Proposal: Secure Payload Authorization Layer for AI Agents (A2SPA)

[gavincapriola]

Proposal: Secure Payload Authorization Layer for AI Agents (A2SPA)

Problem Statement

Today, every AI agent framework runs unauthenticated by default.
Without a trust layer, there are three major risks:

1. Spoofing & Hijacked Agents – Malicious actors can send fake commands disguised as trusted agents.
2. Prompt Injection & Payload Manipulation – Instructions can be altered mid-stream with no cryptographic proof of origin.
3. Lack of Accountability – Without immutable logging, there’s no way to trace back malicious actions or enforce compliance.

It’s the equivalent of sending sensitive data over the internet without SSL/TLS — a dangerous blind spot in an emerging ecosystem.

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Proposed Solution: The Three Pillars of AI Agent Trust

A2SPA introduces a cryptographic security layer built on three fundamental actions:

1. Sign
   Every payload must be digitally signed by the originating agent.
   “If it isn’t signed, it doesn’t exist.”

2. Verify
   The receiving agent must verify the signature and enforce a permission map before taking action.
   “If it can’t be verified, it’s denied.”

3. Log
   Every action is logged, timestamped, and stored for auditability and compliance.
   “If it isn’t logged, it didn’t happen.”

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High-Level Flow

[Sending Agent] --(signed payload)--> [A2SPA Layer: Verify + Log] --> [Receiving Agent: execute if valid]

This layer acts as “SSL for AI Agents,” providing a universal, chain-agnostic security foundation for AP2.

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Why This Matters to AP2

AP2’s mission is to create an open, interoperable protocol for agent communication and payments.
By integrating a signing and verification step at the payload level, AP2 can:

• Prevent spoofed or hijacked agents
• Stop unauthorized commands before execution
• Enable regulatory compliance and enterprise adoption

Without this, any open protocol risks becoming a target for exploits at scale — similar to how early internet protocols were vulnerable before SSL was adopted.

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Next Steps

This submission is intended for conceptual review only:

• A2SPA is not open source and will never be released without proper licensing agreements or enterprise partnerships.
• Detailed implementation and schema are protected by 40 active patent-pending claims under USPTO filings.
• Our legal representation is handled by Morrison Foerster LLP (MoFo.com).
• Visit AImodularity.com/A2SPA to learn more about the protocol.

I welcome discussion and collaboration with AP2 contributors to explore how a signing and verification layer can complement the existing AP2 model.
For deeper technical review, please reach out directly so we can coordinate secure discussions under NDA.

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Legal Notice

The A2SPA protocol is patent pending under U.S. Patent law through multiple filed provisional applications (40 active claims).
This document is provided solely for community evaluation and strategic alignment within the AP2 ecosystem.
No code, cryptographic algorithms, or proprietary implementation details are included in this submission.

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Closing

Every open ecosystem eventually faces its first major exploit.
With AP2, we have the chance to build trust in from day one — instead of patching after billions of dollars are at risk.

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[anjanas]

Seems like the accompanying CMWallet app is for the exact same purposes that you are mentioning here(hashing and signing payload). What am I missing?

[gavincapriola]

The CM Wallet app does a solid job with hashing and signing, but it’s focused on payments and transactions only.

A2SPA is much broader — it’s a universal trust layer for all agent payloads, not just financial ones. Think of it like SSL/TLS for the entire AP2 ecosystem:

• CM Wallet = like encrypting a single credit card payment
• A2SPA = like securing every packet of data flowing between agents

Here’s the key difference:

• Scope: A2SPA signs and verifies every command or instruction an agent sends or receives — payments, prompts, actions, etc.
• Enforcement: It enforces cryptographic permission maps, so even a correctly signed payload will be denied if it isn’t explicitly authorized.
• Auditability: Every verified action is immutably logged, giving enterprises traceability and compliance reporting that a standalone wallet can’t provide.

CM Wallet protects the money, while A2SPA protects the entire ecosystem — preventing spoofed or hijacked agents from executing malicious commands at scale.

Finally, A2SPA is patent-pending with 40 active claims filed under the USPTO through Morrison Foerster LLP. While CM Wallet is open source, A2SPA’s cryptographic methods and schema are protected and will only be licensed through proper agreements. This ensures the security model remains both trusted and standardized as AP2 grows.