line or input. These limits are transport
+| `0` | `Genesis` | device ID, root authority key, anchor policy |
-limits in addition to the record limits above.
+| `1` | `DeviceAdd` | device ID, permission ceiling |
+| `2` | `DeviceRevoke` | device ID |
+| `3` | `KeyAdd` | device ID, authority key, proof `bytes32` |
+| `4` | `KeyRevoke` | key ID |
+| `5` | `PermissionGrant` | key ID, permissions, delegable permissions |
+| `6` | `PermissionRevoke` | key ID, permissions, delegable permissions |
+| `7` | `AnchorPolicySet` | anchor policy |
+| `8` | `Noop` | no fields |
 
-### Base test vector
+An authority key encodes canonical public-key `string16`, permissions, then
+delegable permissions. Permission lists MUST be strictly sorted according to
+their encoded `(tag, profile ID)` ordering and contain no duplicates.
 
-This unsigned record fixes the field grammar independently of OpenSSH key
+### 5.1 Genesis
-generation or signature randomness:
+
+Genesis is the only record without `previous`. Its record signer and embedded
+root key MUST equal the pinned root. The root key starts on the named root
+device and MUST have both `All` authority and delegable `All` authority. Its
+outer signature proves root-key possession. Genesis selects the initial anchor
+policy.
+
+Another genesis is invalid. The pinned root has no permanent bypass: it can be
+revoked like another key after genesis.
+
+### 5.2 Devices and keys
+
+Device IDs are stable opaque identifiers. `DeviceAdd` creates a device once and
+sets its immutable permission ceiling. `DeviceRevoke` is causal and permanent;
+it also disables every key attached to that device. IDs and keys are never
+reused or replaced in place.
+
+`KeyAdd` declares the new key's device, active permissions, delegable
+permissions, and a proof-of-possession SSHSIG made by the new key. The proof
+uses namespace `sshsigchain.key-proof.v1` and these bytes:
 
 ```text
-chain_id          32 zero bytes
+"SSKP" || 0x01 || chain_id || device_id:string16 || key_id:32 ||
-profile           "example.test"
+public_key:string16 || permissions || delegable_permissions
-sequence          0
-previous          absent
-payload           01 02
-signer_public_key "ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIJn8/JItLIoZOxodjYHXdd3Tv6SHzPOEUM+1BWPvCQc2"
 ```
 
-Its signing bytes, encoded as lowercase hexadecimal, MUST be:
+The adding signer must be allowed to add a key to its own device or any device,
+as applicable. Every granted and delegable permission must be within both the
+signer's delegation scope and the target device ceiling. `KeyRevoke` is causal
+and permanent.
+
+### 5.3 Permissions
+
+Permission tags are:
+
+| Tag | Permission |
+| --- | --- |
+| `0` | `All` |
+| `1` | `DeviceAdd` |
+| `2` | `DeviceRevoke` |
+| `3` | `KeyAddSelf` |
+| `4` | `KeyAddAny` |
+| `5` | `KeyRevokeSelf` |
+| `6` | `KeyRevokeAny` |
+| `7` | `ManagePermissions` |
+| `8` | `AnchorPolicy` |
+| `9` | `AnchorAttest` |
+| `10` | `ProfileWrite(profile_id)` |
+| `11` | `ProfileDelegate(profile_id)` |
+
+`All` satisfies every permission and is intended for bootstrap/recovery keys.
+An effective key is active only when both it and its device are active.
+
+`PermissionGrant` requires `ManagePermissions`; every new permission must also
+be within the signer's delegable set and the device ceiling. A delegable
+`ProfileDelegate(x)` authorizes delegation of `ProfileWrite(x)` without
+granting write access by itself. Revocation requires `ManagePermissions` and
+takes effect before the next record is authorized.
+
+An implementation MUST authorize each record from the state after its parent,
+never from a final-state key set or a payload timestamp.
+
+## 6. Selective disclosure
+
+Each extension contains:
 
 ```text
-53534353010000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000c6578616d706c652e7465737400000002010200507373682d65643235353139204141414143334e7a6143316c5a4449314e54453541414141494a6e382f4a49744c496f5a4f786f646a59485864643354763653487a504f45554d2b314257507643516332
+profile_id
+commitment = BLAKE3(
+  "sshsigchain.payload.v1\0" ||
+  profile_id:string16 || nonce:32 || payload:bytes32
+)
+optional transport disclosure { nonce, payload }
 ```
 
-## 6. Verification algorithm
+The 32-byte nonce MUST be generated unpredictably for each payload. It prevents
+offline dictionary attacks against small hidden values; it is not encryption.
+A disclosure verifies only when recomputation equals the signed commitment.
+Removing or adding a valid disclosure does not change signing bytes or the
+record hash.
 
-Given the configured trust input and an ordered candidate record list, a
+Authority transitions are always public. Profile payloads MUST NOT create,
-conforming verifier MUST:
+remove, revoke, authorize, or grant permissions to devices or keys. A verifier
+can therefore verify chain authority without disclosures. If any needed
+disclosure is absent, the affected profile state is `incomplete`; absence MUST
+NOT be interpreted as an empty payload, deletion, or successful full replay.
 
-1. Reject an empty or over-limit chain.
+## 7. Anchor policies and head claims
-2. For record `i`, require `sequence == i`, the configured chain ID and
-   profile, and the exact predecessor digest (or absent predecessor for `i=0`).
-3. Require the sequence-zero record's canonical signer key to equal the
-   configured root public key. This is the only bootstrap rule.
-4. Invoke OpenSSH SSHSIG verification using the configured namespace, the
-   canonical signing bytes, the record's public key, and its signature. Reject
-   on failure.
-5. Ask the profile whether that signer is authorized by the state resulting
-   from records `0..i-1`. Reject on failure.
-6. Apply the profile's deterministic transition. Reject on failure.
-7. Hash the complete signed record and use that hash as the required
-   predecessor for the next record.
 
-Records are never re-sorted by payload timestamp, identifier, signature time,
+Anchoring makes rollback or equivocation observable under a chosen policy; it
-or transport arrival time. A verifier that cannot obtain its configured trust
+does not make a backend a consensus system.
-input MUST fail closed.
 
-For OpenSSH interoperability, implementations use commands equivalent to:
+An anchor policy contains separately weighted attesters and publication
+backends. Both lists and the required-class list are strictly sorted and unique:
+
+```text
+attester_threshold            u16
+attester_count                u16
+per attester:
+    key_id                    32 bytes
+    weight                    u16 (non-zero)
+    required                  u8: 0 or 1
+required_class_count          u16
+required classes              repeated string16
+backend_threshold             u16
+backend_count                 u16
+per backend:
+    backend_id                string16
+    class                     string16
+    locator                   string16
+    weight                    u16 (non-zero)
+    required                  u8: 0 or 1
+```
+
+Attester key IDs and backend IDs are unique, and neither threshold can exceed
+its corresponding total weight. Required attesters must publish valid claims;
+required backends must have valid receipts independently of thresholds. At
+least one valid receipt must come from every required backend class. Classes
+such as `transparency`, `nostr`, `blockchain`, and `http` are policy labels;
+adapter-specific receipt verification defines their evidence. An empty
+attester list with threshold zero permits any active `AnchorAttest` key, but at
+least one valid claim is still required for an anchored history.
+
+A key with `AnchorAttest` signs a `HeadClaim` under namespace
+`sshsigchain.anchor.v1`:
+
+```text
+"SSAH" || 0x01 || chain_id:32 || head:32 || signer_key_id:32 ||
+signer_public_key:string16
+```
+
+Every claim signer must be active and authorized at the claimed head. Distinct
+signers are counted once against the attester policy. A receipt binds a backend
+ID, one claim hash, and backend-defined evidence. A backend is counted once if
+it has a valid receipt for any accepted claim. Claim identity is
+`BLAKE3("sshsigchain.head-claim.v1\0" || claim_signing_bytes)`.
+
+Adapters conceptually implement:
+
+```text
+publish(HeadClaim) -> AnchorReceipt
+fetch(chain_id) -> HeadClaim[]
+verify_receipt(policy_backend, HeadClaim, AnchorReceipt) -> bool
+```
+
+They do not choose a canonical head. After verifying claims, chains, authority,
+and receipts, a client:
+
+1. satisfies required/weighted attesters and backend evidence under the policy
+   which governs that head;
+2. rejects histories that do not contain its cached accepted head;
+3. selects the furthest valid descendant;
+4. rejects incomparable valid histories as a fork; and
+5. persists the newly accepted head before trusting later descendants.
+
+The exact head containing `AnchorPolicySet` MUST satisfy the previous policy.
+The new policy applies to its descendants. This prevents an authority from
+weakening anchoring and treating the weakening record as already witnessed only
+under the new policy.
+
+Nostr replaceable/addressable events and ordinary mutable HTTP resources are
+discovery conveniences, not strong rollback evidence by themselves. Prefer
+immutable events plus the SSH-signed claim, local head caching, independent
+witnesses, or a transparency log with verifiable inclusion/consistency proofs.
+A blockchain receipt proves inclusion under the configured backend rules; it
+does not decide between forked SSHSIGCHAIN histories.
+
+## 8. Verification algorithm
+
+A conforming verifier MUST:
+
+1. reject an empty chain, over-limit inputs, noncanonical keys/lists, and
+   malformed commitments;
+2. require the exact configured chain ID, absent genesis parent, and exact
+   parent hash thereafter;
+3. require genesis to install the pinned root and initial authority state;
+4. verify every outer SSHSIG using the configured namespace;
+5. authorize the signer and transition from only the parent authority state;
+6. verify new-key possession proofs and apply the authority transition;
+7. require `ProfileWrite(profile_id)` for every extension and verify every
+   supplied disclosure; and
+8. compute the record hash for the next link.
+
+Records are never reordered by timestamps, transport arrival, identifiers, or
+record counts. A verifier without all trust inputs fails closed.
+
+## 9. JSONL transport and limits
+
+The reference transport uses one JSON object per nonblank line with exactly the
+record fields in section 3. Byte arrays use JSON arrays of octets; enum objects
+use the names in this document. Object order and whitespace are irrelevant.
+Unknown or duplicate fields are rejected.
+
+Reference limits are: 16 KiB canonical key, 64 KiB signature/proof, 1 MiB one
+profile payload, 1,024 extensions per record, 100,000 records, 5 MiB one JSONL
+line, and 64 MiB one JSONL input. Implementations may impose smaller limits.
+
+## 10. OpenSSH interoperability
+
+Outer records use commands equivalent to:
 
 ```sh
-ssh-keygen -Y sign -f <private-key> -n <namespace> <signing-bytes-file>
+ssh-keygen -Y sign -f <private-key> -n sshsigchain.v1 <signing-bytes-file>
-ssh-keygen -Y verify -f <one-key-allowed-signers> -I <principal> \
+ssh-keygen -Y verify -f <one-key-allowed-signers> -I sshsigchain \
-  -n <namespace> -s <signature-file> < <signing-bytes-file>
+  -n sshsigchain.v1 -s <signature-file> < <signing-bytes-file>
 ```
 
-The allowed-signers file used for this individual cryptographic check contains
+The one-key `allowed_signers` file is only an input to cryptographic signature
-only the record's already-canonical signer key. Authorization remains the
+verification. It never establishes authorization or root trust.
-profile's job; a downloaded allowed-signers projection is never a root of
-trust.
 
-## 7. Application profiles
+## 11. Security considerations
 
-A profile defines its payload codec and reducer. It MUST document its profile
+- Use independent random chain IDs and protocol-specific SSHSIG namespaces.
-identifier, payload versioning, signer authorization rules, transition rules,
+- A stolen active key retains its scoped authority until a causally prior
-and any limits beyond this base specification. A profile MUST reject a payload
+  revocation is in the accepted history. There is no trusted signature time.
-that decodes successfully but does not round-trip to exactly the same canonical
+- Device ceilings and delegation checks prevent permission amplification but
-bytes.
+  cannot protect against a legitimately authorized `All` key.
-
+- Selective disclosure leaks outer metadata and payload equality only when a
-### geth keychain profile
+  nonce is reused. Always use a fresh unpredictable nonce.
-
+- Anchor strength is no greater than the configured independent backends and
-Geth's identifier is `geth.keychain.sshsigchain.v1`. Its payload is a versioned canonical
+  receipt verifiers. Cached-head checks remain mandatory.
-binary mirror of a keychain operation. The mirror is deliberately separate from
+- Resource bearer secrets, discovery records, and profile payloads cannot
-the human-facing, internally tagged JSON API type so that a decoder can prove a
+  mutate SSHSIGCHAIN authority.
-unique payload byte sequence. Version 1 requires:
+- Implementations should apply a local OpenSSH algorithm policy and reject
-
+  unsupported keys or SSHSIG algorithms.
-- sequence zero to be `KeychainInit`;
-- sequence one to be an `AdminKeyAdd` that records the configured root signer;
-- every signer to be an active admin public key in the preceding profile state;
-- every keychain operation ID to occur only once in the chain;
-- each `AdminKeyAdd` to carry a canonical public key whose BLAKE3 key ID
-  matches the declared key ID;
-- `AdminKeyRevoke` to remove that key before any later record is authorized;
-  and
-- no `valid_after_ms` or `valid_before_ms` policy fields. Key lifecycle is
-  causally represented by add and revoke records, not untrusted timestamps.
-
-The configured root key seeds the profile's initial admin authorization state.
-It can be revoked by a valid record; it is not a permanent bypass after genesis.
-
-## 8. Publication and rollback
-
-This base format proves only one supplied history. A publisher that controls a
-root key can present different valid descendants to different readers. Clients
-that need rollback or fork detection SHOULD persist the accepted `(chain_id,
-head digest, sequence)` and only accept a later bundle after proving that it is
-an extension of the stored head. A signed checkpoint alone is insufficient
-unless its signer is an already pinned trust anchor and its claimed ancestry is
-verified.
-
-For stronger equivocation evidence, publish heads to independently operated
-witnesses or a transparency log. This is intentionally outside SSHSIGCHAIN's
-small core.
-
-## 9. Security considerations
-
-- SSHSIG namespaces are mandatory domain separation. Reusing a namespace for a
-  different protocol is unsafe.
-- The root key, chain ID, profile, and namespace form one trust tuple. Changing
-  any member starts a different trust domain and needs an explicit operator
-  action.
-- A compromised active admin key can still append records until a causally
-  later revocation is accepted. This is inherent to single-key authority, not a
-  claim of compromise recovery.
-- SSHSIG signatures do not give a trusted signing time. Do not make expiry or
-  ordering decisions from payload timestamps without a separate, authenticated
-  time design.
-- This protocol does not encrypt payloads and does not make bearer secrets or
-  untrusted discovery data into node identity.
-- Verifiers should use OpenSSH versions that support `ssh-keygen -Y` and should
-  reject unsupported algorithms according to their local OpenSSH policy.
-
-## 10. Compatibility
-
-This specification defines one format: SSHSIGCHAIN version 1. It has no
-compatibility mode, downgrade path, or alternate legacy record grammar.
-Implementations MUST reject another protocol version. Geth removed its
-pre-standard test-only static JSONL workflow rather than treating it as an
-SSHSIGCHAIN variant.
 
 ## References
 
 - [OpenSSH `PROTOCOL.sshsig`](https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/blob/master/PROTOCOL.sshsig)
-- [OpenBSD `ssh-keygen(1)` manual](https://man.openbsd.org/ssh-keygen.1)
+- [OpenBSD `ssh-keygen(1)`](https://man.openbsd.org/ssh-keygen.1)
+- [Nostr NIP-01](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/01.md)
+- [Sigstore Rekor](https://github.com/sigstore/rekor)