1. A method for managing user attributes in a distributed computing system, wherein user attributes determine access rights to a computer application: the method comprising: modifying an attribute database, wherein the attribute database includes a plurality of possible user attributes and a plurality of users; obtaining an identity certificate from a certificate authority; associating the identity certificate with a user from the plurality of users within the attribute database; assigning an attribute from the plurality of possible user attributes to the user, whereby the user is granted access rights based on the attribute and the identity certificate; storing the attribute assigned to the user in the attribute database; and distributing modifications to the attribute database to a plurality of hosts coupled together by a network.