Password exposure elimination for digital signature coupling with a host identity

A method of certifying a host-identification mapping extension included in a digital certificate, the digital certificate issued and signed by a specific certification authority. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the method includes assigning a trust value for each certification authority included in a set of certification authorities. A digital certificate containing the host-identification mapping extension therein is received, with the host-identification mapping extension further containing a plurality of identification attributes therein. The plurality of identification attributes are evaluated, along with the trust value assigned to the specific certification authority issuing the digital certificate. A determination is then made, based upon the plurality of identification attributes and the trust value, as to whether the host-mapping extension is to be certified.