Extended Validation (EV) Certificate

What is an Extended Validation (EV) Certificate?

An Extended Validation (EV) Certificate is a digital certificate that provides the highest level of identity verification and security assurance in the SSL/TLS ecosystem. Unlike Domain Validation (DV) and Organization Validation (OV) certificates, EV certificates require a rigorous, standardized validation process that verifies the legal, physical, and operational existence of the entity requesting the certificate.

EV certificates are designed to provide users with clear visual indicators of a website's authenticity, helping to combat phishing attacks and build trust in online transactions. When a website uses an EV certificate, modern browsers display the organization's name in the address bar alongside a green padlock, providing immediate visual assurance to users.

EV Certificate Characteristics

Visual Indicators

EV certificates trigger distinctive visual indicators in web browsers:

graph LR
    A[Browser Address Bar] --> B[Green Padlock]
    A --> C[Organization Name]
    A --> D[Country Code]
    A --> E[Certificate Authority Name]
    B --> F[Visual Trust Indicator]
    C --> F
    D --> F
    E --> F

Browser Display Examples

• Chrome: Organization name in green text next to URL
• Firefox: Organization name in green with padlock icon
• Safari: Organization name in green with padlock icon
• Edge: Organization name in green with padlock icon
• Opera: Organization name in green with security indicator

EV Certificate Fields

EV certificates contain additional validated information in the certificate fields:

EV Certificate Validation Process

EV Validation Standards

EV certificates follow the EV Guidelines established by the CA/Browser Forum, a consortium of Certificate Authorities and browser vendors. The current standard is EV SSL Certificate Guidelines v1.7.9.

Validation Steps

The EV validation process typically includes:

1. Legal Existence Verification
2. Physical Existence Verification
3. Operational Existence Verification
4. Domain Ownership Verification
5. Authorization Verification
6. Final Verification Call

flowchart TD
    A[EV Certificate Request] --> B[Legal Existence Verification]
    B --> C[Physical Existence Verification]
    C --> D[Operational Existence Verification]
    D --> E[Domain Ownership Verification]
    E --> F[Authorization Verification]
    F --> G[Final Verification Call]
    G --> H[Certificate Issuance]

Detailed Validation Process

1. Legal Existence Verification

• Government Records Check: Verify the organization is legally registered
• Registration Number Validation: Confirm government-issued registration number
• Jurisdiction Verification: Verify country and state of incorporation
• Legal Name Verification: Confirm exact legal name matches registration
• Business Status Check: Verify the organization is active and in good standing

2. Physical Existence Verification

• Physical Address Verification: Confirm the organization has a physical presence
• Phone Number Verification: Verify listed phone number is valid and operational
• Operational Address Check: Confirm the address is not a virtual office or PO box
• Site Visit: Some CAs may conduct physical site visits for high-risk organizations

3. Operational Existence Verification

• Operational Status Check: Verify the organization is currently operational
• Bank Account Verification: Confirm the organization has an active bank account
• Dun & Bradstreet Check: Verify business credit information
• Third-Party Verification: Use independent sources to verify operational status
• Employment Verification: Confirm the organization has employees

4. Domain Ownership Verification

• Domain Registration Check: Verify domain ownership
• WHOIS Verification: Check domain registration details
• DNS Verification: Verify control over DNS records
• Email Verification: Send verification email to authorized contact
• File Verification: Require uploading verification file to website

5. Authorization Verification

• Requester Verification: Verify the requester is authorized to obtain certificates
• Certificate Approver Verification: Confirm the approver has authority to bind the organization
• Legal Opinion Letter: May require letter from organization's legal counsel
• Corporate Resolution: May require board resolution for certificate issuance
• Contract Review: Review agreement between CA and organization

6. Final Verification Call

• Verification Call: CA calls the organization to confirm request details
• Callback Verification: Call is made to verified phone number from government records
• Request Confirmation: Confirm all details of the certificate request
• Approval Confirmation: Confirm authorization for certificate issuance
• Final Check: Last opportunity to verify all information

EV vs Other Certificate Types

EV Certificate Use Cases

Financial Services

• Online Banking: Secure customer banking portals
• Investment Platforms: Secure trading and investment platforms
• Insurance Websites: Secure insurance policy management
• Payment Processors: Secure payment gateway interfaces
• Credit Card Services: Secure credit card management portals

E-Commerce

• Online Retailers: Secure shopping carts and checkout processes
• Marketplaces: Secure multi-vendor platforms
• Subscription Services: Secure recurring payment systems
• Digital Wallets: Secure digital payment platforms
• Auction Sites: Secure bidding and transaction platforms

Healthcare

• Patient Portals: Secure patient health information access
• Telemedicine: Secure video consultation platforms
• Health Insurance: Secure member portals
• Pharmaceuticals: Secure prescription management
• Medical Records: Secure electronic health record access

Government

• Tax Portals: Secure tax filing and payment systems
• Benefits Systems: Secure government benefits access
• Licensing Systems: Secure professional licensing portals
• Voting Systems: Secure online voting platforms
• Public Records: Secure access to sensitive public records

Enterprise

• Corporate Portals: Secure employee access to corporate resources
• VPN Access: Secure remote access to corporate networks
• Partner Portals: Secure access for business partners
• Customer Portals: Secure customer access to services
• Internal Applications: Secure internal business applications

High-Security Applications

• Authentication Systems: Secure multi-factor authentication portals
• Identity Management: Secure identity verification systems
• Secure Email: Secure webmail interfaces
• Document Signing: Secure digital signature platforms
• Code Signing: Secure software distribution platforms

Creating an EV Certificate

EV Certificate Requirements

To obtain an EV certificate, organizations must provide:

1. Legal Documentation:
   • Articles of Incorporation/Organization
   • Business licenses
   • Government-issued registration documents
   • Partnership agreements (if applicable)
2. Physical Verification:
   • Proof of physical business address
   • Utility bills or bank statements
   • Lease agreements
   • Phone bills
3. Operational Verification:
   • Bank account verification
   • Dun & Bradstreet number (if available)
   • Professional references
   • Operational contact verification
4. Domain Verification:
   • Domain registration details
   • WHOIS information
   • DNS control verification
5. Authorization Documents:
   • Certificate request authorization
   • Legal opinion letter
   • Corporate resolution
   • Signed agreement

EV Certificate Process

sequenceDiagram
    participant Organization
    participant CA
    participant Government
    participant ThirdParty
    Organization->>CA: Submit EV certificate request
    CA->>Government: Verify legal existence
    Government->>CA: Return verification results
    CA->>ThirdParty: Verify operational existence
    ThirdParty->>CA: Return verification results
    CA->>Organization: Request additional documents
    Organization->>CA: Provide requested documents
    CA->>Organization: Conduct verification call
    Organization->>CA: Confirm request details
    CA->>CA: Final review and approval
    CA->>Organization: Issue EV certificate

Step-by-Step EV Certificate Process

1. Choose a Certificate Authority

• Select a CA that offers EV certificates
• Compare pricing, validation time, and support
• Check browser compatibility
• Review CA reputation and track record

2. Generate CSR

# Generate private key
openssl genrsa -out ev.key 2048

# Create CSR with organization details
openssl req -new -key ev.key -out ev.csr \
  -subj "/C=US/ST=California/L=San Francisco/O=Example Corporation/CN=www.example.com"

3. Submit CSR and Documents

• Submit CSR to chosen CA
• Provide all required legal documents
• Complete CA's EV certificate application
• Sign certificate subscriber agreement

4. Validation Process

• CA verifies legal existence through government records
• CA verifies physical existence through documents and calls
• CA verifies operational existence through third-party sources
• CA verifies domain ownership
• CA verifies requester authorization

5. Certificate Issuance

• CA conducts final verification call
• CA performs final review of all documents
• CA issues EV certificate
• CA provides certificate installation instructions

6. Certificate Installation

• Install certificate on web servers
• Configure server to use EV certificate
• Set up proper intermediate certificates
• Test certificate installation

EV Certificate Formats

EV certificates can be stored in various formats:

PEM Format

• Extension: .pem, .crt, .cer
• Content: Base64 encoded with -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE----- and -----END CERTIFICATE----- delimiters
• Usage: Common for web servers, configuration files

DER Format

• Extension: .der, .cer
• Content: Binary encoded certificate
• Usage: Windows systems, some applications

PKCS#12 Format

• Extension: .pfx, .p12
• Content: Certificate with private key (password protected)
• Usage: Secure storage and transport

Java KeyStore Format

• Extension: .jks, .keystore
• Content: Java-specific format for storing keys and certificates
• Usage: Java applications

EV Certificate in Different Environments

Web Servers

• Apache:

  <VirtualHost *:443>
      ServerName www.example.com
      SSLCertificateFile /path/to/ev.crt
      SSLCertificateKeyFile /path/to/ev.key
      SSLCertificateChainFile /path/to/chain.crt
      SSLOptions +StdEnvVars
      SSLProtocol -all +TLSv1.2 +TLSv1.3
  </VirtualHost>
  

• Nginx:

  server {
      listen 443 ssl;
      server_name www.example.com;
  
      ssl_certificate /path/to/ev.crt;
      ssl_certificate_key /path/to/ev.key;
      ssl_trusted_certificate /path/to/chain.crt;
  
      ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
      ssl_prefer_server_ciphers on;
  
      # Other configuration...
  }
  

• IIS:
  • Import EV certificate into certificate store
  • Bind certificate to website in IIS Manager
  • Configure SSL settings
  • Set up intermediate certificates
• Node.js:

  const https = require('https');
  const fs = require('fs');
  
  const options = {
    key: fs.readFileSync('ev.key'),
    cert: fs.readFileSync('ev.crt'),
    ca: fs.readFileSync('chain.crt'),
    minVersion: 'TLSv1.2'
  };
  
  https.createServer(options, (req, res) => {
    res.writeHead(200);
    res.end('HTTPS with EV certificate\n');
  }).listen(443);
  

Cloud Platforms

• AWS Certificate Manager (ACM):
  • Request EV certificate through ACM
  • Complete validation process
  • Associate with CloudFront, ALB, or API Gateway
• Azure Key Vault:
  • Request EV certificate through Azure
  • Complete validation process
  • Associate with Application Gateway or Load Balancer
• Google Cloud:
  • Request EV certificate through Google Cloud
  • Complete validation process
  • Associate with Load Balancer or CDN
• Cloudflare:
  • Upload EV certificate to Cloudflare
  • Configure SSL/TLS settings
  • Enable strict SSL mode

Load Balancers

• AWS ALB:
  • Associate EV certificate with ALB
  • Configure HTTPS listeners
  • Set up security policies
• Nginx Plus:

  stream {
      server {
          listen 443 ssl;
          proxy_pass backend;
  
          ssl_certificate /path/to/ev.crt;
          ssl_certificate_key /path/to/ev.key;
          ssl_trusted_certificate /path/to/chain.crt;
  
          ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
      }
  }
  

• HAProxy:

  frontend https-in
      bind *:443 ssl crt /path/to/ev.pem
      mode http
      default_backend servers
  

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs)

• CloudFront:
  • Associate EV certificate with CloudFront distribution
  • Configure SSL/TLS settings
  • Set up custom SSL
• Akamai:
  • Upload EV certificate to Akamai
  • Configure edge certificate settings
  • Set up secure delivery
• Fastly:
  • Upload EV certificate to Fastly
  • Configure TLS settings
  • Set up domain association

EV Certificate Security Considerations

Advantages

• Highest Trust Level: Provides maximum assurance to users
• Phishing Protection: Makes it harder for phishing sites to impersonate legitimate businesses
• Visual Indicators: Clear visual cues in browser address bar
• Rigorous Validation: Comprehensive verification of organization identity
• Compliance: Meets highest security standards for regulated industries
• Customer Confidence: Builds trust in online transactions
• Fraud Prevention: Helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks

Risks and Limitations

• Cost: Significantly more expensive than DV or OV certificates
• Validation Time: Takes longer to issue (1-5 days)
• Complex Process: Requires extensive documentation and verification
• Limited Use Cases: Not necessary for all websites
• Browser Changes: Some browsers are reducing EV indicators
• Private Key Security: High-value target for attackers
• Revocation Impact: Revocation affects entire organization's web presence

Security Best Practices

1. Private Key Protection:
   • Store private keys in Hardware Security Modules (HSMs)
   • Use strong passphrases for private key encryption
   • Limit access to private keys
   • Implement key rotation policies
2. Certificate Management:
   • Implement certificate inventory and monitoring
   • Track certificate expiration dates
   • Set up automated renewal processes
   • Monitor for unauthorized certificate issuance
3. Server Configuration:
   • Use strong TLS configurations
   • Disable weak protocols and ciphers
   • Implement HSTS
   • Configure proper OCSP stapling
4. Validation Process:
   • Maintain up-to-date business records
   • Keep contact information current
   • Prepare documents in advance
   • Designate authorized certificate approvers
5. Monitoring and Response:
   • Monitor for certificate transparency logs
   • Set up alerts for certificate-related events
   • Implement rapid revocation procedures
   • Monitor for phishing attempts using your brand

EV Certificate Validation

Client-Side Validation

When a client connects to a server with an EV certificate, browsers perform enhanced validation:

1. Certificate Chain Validation:
   • Verify the certificate chain up to a trusted root
   • Check for any revoked certificates in the chain
   • Verify all signatures in the chain
2. EV-Specific Validation:
   • Check for EV OID in certificate policies
   • Verify organization details match EV requirements
   • Check jurisdiction information
   • Verify registration number
3. Revocation Checking:
   • Check Certificate Revocation List (CRL)
   • Check Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP)
   • Check OCSP stapling if available
4. Validity Period Check:
   • Ensure certificate is within its validity period
   • Check both notBefore and notAfter dates
5. Key Usage Check:
   • Verify the certificate is used for its intended purpose
   • Check keyUsage and extendedKeyUsage extensions

EV Certificate OID

EV certificates contain specific Object Identifiers (OIDs) that identify them as EV certificates:

• EV Policy OID: 2.23.140.1.1 (CA/B Forum EV OID)
• CA-Specific OIDs: Each CA has its own EV policy OID
• Certificate Policies Extension: Contains EV policy information

Example EV certificate policies extension:

Certificate Policies:
    Policy: 2.23.140.1.1
    Policy: 2.16.840.1.114412.1.3.0.2 (DigiCert EV OID)
    CPS: https://www.digicert.com/CPS

Common Validation Issues

1. Organization Name Mismatch: Name doesn't match legal records
2. Expired Business Registration: Business registration has expired
3. Inactive Business Status: Business is not in good standing
4. Address Verification Failure: Physical address cannot be verified
5. Phone Verification Failure: Phone number cannot be verified
6. Domain Ownership Issues: Domain not properly registered to organization
7. Authorization Problems: Requester not authorized to obtain certificates
8. Documentation Issues: Missing or incomplete required documents
9. Jurisdiction Mismatch: Incorporation details don't match records
10. Revocation: Certificate has been revoked

EV Certificate Management

Certificate Lifecycle

graph TD
    A[Business Verification] --> B[CSR Generation]
    B --> C[Document Submission]
    C --> D[Validation Process]
    D --> E[Certificate Issuance]
    E --> F[Certificate Installation]
    F --> G[Certificate Usage]
    G --> H[Certificate Monitoring]
    H --> I[Certificate Renewal]
    I --> B
    H --> J[Certificate Revocation]
    H --> K[Certificate Expiration]

Certificate Generation Tools

1. OpenSSL: Command-line tool for certificate operations
2. Keytool: Java's key and certificate management tool
3. CFSSL: Cloudflare's PKI toolkit
4. Certificate Authority Tools: CA-provided tools
5. PowerShell: Windows certificate management
6. OpenSSL GUI Tools: Graphical interfaces for OpenSSL
7. XCA: Cross-platform certificate management tool

Certificate Distribution

• Manual Distribution: Direct file transfer to servers
• Configuration Management: Ansible, Puppet, Chef for automated distribution
• Container Images: Include certificates in container images
• Cloud Storage: Secure cloud storage for certificate distribution
• Certificate Authorities: CA-provided distribution mechanisms

Certificate Renewal

1. Monitor Expiration: Track certificate expiration dates
2. Automated Alerts: Set up alerts for upcoming expiration
3. Prepare Documents: Gather required documentation in advance
4. Generate New CSR: Create new CSR (may reuse existing key)
5. Submit to CA: Submit CSR and documents to Certificate Authority
6. Complete Validation: Complete EV validation process
7. Receive New Certificate: Obtain new EV certificate
8. Replace Old Certificate: Replace expired certificate with new one
9. Restart Services: Restart services to use new certificate

Certificate Revocation

EV certificates may need to be revoked for various reasons:

1. Revocation Reasons:
   • Private key compromise
   • Certificate authority compromise
   • Change of organization details
   • Security policy changes
   • Fraudulent issuance
2. Revocation Methods:
   • CRL: Certificate Revocation List
   • OCSP: Online Certificate Status Protocol
   • OCSP Stapling: Server-provided OCSP responses
3. Revocation Process:
   • Contact Certificate Authority
   • Provide revocation reason
   • Verify identity
   • Receive confirmation
   • Replace certificate on all servers

EV Certificate Alternatives

Organization Validation (OV) Certificates

• Description: Certificates with organization validation
• Advantages: Lower cost, faster issuance, business validation
• Limitations: No special browser indicators
• Use Case: Business websites that need identity verification

Domain Validation (DV) Certificates

• Description: Certificates with domain validation only
• Advantages: Low cost, fast issuance, easy to obtain
• Limitations: No identity verification, no special indicators
• Use Case: Blogs, personal websites, testing environments

Multi-Domain Certificates

• Description: Single certificate for multiple domains
• Advantages: Can include EV for multiple domains
• Limitations: Limited number of domains, complex validation
• Use Case: Organizations with multiple domains needing EV

Internal Certificate Authority

• Description: Create your own CA for internal use
• Advantages: Full control, unlimited certificates
• Limitations: Requires trust establishment, not publicly trusted
• Use Case: Enterprise environments with internal applications

Let's Encrypt with OV

• Description: Use Let's Encrypt with organization validation
• Advantages: Free, automated, trusted by browsers
• Limitations: No EV indicators, 90-day validity
• Use Case: Public websites needing basic identity verification

EV Certificate in Security Testing

Penetration Testing

• Certificate Analysis: Test how applications handle EV certificates
• Validation Testing: Test EV-specific validation logic
• Trust Testing: Test browser trust indicators
• Revocation Testing: Test revocation checking mechanisms
• Phishing Testing: Test EV certificate effectiveness against phishing

Vulnerability Assessment

• Certificate Inventory: Identify EV certificates in use
• Expiration Monitoring: Check for expired EV certificates
• Weak Cryptography: Identify certificates with weak algorithms
• Improper Usage: Identify EV certificates used inappropriately
• Trust Relationships: Map trust relationships between systems

Security Research

• Certificate Transparency: Monitor for rogue EV certificates
• Trust Model Research: Research EV certificate trust models
• PKI Research: Study public key infrastructure with EV certificates
• Cryptography Research: Study cryptographic algorithms in EV certificates
• Protocol Analysis: Analyze SSL/TLS protocol implementations

Legal and Compliance Considerations

Compliance Benefits

• PCI DSS: EV certificates help meet payment security requirements
• HIPAA: EV certificates support healthcare data protection
• GDPR: EV certificates help demonstrate data protection measures
• SOX: EV certificates support financial reporting requirements
• ISO 27001: EV certificates support information security management

Legal Issues

• Liability Protection: EV certificates provide stronger legal standing
• Non-Repudiation: EV certificates support non-repudiation claims
• Contractual Obligations: EV certificates may be required by contracts
• Industry Standards: EV certificates meet industry-specific requirements
• Customer Trust: EV certificates help build legal trust with customers

Regulatory Requirements

• Financial Services: Many regulations recommend or require EV certificates
• Healthcare: HIPAA recommends strong identity verification
• Government: Many agencies require EV certificates for public-facing services
• E-Commerce: PCI DSS recommends EV certificates for payment processing
• Legal: Some jurisdictions require EV certificates for digital signatures

EV Certificate Case Studies

Case Study 1: Online Banking Platform

Scenario: A major bank needs to secure its online banking platform

Solution:

• Obtained EV certificate for online.bank.com
• Completed rigorous validation process with CA
• Implemented certificate on all web servers and load balancers
• Configured HSTS and OCSP stapling
• Set up monitoring for certificate transparency logs

Benefits:

• Customers see bank name in address bar
• Reduced phishing attacks targeting customers
• Increased customer trust in online banking
• Met regulatory requirements for financial services
• Improved security posture

Challenges:

• Coordinating validation across multiple departments
• Managing certificate across global infrastructure
• Ensuring consistent security configurations
• Monitoring for fraudulent certificate issuance

Case Study 2: E-Commerce Marketplace

Scenario: An e-commerce marketplace needs to secure its platform

Solution:

• Obtained EV certificate for www.marketplace.com
• Completed validation process with multiple business entities
• Implemented certificate on CDN and origin servers
• Configured multi-domain EV certificate for international sites
• Set up automated certificate monitoring

Benefits:

• Customers see company name in address bar
• Reduced cart abandonment due to security concerns
• Improved search engine rankings
• Enhanced brand protection
• Met PCI DSS compliance requirements

Challenges:

• Validating multiple business entities
• Managing certificate for international domains
• Ensuring consistent security across global CDN
• Monitoring for phishing sites using marketplace brand

Case Study 3: Government Tax Portal

Scenario: A government agency needs to secure its tax filing portal

Solution:

• Obtained EV certificate for tax.gov
• Completed rigorous government validation process
• Implemented certificate on secure government infrastructure
• Configured strict security policies
• Set up comprehensive monitoring

Benefits:

• Citizens see government agency name in address bar
• Increased trust in online tax filing
• Reduced fraud and identity theft
• Met government security standards
• Improved citizen satisfaction

Challenges:

• Meeting strict government validation requirements
• Managing certificate across secure infrastructure
• Ensuring accessibility for all citizens
• Monitoring for sophisticated phishing attempts

Future of EV Certificates

Browser Changes

• Reduced Visual Indicators: Some browsers are reducing EV indicators
• Mobile Optimization: Improved EV display on mobile devices
• User Education: Better education about EV certificate meaning
• Consistent Display: Standardized EV display across browsers
• Enhanced Indicators: New ways to display EV certificate information

Automation Trends

• Automated Validation: Streamlined validation processes
• API Integration: Better integration with business verification APIs
• Document Automation: Automated document collection and verification
• Continuous Validation: Ongoing validation of business status
• Automated Renewal: Simplified renewal processes

Security Enhancements

• Hardware Security Modules: Increased use of HSMs for key protection
• Post-Quantum Cryptography: EV certificates with quantum-resistant algorithms
• Multi-Party Computation: Distributed key generation and signing
• Threshold Cryptography: Distributed control over EV certificates
• Improved Validation: Enhanced validation mechanisms

Standard Evolution

• New EV Guidelines: Updated CA/B Forum EV guidelines
• Improved Validation: More rigorous validation processes
• Enhanced Security: Stronger security requirements for EV certificates
• Simplified Processes: Easier EV certificate issuance
• Better Integration: Improved integration with certificate authorities

Emerging Use Cases

• Zero Trust Architecture: EV certificates for identity-based access
• Blockchain: EV certificates for blockchain applications
• Decentralized Identity: EV certificates for self-sovereign identity
• 5G Security: EV certificates for 5G network security
• IoT Security: EV certificates for high-security IoT devices

Conclusion

Extended Validation (EV) Certificates represent the gold standard in digital identity verification for websites. By requiring rigorous validation of an organization's legal, physical, and operational existence, EV certificates provide the highest level of assurance to users and help combat the growing threat of phishing and online fraud.

While EV certificates come with higher costs and more complex validation processes compared to Domain Validation (DV) and Organization Validation (OV) certificates, they offer significant benefits for organizations that handle sensitive transactions, personal data, or financial information. The distinctive visual indicators in web browsers provide immediate trust signals to users, helping to build confidence in online interactions.

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, EV certificates will remain an important tool for organizations that need to demonstrate their authenticity and build trust with their users. While browser vendors are reevaluating the visual treatment of EV certificates, the underlying value of rigorous identity verification remains strong.

Organizations considering EV certificates should weigh the benefits against the costs and complexity, considering their specific security requirements, regulatory obligations, and customer expectations. For high-value transactions, financial services, healthcare, government, and other sensitive applications, EV certificates continue to provide essential trust and security benefits.

By implementing proper certificate management practices, maintaining strong security controls, and staying informed about evolving standards and browser behaviors, organizations can maximize the value of EV certificates while maintaining a strong security posture.