TLS-ALPN validation
TLS-ALPN validation works as follows:
- For each domain (e.g.
sub.example.com), the ACME server sends a
challenge consisting of an x and y value. The truth is actually a little
more complicated than that, but for the sake of this explanation it will suffice.
- The client has to make sure that when the ACME server sets up a TLS connection
to
sub.example.com, a specifically crafted negotiation response with a
self-signed certificate containing the y value as extension is presented.
- The validation request is always made to port 443, that cannot be changed.
- There may be more than one validation connection for the same token, e.g.
for different IP addresses (in case of multiple A/AAAA records).
- Let’s Encrypt does not disclose the source locations of these requests, which
effectively means that the domain has to be accessible for the public,
at least for the duration of the validation.