The PLAIN Simple Authentication and Security Layer Mechanism
RFC 4616, “The PLAIN Simple Authentication and Security Layer Mechanism”, is a Proposed Standard document published in August 2006 by K. Zeilenga. It updates RFC 2595. It has since been updated by RFC 8996. The canonical text is published by the RFC Editor.
Abstract
This document defines a simple clear-text user/password Simple Authentication and Security Layer (SASL) mechanism called the PLAIN mechanism. The PLAIN mechanism is intended to be used, in combination with data confidentiality services provided by a lower layer, in protocols that lack a simple password authentication command. [STANDARDS-TRACK]
What “Proposed Standard” means
An entry-level standards-track specification: stable, peer-reviewed and a solid basis for implementation, though it may still evolve before becoming an Internet Standard.
The canonical text of RFC 4616 is hosted at rfc-editor.org. Available in TXT,HTML.
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