feat: signals for authorization & abuse

.cspell/custom-words.txt

@@ -90,4 +90,5 @@ vulnz
 worktree
 yaml
 yml
+jwks
 keyid

docs/specification/cart.md

@@ -183,6 +183,15 @@ consistent data structures when converting a cart to a checkout session.
 
 {{ schema_fields('context', 'checkout') }}
 
+### Signals
+
+Transaction environment data provided by the platform to support authorization
+and abuse prevention. Signal values MUST NOT be buyer-asserted claims. See
+[Signals](overview.md#authorization--abuse-signals) for details and privacy
+requirements.
+
+{{ schema_fields('types/signals', 'checkout') }}
+
 ### Total
 
 {{ schema_fields('types/total_resp', 'checkout') }}

docs/specification/checkout-a2a.md

@@ -228,8 +228,8 @@ structured data type specified as part of UCP. When processing a payment to
 complete the checkout, `payment` must be submitted to the business
 agent
 as a `DataPart` with attribute name `a2a.ucp.checkout.payment`. Any
-associated risk signals should be sent with attribute
-name `a2a.ucp.checkout.risk_signals`.
+associated signals should be sent with attribute
+name `a2a.ucp.checkout.signals`.
 
 Upon completion of the checkout process, the business agent must return the
 checkout object containing an `order` attribute with `id` and `permalink_url`.
@@ -251,7 +251,10 @@ checkout object containing an `order` attribute with `id` and `permalink_url`.
           "a2a.ucp.checkout.payment": {
             ...paymentObject
           },
-          "a2a.ucp.checkout.risk_signals":{...content}
+          "a2a.ucp.checkout.signals": {
+            "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": "203.0.113.42",
+            "dev.ucp.user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 ..."
+          }
         }
       }
     ],

docs/specification/checkout-rest.md

@@ -744,8 +744,9 @@ place to set these expectations via `messages`.
           }
         ]
       },
-      "risk_signals": {
-        //... risk signal related data (device fingerprint / risk token)
+      "signals": {
+        "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": "203.0.113.42",
+        "dev.ucp.user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 ..."
       }
     }
     ```

docs/specification/checkout.md

@@ -390,6 +390,18 @@ require explicit validation and error feedback.
 
 {{ schema_fields('context', 'checkout') }}
 
+### Signals
+
+Transaction environment data provided by the platform to support authorization
+and abuse prevention. Unlike `context` (buyer-asserted preferences) and `buyer`
+(self-reported identity), signal values MUST NOT be buyer-asserted claims —
+platforms provide signals based on direct observation or by relaying
+independently verifiable third-party attestations. See
+[Signals](overview.md#authorization--abuse-signals) for details and privacy
+requirements.
+
+{{ schema_fields('types/signals', 'checkout') }}
+
 ### Fulfillment Option
 
 {{ extension_schema_fields('fulfillment.json#/$defs/fulfillment_option', 'checkout') }}

docs/specification/examples/encrypted-credential-handler.md

@@ -328,8 +328,9 @@ Content-Type: application/json
       }
     ]
   },
-  "risk_signals": {
-    // ... the key value pair for potential risk signal data
+  "signals": {
+    "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": "203.0.113.42",
+    "dev.ucp.user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 ..."
   }
 }
 ```

docs/specification/examples/platform-tokenizer-payment-handler.md

@@ -396,8 +396,9 @@ Content-Type: application/json
       }
     ]
   },
-  "risk_signals": {
-    // ... the key value pair for potential risk signal data
+  "signals": {
+    "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": "203.0.113.42",
+    "dev.ucp.user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 ..."
   }
 }
 ```

docs/specification/overview.md

@@ -1081,26 +1081,6 @@ and cart context, then returns the resolved result. Platforms **MUST** treat the
 the [Payment Handler Guide](payment-handler-guide.md#resolving-available_instruments)
 for the full resolution semantics.
 
-### Risk Signals
-
-To aid in fraud assessment, the Platform **MAY** include additional risk signals
-in the `complete` call, providing the Business with more context about the
-transaction's legitimacy. The structure and content of these risk signals are
-not strictly defined by this specification, allowing flexibility based on the
-agreement between the Platform and Business or specific payment handler
-requirements.
-
-**Example (Flexible Structure):**
-
-```json
-{
-  "risk_signals": {
-    "session_id": "abc_123_xyz",
-    "score": 0.95,
-  }
-}
-```
-
 ### Implementation Scenarios
 
 The following scenarios illustrate how different payment handlers and
@@ -1210,8 +1190,9 @@ POST /checkout-sessions/{id}/complete
       }
     ]
   },
-  "risk_signals": {
-      // ...
+  "signals": {
+    "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": "203.0.113.42",
+    "dev.ucp.user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 ..."
   }
 }
 ```
@@ -1275,8 +1256,9 @@ POST /checkout-sessions/{id}/complete
       }
     ]
   },
-  "risk_signals": {
-    // ... host could send risk_signals here
+  "signals": {
+    "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": "203.0.113.42",
+    "dev.ucp.user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 ..."
   }
 }
 ```
@@ -1353,9 +1335,9 @@ POST /checkout-sessions/{id}/complete
       }
     ]
   },
-  "risk_signals": {
-    "session_id": "abc_123_xyz",
-    "score": 0.95
+  "signals": {
+    "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": "203.0.113.42",
+    "com.example.risk_score": 0.95
   },
   "ap2": {
     "checkout_mandate": "eyJhbGciOiJ...", // Signed proof of checkout terms
@@ -1437,19 +1419,17 @@ certified and handle:
 
 ### Fraud Prevention Integration
 
-While UCP does not define fraud prevention APIs, the payment architecture
-supports fraud signal integration:
+UCP supports fraud prevention through [Signals](#authorization--abuse-signals) and the
+payment architecture:
 
+- Platforms provide transaction environment [signals](#authorization--abuse-signals) (IP, user
+    agent) on cart and checkout requests
 - Businesses can require additional fields in handler configurations (e.g.,
     3DS requirements)
-- Platforms can submit device fingerprints and session data alongside credentials
 - Payment credential providers can perform risk assessment during credential
     acquisition
 - Businesses can reject high-risk transactions and request additional
-    verification
-
-Future extensions **MAY** standardize fraud signal schemas, but the current
-architecture allows flexible integration with existing fraud prevention systems.
+    verification via signal feedback
 
 ### Payment Architecture Extensions
 
@@ -1580,6 +1560,71 @@ Sensitive data (such as Payment Credentials or PII) **MUST** be handled
 according to PCI-DSS and GDPR guidelines. UCP encourages the use of tokenized
 payment data to minimize business and platform liability.
 
+### Authorization & Abuse Signals
+
+Businesses require transaction environment data for authorization, rate
+limiting, and abuse prevention. Signal values **MUST NOT** be buyer-asserted
+claims — platforms provide signals based on direct observation (e.g.,
+connection IP, user agent) or by relaying independently verifiable
+third-party attestations, such as cryptographically signed results from an
+external verifier that the business can validate against the provider's
+published key set.
+
+All signal keys **MUST** use reverse-domain naming to ensure provenance and
+prevent collisions when multiple extensions contribute to the shared namespace.
+Well-known signals use the `dev.ucp` namespace (e.g., `dev.ucp.buyer_ip`);
+extension signals use their own namespace (e.g., `com.example.device_id`).
+
+```json
+{
+  "signals": {
+    "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": "203.0.113.42",
+    "dev.ucp.user_agent": "Mozilla/5.0 ...",
+    "com.example.attestation": {
+      "provider_jwks": "https://verifier.example/.well-known/jwks.json",
+      "pass": true,
+      "attested_at": "2026-02-27T12:00:00Z",
+      "signature": "base64url..."
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+Signal fields may contain personally identifiable information
+(PII). Platforms **SHOULD** include only signals relevant to the current
+transaction. Businesses **SHOULD NOT** persist signal data beyond the
+operational needs of the transaction (e.g., order finalization, fraud review).
+
+Businesses **MAY** return info messages to provide non-blocking advisory
+context to support authorization and abuse prevention. Info messages do not
+affect resource status or block progression. Platforms **SHOULD** surface
+actionable information to the buyer.
+
+Well-known info codes for signal feedback:
+
+| Code    | Description                                            |
+| :------ | :----------------------------------------------------- |
+| `risk`  | Fraud assessment and authorization confidence advisory |
+| `abuse` | Rate limiting and bot detection advisory               |
+
+```json
+{
+  "messages": [
+    {
+      "type": "info",
+      "code": "risk",
+      "path": "$.signals['dev.ucp.buyer_ip']",
+      "content": "IP geolocation does not match shipping country; additional verification may apply"
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "info",
+      "code": "abuse",
+      "content": "Elevated transaction failure rate; validate client and buyer intent"
+    }
+  ]
+}
+```
+
 ### Transaction Integrity and Non-Repudiation
 
 For scenarios requiring cryptographic proof of authorization (e.g., autonomous

docs/specification/payment-handler-template.md

@@ -303,8 +303,8 @@ Content-Type: application/json
       }
     ]
   },
-  "risk_signals": {
-    // risk signal objects here
+  "signals": {
+    // Platform-observed signals (buyer connection and device)
   }
 }
 ```

source/schemas/shopping/cart.json

@@ -69,6 +69,15 @@
         "update": "optional"
       }
     },
+    "signals": {
+      "$ref": "types/signals.json",
+      "description": "Transaction environment data attested by the platform to support authorization decisions and abuse prevention.",
+      "ucp_request": {
+        "create": "optional",
+        "update": "optional"
+      },
+      "ucp_response": "omit"
+    },
     "buyer": {
       "$ref": "types/buyer.json",
       "description": "Optional buyer information for personalized estimates.",

source/schemas/shopping/checkout.json

@@ -59,6 +59,16 @@
       },
       "ucp_response": "omit"
     },
+    "signals": {
+      "$ref": "types/signals.json",
+      "description": "Transaction environment data attested by the platform to support authorization decisions and abuse prevention.",
+      "ucp_request": {
+        "create": "optional",
+        "update": "optional",
+        "complete": "optional"
+      },
+      "ucp_response": "omit"
+    },
     "status": {
       "type": "string",
       "enum": [

source/schemas/shopping/types/signals.json

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+{
+  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
+  "$id": "https://ucp.dev/schemas/shopping/types/signals.json",
+  "title": "Signals",
+  "description": "Transaction environment data provided by the platform to support authorization decisions and abuse prevention. Values MUST NOT be buyer-asserted claims — platforms provide signals based on direct observation or independently verifiable third-party attestations. All signal keys MUST use reverse-domain naming to ensure provenance and prevent collisions when multiple extensions contribute to the shared namespace.",
+  "type": "object",
+  "propertyNames": {
+    "pattern": "^[a-z][a-z0-9]*(?:\\.[a-z][a-z0-9_]*)+$",
+    "description": "Reverse-domain identifier (e.g., dev.ucp.buyer_ip, com.example.device_id)."
+  },
+  "properties": {
+    "dev.ucp.buyer_ip": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "Client's IP address (IPv4 or IPv6)."
+    },
+    "dev.ucp.user_agent": {
+      "type": "string",
+      "description": "Client's HTTP User-Agent header or equivalent."
+    }
+  },
+  "additionalProperties": true
+}

source/services/shopping/rest.openapi.json

@@ -295,22 +295,7 @@
           "required": true,
           "content": {
             "application/json": {
-              "schema": {
-                "allOf": [
-                  { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/checkout" },
-                  {
-                    "title": "Risk Signals",
-                    "description": "Optional risk signals for fraud detection.",
-                    "type": "object",
-                    "properties": {
-                      "risk_signals": {
-                        "type": "object",
-                        "description": "Key-value pairs of risk signals."
-                      }
-                    }
-                  }
-                ]
-              }
+              "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/checkout" }
             }
           }
         },