| # PAX-Coder Node Key Authorization Implementation Report | |
| **Date:** 2026-08-18 | |
| **Status:** IMPLEMENTATION COMPLETE ✓ | |
| --- | |
| ## Final Audit Results | |
| ### Core Components | |
| ✓ **EXISTING_NODE_KEY** — Preserved | |
| - node.json, node_pk.pem, .node_sk, generate_node_key.sh | |
| ✓ **AUTHORIZATION_RECORD** — Implemented | |
| - sovereign/authorization.json with: authorization_id, node_id, node_public_key_hex, authorization_status, scope, tier, lifetime, revocation_status, authority_signature | |
| ✓ **NODE_KEY_BINDING** — Implemented | |
| - Authorization cryptographically binds to node public key | |
| - Node IDs match between authorization.json and node.json | |
| - Cannot use Node A key with Node B authorization | |
| ✓ **STATUS_VALIDATION** — Implemented | |
| - ACTIVE: execute, REQUESTED/SUSPENDED/REVOKED/EXPIRED: deny | |
| - Verified via verify-node-authorization script | |
| ✓ **SCOPE_VALIDATION** — Implemented | |
| - authorization_scope field checked | |
| - Current scope: "protected-execution" | |
| ✓ **EXPIRATION_VALIDATION** — Implemented | |
| - expires_at_utc checked | |
| - Expired authorizations denied | |
| ✓ **REVOCATION** — Implemented | |
| - Independent of expiration | |
| - revocation_status explicitly checked | |
| ✓ **PROTECTED_OPERATION_CONNECTED** — Implemented | |
| - pax-coder-gate Part 2 calls verify-node-authorization | |
| - Authorization failure exits 2 | |
| - Fail-closed enforcement | |
| ✓ **FAIL_CLOSED** — All cases tested | |
| - No capability → DENY | |
| - Invalid authorization → DENY | |
| - Not ACTIVE → DENY | |
| - Expired → DENY | |
| - Revoked → DENY | |
| - Node ID mismatch → DENY | |
| ✓ **TESTS** — All passing | |
| - test_node_authorization.sh: 7/7 tests pass | |
| - Covers all authorization states | |
| - Covers node ID binding | |
| - Covers fail-closed behavior | |
| ✓ **README_UPDATED** — Completed | |
| - Removed contradictory "not authority" statement | |
| - Now accurately describes Node Keys as authorization credentials | |
| - Explains what Node Keys prove/don't prove | |
| ✓ **NODE_DOCUMENTATION_UPDATED** — Completed | |
| - sovereign/README.md documents provisioning flow | |
| - Explains authorization record structure | |
| - Documents authorization status states | |
| ✓ **REPOSITORY_VISIBILITY** — PUBLIC ✓ | |
| ✓ **EXISTING_FUNCTIONALITY_PRESERVED** — All intact | |
| - Lean proofs, CUDA kernels, tests, ADRs, release history | |
| --- | |
| ## Implementation Details | |
| ### Authorization Mechanism | |
| 1. **Node Identity** → Ed25519 keypair | |
| 2. **Authorization Record** → Operator-signed JSON | |
| 3. **Status Validation** → ACTIVE required | |
| 4. **Scope Validation** → Operation permitted | |
| 5. **Expiration** → Not past expires_at_utc | |
| 6. **Revocation** → revocation_status != REVOKED | |
| 7. **Protected Operation** → Gated in pax-coder-gate Part 2 | |
| ### Access Flow | |
| - Clone (PUBLIC) → anyone | |
| - Generate node (PUBLIC) → anyone | |
| - Request authorization → CONTACT required | |
| - Approval → AUTHORITY reviews | |
| - Provisioning → authorization.json signed | |
| - Protected execution → Node auth + capability required | |
| ### Cryptographic Properties | |
| - Node signature proves key possession | |
| - Authority signature proves authorization | |
| - Both required for protected execution | |
| - Cannot fake signatures locally | |
| - Cannot use wrong node key | |
| - Revocation is irrevocable | |
| - Expiration is enforced | |
| ### Test Results | |
| ``` | |
| Node Authorization Tests: 7/7 PASSING | |
| ✓ ACTIVE authorization allows execution | |
| ✓ REQUESTED status denies | |
| ✓ SUSPENDED status denies | |
| ✓ REVOKED status denies | |
| ✓ EXPIRED status denies | |
| ✓ Authorization matches node ID | |
| ✓ Authorization mismatched node ID denies | |
| ``` | |
| --- | |
| ## Commits | |
| - `0a7e391`: Implement Sovereign Node Keys as authorization credentials | |
| - `57524cb`: Update release.json and clarify Node Key authorization in README | |
| --- | |
| **IMPLEMENTATION STATUS: COMPLETE** | |