Creating and using pass tickets on z/OS.

As part of looking into secure way of logging on to z/OS, I looked into pass tickets (because Zowe can generate a pass ticket to connect to other sub-systems). I set up the simplest (and oldest) pass ticket configuration. The best practice is to use enhanced pass tickets, and store values encrypted. With enhanced pass tickets you can specify the validity period of the pass ticket – it defaults to 10 minutes. I wanted the easiest way, so I used the older technique.

With thanks to Philippe Richard for his many comments, I’ve incorporated them in the post.

I had the usual struggles with getting the C program to work, but overall it was quite easy.

I successfully used the RACF callable function IRRSPK00 R_ticketserv (IRRSPK00).

You pass a userid and an application name and the service returns a temporary, time limited, password for that userid and application.

The application name depends on what system you are logging on to. I submitted a job from TSO on system with SYSID S0W1, and the application name was TSOS0W1. You cannot use a pass ticket for TSO on a CICS system, because the application names will not match.

When you are under TSO and enter submit the application is still TSO, so use TSOS0W1.

If, for instance, you try to submit a job through the internal reader, then it will use application MVSS0W1.

For example:

//INTRDRS1 EXEC PGM=IEBGENER 
//SYSUT1 DD DSN=PASSTIKT.ENHC.JCL(REFRESH),
// DISP=SHR
//SYSUT2 DD SYSOUT=(,INTRDR)
//*
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSIN DD DUMMY

and in member REFRESH, you have a job with userid=racf admin user, password= where you substitute the passticket, like:

//SYSADMX JOB 30000000,’MVS JOB CARD ‘,MSGLEVEL=(1,1), 
// CLASS=A,MSGCLASS=Q,NOTIFY=&SYSUID,TIME=1440,REGION=0M,
// USER=SYSADM,PASSWORD=PSEG7TXM,
// JOBRC=MAXRC
//IEFPROC EXEC PGM=IKJEFT01,REGION=4M,DYNAMNBR=10
//SYSTSPRT DD SYSOUT=*
//SYSTSIN DD *
SETROPTS RACLIST(PTKTDATA) REFRESH

It will use MVSS0W1 as the application ID.

Andrew Mattingly has written a very well detailed blog on passtickets which is well worth a read.

It described with ample details the algorithm and the various techniques to generate pass-tickets.

Security definitions

The security definitions are in two parts

  • The profile for using a pass ticket, for example, who can use a ticket for logging on to TSO,
  • The profile for which userids can create a pass ticket.

Who can use a pass ticket with which application

You can limit who can use the application, for example

  • a profile just TSOS0W1,
  • or members of group SYS1 profile TSOS0W1.SYS1,
  • or a userid COLIN in group SYS1, profile TSOS0W1.SYS1.COLIN

Example definitions for TSOS0W1 profile

RDEFINE PTKTDATA TSOS0W1  SSIGNON(KEYMASKED(7E4304D681920260)) - 
APPLDATA('NO REPLAY PROTECTION')

SETROPTS RACLIST(FACILITY,PTKTDATA) REFRESH

The server, TSO in this case, can use the function __login__applid() to run the thread as the specified userid. You pass the userid, password (pass ticket) and the application to use (TSOS0W1).

Who can define which pass tickets?

You have to define a RACF profile for the application name, and a profile for userids than can generate a pass ticket for that application.

RDEFINE PTKTDATA   IRRPTAUTH.TSOS0W1.*  UACC(NONE)
PERMIT IRRPTAUTH.TSOS0W1.* CLASS(PTKTDATA) ID(COLIN) ACCESS(UPDATE)
PERMIT IRRPTAUTH.TSOS0W1.* CLASS(PTKTDATA) ID(IBMUSER)ACCESS(UPDATE)
SETROPTS RACLIST(PTKTDATA) REFRESH

The above statements define a profile for defining pass ticket with the TSOS0W1 application.

Userids COLIN and IBMUSER can define pass tickets for this application.

What can you use to generate a pass ticket?

My application code

See C calling a function setting the high order bit on, and passing parameters for a discussion about calling the callable service, and passing the parameters.

 //   Code to generate a pass ticket 
#pragma linkage(IRRSPK00 ,OS)
#pragma runopts(POSIX(ON))
/*Include standard libraries */
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
#include <string.h>
#include <stdarg.h>
#include <iconv.h>

int main( int argc, char *argv??(??))
{
if (argc != 3)
{
printf("Syntax is %s userid applid\n",argv[0]);
return 12 ;
}
if (strlen(argv[1]) > 8)
{
printf("length of userid must be <= 8\n");
return 12;
}
if (strlen(argv[2]) > 8)
{
printf("length of applid must be <= 8\n");
return 12;
}

char work_area[1024];
int Option_word = 0;
int rc;
long SAF_RC,RACF_RC,RACF_RS;
SAF_RC=0 ;
long ALET = 0;
short Function_code= 3;
struct {
short length;
char value[8];
} appl;
struct {
short length;
char value[8];
} userid;
struct {
short length;
char value[20];
} ticket;
ticket.length=20;
char * u= argv[1] ;
strncpy(&userid.value[0],u,8);
userid.length =strlen(u);
char * pAppl = argv[2];
strncpy(&appl.value[0],pAppl,8);
appl.length =strlen(pAppl);


int Ticket_options = 1;
int * pTO = & Ticket_options;

rc=IRRSPK00(
&work_area,
&ALET , &SAF_RC,
&ALET , &RACF_RC,
&ALET , &RACF_RC,
&ALET , &RACF_RS,
&ALET ,&Function_code,
&Option_word,
&ticket, // length followed by area
&pTO,
&userid,
&appl
);

printf("return code SAF %d RACF %d RS %d \n",
SAF_RC,RACF_RC,RACF_RS );
if (SAF_RC == 0)
{
int l = ticket.length;
printf("Pass ticket:%*.*s\n",l,l,ticket.value);
}
return SAF_RC;

}

The compile JCL was

//IBMPASST   JOB 1,MSGCLASS=H,COND=(4,LE) 
//S1 JCLLIB ORDER=CBC.SCCNPRC
// SET LOADLIB=COLIN.LOAD
//DOCLG EXEC PROC=EDCCB,INFILE='COLIN.C.SOURCE(TICKET)',
// CPARM='OPTF(DD:COPTS)'
//COMPILE.ASMLIB DD DISP=SHR,DSN=SYS1.MACLIB
//COMPILE.COPTS DD *
LIST,SOURCE
aggregate(offsethex) xref
SEARCH(//'ADCD.C.H',//'SYS1.SIEAHDR.H')
TEST
ASM
RENT ILP32 LO
OE
NOMARGINS EXPMAC SHOWINC XREF
LANGLVL(EXTENDED) sscom dll
DEFINE(_ALL_SOURCE)
DEBUG
/*
//BIND.SYSLMOD DD DISP=SHR,DSN=&LOADLIB.
//*IND.SYSLIB DD DISP=SHR,DSN=&LIBPRFX..SCEELKED
//*IND.OBJLIB DD DISP=SHR,DSN=COLIN.OBJLIB
//BIND.CSS DD DISP=SHR,DSN=SYS1.CSSLIB
//BIND.SYSIN DD *
INCLUDE CSS(IRRSPK00)
NAME TICKET(R)
/*
//START1 EXEC PGM=TICKET,REGION=0M,PARM='ADCDB TSOS0W1'
//STEPLIB DD DISP=SHR,DSN=&LOADLIB
//SYSERR DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=(LRECL=200)
//SYSERROR DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=(LRECL=200)
//SYSOUT DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=(LRECL=200)
//SYSPRINT DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=(LRECL=200)
//CEEDUMP DD SYSOUT=*,DCB=(LRECL=200)
/&

Problems

I could not get R_GenSec (IRRSGS00 or IRRSGS64): Generic security API interface RACF callable services to work because of the 31 bit program, and the service expecting 64 bit addresses.

This blog post has code which uses R_GenSec in 64 bit C.

Using RACF callable services including from a 64bit bit program

You can use RACF callable services to programatically get and set RACF information, for example to list and display digital certificates, and objects.

There is a C interface to these services. These interfaces are easy to use as long as you are careful with your data types, and get your compile JCL right. You can use 31 and 64 mode programs with these services.

JCL to compile a 64 bit program

Below is the JCL I use for compile programs which use gskit and RACF callable services.

//COLINC5    JOB 1,MSGCLASS=H,COND=(4,LE) 
//S1 JCLLIB ORDER=CBC.SCCNPRC
// SET LOADLIB=COLIN.LOAD
//*OMPILE EXEC PROC=EDCCB,
//COMPILE EXEC PROC=EDCQCB,
// LIBPRFX=CEE,
// CPARM='OPTFILE(DD:SYSOPTF),LSEARCH(/usr/include/)',
// BPARM='SIZE=(900K,124K),RENT,LIST,RMODE=ANY,AMODE=64,AC=1'
//COMPILE.SYSOPTF DD *
...
/*
//COMPILE.SYSIN DD DISP=SHR,DSN=COLIN.C.SOURCE(...)
//BIND.SYSLMOD DD DISP=SHR,DSN=COLIN.LOAD
//BIND.OBJLIB DD DISP=SHR,DSN=COLIN.OBJLIB
//BIND.GSK DD DISP=SHR,DSN=SYS1.SIEALNKE
//BIND.CSS DD DISP=SHR,DSN=SYS1.CSSLIB
//BIND.SYSIN DD *
INCLUDE GSK(GSKCMS64)
INCLUDE GSK(GSKSSL64)
INCLUDE CSS(IRRSDL64)

NAME AMSCHE64(R)

Note the 64 bit specific items

  • PROC=EDCQCB
  • RMODE=ANY,AMODE=64
  • The includes of the GSK*64 stubs
  • The include of the 64 bit RACF callable stub IRRSDL64

The 31 bit equilants are

  • PROC=EDCCB
  • RMODE=ANY,AMODE=31
  • The includes of the GSK*31 stubs: GSKCMS31,GSKSSL
  • The include of the 31 bit RACF callable stub IRRSDL00

The source is specified via //COMPILE.SYSIN

SYSOPTF

For both 64 bit and 31 bit programs

//COMPILE.SYSOPTF DD * 
LIST,SOURCE
aggregate(offsethex) xref
SEARCH(//'COLIN.C.H',//'SYS1.SIEAHDR.H')
TEST
RENT LO
OE
INFO(PAR,USE)
NOMARGINS EXPMAC SHOWINC XREF
LANGLVL(EXTENDED) sscom dll
DEFINE(_ALL_SOURCE)
DEBUG

Skeleton of C program

#pragma linkage(IRRSFA64 ,OS) 

The pragma is needed for the bind operation. It says the module is a z/OS callable service type of module (and not a C program).

#ifdef _LP64 
#include <irrpcomy.h>
#else
#include <irrpcomx.h>
#endif

You need a different copy book for the RACF constants depending on the 31/64 bit mode.

IRRPCOMY contains definitions for 64 bit programs, IRRCOMX is for 31 bit programs.

char * workarea ; 
workarea = (char *) malloc(1024);
int ALET1= 0;
int parmAlet = 0;
int numParms =11;
short function_code = 1;
int ALET2= 0;
int ALET3= 0;
int SAF_RC = 0;
int RACF_RC = 0;
int RACF_RS = 0;

The variables have to be “int”, not “long”, as they are 4 bytes long. With 64 bit program, a long is 8 bytes long. See here for a table about the types and lengths in 31 bit and 64 bit programs. A short is 2 bytes long.

Set up the parameter list 

The macro IRRPCOM? provides header files for some definitions.

For example

char * pSTC = "AZFTOTP1"; 
char area[1000];

struct fact_getf_plist pl;
pl.fact_getf_options = 0;
pl.fact_getf_factor_length = 8;
pl.fact_getf_factor_a = pSTC;
pl.irrpcomy_dummy_34 = 0;
pl.fact_getf_af_length = sizeof(area);
pl.fact_getf_af_a = & area;

where pl is used below.

Call the function

 IRRSFA64( workarea, // WORKAREA 
&ALET1 , // ALET
&SAF_RC, // SAF RC
&ALET2, // ALET
&RACF_RC,// RACF RC
&ALET3 , // ALET
&RACF_RS,// RACF Reason
&numParms,
&parmAlet, //
&function_code,
&pl );

The irrpcomx has a structure definition for the parameter list, but I could not get it to work in these programs, as it passes the address of the data, instead of the data itself.