[Muscle] Implementing Secure Messaging

[Joao Pedro]

Hi all,

I hope these are the correct mailing lists to discuss this matter.  
(opensc-devel and muscle).

I would like to implement secure messaging in the Muscle applet (and  
OpenSC) when I have a little available time.

Are there any good resources (books, documents, etc.) that explain how  
to implement it?

I understand that there are three modes of "operation": MAC;  
Encryption; Mac + Encryption.

Apparently there is also two methods of establishing the secure channel:

1. Using pre-shared symmetric keys (3DES);
2. Using Diffie-Hellman to establish the keys and certificates to  
authenticate both parties (I suppose in order to defeat possible  
man-in-the-middle attacks).

By the way, is there any way to establish a secure session without  
mutual authentication. Could I just talk to the applet and use  
Diffie-Hellman and a Certificate present on the card to establish the  
keys and the applet's authenticity? I.e.: "applet authentication".

Thank you,
Joao