diff --git a/src/security/v2/validator-config/common.hpp b/src/security/v2/validator-config/common.hpp
new file mode 100644
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/security/v2/validator-config/common.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+/* -*- Mode:C++; c-file-style:"gnu"; indent-tabs-mode:nil; -*- */
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2013-2017 Regents of the University of California.
+ *
+ * This file is part of ndn-cxx library (NDN C++ library with eXperimental eXtensions).
+ *
+ * ndn-cxx library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the
+ * terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software
+ * Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * ndn-cxx library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY
+ * WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A
+ * PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received copies of the GNU General Public License and GNU Lesser
+ * General Public License along with ndn-cxx, e.g., in COPYING.md file.  If not, see
+ * <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ *
+ * See AUTHORS.md for complete list of ndn-cxx authors and contributors.
+ *
+ * @author Yingdi Yu <http://irl.cs.ucla.edu/~yingdi/>
+ */
+
+#ifndef NDN_SECURITY_V2_VALIDATOR_CONFIG_COMMON_HPP
+#define NDN_SECURITY_V2_VALIDATOR_CONFIG_COMMON_HPP
+
+#include "../../../common.hpp"
+#include <boost/property_tree/ptree.hpp>
+
+namespace ndn {
+namespace security {
+namespace v2 {
+namespace validator_config {
+
+typedef boost::property_tree::ptree ConfigSection;
+
+class Error : public std::runtime_error
+{
+public:
+  using std::runtime_error::runtime_error;
+};
+
+} // namespace validator_config
+} // namespace v2
+} // namespace security
+} // namespace ndn
+
+#endif // NDN_SECURITY_V2_VALIDATOR_CONFIG_COMMON_HPP