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1 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
2 <!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.1.2//EN"
3 "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.1.2/docbookx.dtd" []>
5 <book id="KernelCryptoAPI">
6 <bookinfo>
7 <title>Linux Kernel Crypto API</title>
9 <authorgroup>
10 <author>
11 <firstname>Stephan</firstname>
12 <surname>Mueller</surname>
13 <affiliation>
14 <address>
15 <email>smueller@chronox.de</email>
16 </address>
17 </affiliation>
18 </author>
19 <author>
20 <firstname>Marek</firstname>
21 <surname>Vasut</surname>
22 <affiliation>
23 <address>
24 <email>marek@denx.de</email>
25 </address>
26 </affiliation>
27 </author>
28 </authorgroup>
30 <copyright>
31 <year>2014</year>
32 <holder>Stephan Mueller</holder>
33 </copyright>
36 <legalnotice>
37 <para>
38 This documentation is free software; you can redistribute
39 it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public
40 License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
41 version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later
42 version.
43 </para>
45 <para>
46 This program is distributed in the hope that it will be
47 useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied
48 warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
49 See the GNU General Public License for more details.
50 </para>
52 <para>
53 You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public
54 License along with this program; if not, write to the Free
55 Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston,
56 MA 02111-1307 USA
57 </para>
59 <para>
60 For more details see the file COPYING in the source
61 distribution of Linux.
62 </para>
63 </legalnotice>
64 </bookinfo>
66 <toc></toc>
68 <chapter id="Intro">
69 <title>Kernel Crypto API Interface Specification</title>
71 <sect1><title>Introduction</title>
73 <para>
74 The kernel crypto API offers a rich set of cryptographic ciphers as
75 well as other data transformation mechanisms and methods to invoke
76 these. This document contains a description of the API and provides
77 example code.
78 </para>
80 <para>
81 To understand and properly use the kernel crypto API a brief
82 explanation of its structure is given. Based on the architecture,
83 the API can be separated into different components. Following the
84 architecture specification, hints to developers of ciphers are
85 provided. Pointers to the API function call documentation are
86 given at the end.
87 </para>
89 <para>
90 The kernel crypto API refers to all algorithms as "transformations".
91 Therefore, a cipher handle variable usually has the name "tfm".
92 Besides cryptographic operations, the kernel crypto API also knows
93 compression transformations and handles them the same way as ciphers.
94 </para>
96 <para>
97 The kernel crypto API serves the following entity types:
99 <itemizedlist>
100 <listitem>
101 <para>consumers requesting cryptographic services</para>
102 </listitem>
103 <listitem>
104 <para>data transformation implementations (typically ciphers)
105 that can be called by consumers using the kernel crypto
106 API</para>
107 </listitem>
108 </itemizedlist>
109 </para>
111 <para>
112 This specification is intended for consumers of the kernel crypto
113 API as well as for developers implementing ciphers. This API
114 specification, however, does not discuss all API calls available
115 to data transformation implementations (i.e. implementations of
116 ciphers and other transformations (such as CRC or even compression
117 algorithms) that can register with the kernel crypto API).
118 </para>
120 <para>
121 Note: The terms "transformation" and cipher algorithm are used
122 interchangeably.
123 </para>
124 </sect1>
126 <sect1><title>Terminology</title>
127 <para>
128 The transformation implementation is an actual code or interface
129 to hardware which implements a certain transformation with precisely
130 defined behavior.
131 </para>
133 <para>
134 The transformation object (TFM) is an instance of a transformation
135 implementation. There can be multiple transformation objects
136 associated with a single transformation implementation. Each of
137 those transformation objects is held by a crypto API consumer or
138 another transformation. Transformation object is allocated when a
139 crypto API consumer requests a transformation implementation.
140 The consumer is then provided with a structure, which contains
141 a transformation object (TFM).
142 </para>
144 <para>
145 The structure that contains transformation objects may also be
146 referred to as a "cipher handle". Such a cipher handle is always
147 subject to the following phases that are reflected in the API calls
148 applicable to such a cipher handle:
149 </para>
151 <orderedlist>
152 <listitem>
153 <para>Initialization of a cipher handle.</para>
154 </listitem>
155 <listitem>
156 <para>Execution of all intended cipher operations applicable
157 for the handle where the cipher handle must be furnished to
158 every API call.</para>
159 </listitem>
160 <listitem>
161 <para>Destruction of a cipher handle.</para>
162 </listitem>
163 </orderedlist>
165 <para>
166 When using the initialization API calls, a cipher handle is
167 created and returned to the consumer. Therefore, please refer
168 to all initialization API calls that refer to the data
169 structure type a consumer is expected to receive and subsequently
170 to use. The initialization API calls have all the same naming
171 conventions of crypto_alloc_*.
172 </para>
174 <para>
175 The transformation context is private data associated with
176 the transformation object.
177 </para>
178 </sect1>
179 </chapter>
181 <chapter id="Architecture"><title>Kernel Crypto API Architecture</title>
182 <sect1><title>Cipher algorithm types</title>
183 <para>
184 The kernel crypto API provides different API calls for the
185 following cipher types:
187 <itemizedlist>
188 <listitem><para>Symmetric ciphers</para></listitem>
189 <listitem><para>AEAD ciphers</para></listitem>
190 <listitem><para>Message digest, including keyed message digest</para></listitem>
191 <listitem><para>Random number generation</para></listitem>
192 <listitem><para>User space interface</para></listitem>
193 </itemizedlist>
194 </para>
195 </sect1>
197 <sect1><title>Ciphers And Templates</title>
198 <para>
199 The kernel crypto API provides implementations of single block
200 ciphers and message digests. In addition, the kernel crypto API
201 provides numerous "templates" that can be used in conjunction
202 with the single block ciphers and message digests. Templates
203 include all types of block chaining mode, the HMAC mechanism, etc.
204 </para>
206 <para>
207 Single block ciphers and message digests can either be directly
208 used by a caller or invoked together with a template to form
209 multi-block ciphers or keyed message digests.
210 </para>
212 <para>
213 A single block cipher may even be called with multiple templates.
214 However, templates cannot be used without a single cipher.
215 </para>
217 <para>
218 See /proc/crypto and search for "name". For example:
220 <itemizedlist>
221 <listitem><para>aes</para></listitem>
222 <listitem><para>ecb(aes)</para></listitem>
223 <listitem><para>cmac(aes)</para></listitem>
224 <listitem><para>ccm(aes)</para></listitem>
225 <listitem><para>rfc4106(gcm(aes))</para></listitem>
226 <listitem><para>sha1</para></listitem>
227 <listitem><para>hmac(sha1)</para></listitem>
228 <listitem><para>authenc(hmac(sha1),cbc(aes))</para></listitem>
229 </itemizedlist>
230 </para>
232 <para>
233 In these examples, "aes" and "sha1" are the ciphers and all
234 others are the templates.
235 </para>
236 </sect1>
238 <sect1><title>Synchronous And Asynchronous Operation</title>
239 <para>
240 The kernel crypto API provides synchronous and asynchronous
241 API operations.
242 </para>
244 <para>
245 When using the synchronous API operation, the caller invokes
246 a cipher operation which is performed synchronously by the
247 kernel crypto API. That means, the caller waits until the
248 cipher operation completes. Therefore, the kernel crypto API
249 calls work like regular function calls. For synchronous
250 operation, the set of API calls is small and conceptually
251 similar to any other crypto library.
252 </para>
254 <para>
255 Asynchronous operation is provided by the kernel crypto API
256 which implies that the invocation of a cipher operation will
257 complete almost instantly. That invocation triggers the
258 cipher operation but it does not signal its completion. Before
259 invoking a cipher operation, the caller must provide a callback
260 function the kernel crypto API can invoke to signal the
261 completion of the cipher operation. Furthermore, the caller
262 must ensure it can handle such asynchronous events by applying
263 appropriate locking around its data. The kernel crypto API
264 does not perform any special serialization operation to protect
265 the caller's data integrity.
266 </para>
267 </sect1>
269 <sect1><title>Crypto API Cipher References And Priority</title>
270 <para>
271 A cipher is referenced by the caller with a string. That string
272 has the following semantics:
274 <programlisting>
275 template(single block cipher)
276 </programlisting>
278 where "template" and "single block cipher" is the aforementioned
279 template and single block cipher, respectively. If applicable,
280 additional templates may enclose other templates, such as
282 <programlisting>
283 template1(template2(single block cipher)))
284 </programlisting>
285 </para>
287 <para>
288 The kernel crypto API may provide multiple implementations of a
289 template or a single block cipher. For example, AES on newer
290 Intel hardware has the following implementations: AES-NI,
291 assembler implementation, or straight C. Now, when using the
292 string "aes" with the kernel crypto API, which cipher
293 implementation is used? The answer to that question is the
294 priority number assigned to each cipher implementation by the
295 kernel crypto API. When a caller uses the string to refer to a
296 cipher during initialization of a cipher handle, the kernel
297 crypto API looks up all implementations providing an
298 implementation with that name and selects the implementation
299 with the highest priority.
300 </para>
302 <para>
303 Now, a caller may have the need to refer to a specific cipher
304 implementation and thus does not want to rely on the
305 priority-based selection. To accommodate this scenario, the
306 kernel crypto API allows the cipher implementation to register
307 a unique name in addition to common names. When using that
308 unique name, a caller is therefore always sure to refer to
309 the intended cipher implementation.
310 </para>
312 <para>
313 The list of available ciphers is given in /proc/crypto. However,
314 that list does not specify all possible permutations of
315 templates and ciphers. Each block listed in /proc/crypto may
316 contain the following information -- if one of the components
317 listed as follows are not applicable to a cipher, it is not
318 displayed:
319 </para>
321 <itemizedlist>
322 <listitem>
323 <para>name: the generic name of the cipher that is subject
324 to the priority-based selection -- this name can be used by
325 the cipher allocation API calls (all names listed above are
326 examples for such generic names)</para>
327 </listitem>
328 <listitem>
329 <para>driver: the unique name of the cipher -- this name can
330 be used by the cipher allocation API calls</para>
331 </listitem>
332 <listitem>
333 <para>module: the kernel module providing the cipher
334 implementation (or "kernel" for statically linked ciphers)</para>
335 </listitem>
336 <listitem>
337 <para>priority: the priority value of the cipher implementation</para>
338 </listitem>
339 <listitem>
340 <para>refcnt: the reference count of the respective cipher
341 (i.e. the number of current consumers of this cipher)</para>
342 </listitem>
343 <listitem>
344 <para>selftest: specification whether the self test for the
345 cipher passed</para>
346 </listitem>
347 <listitem>
348 <para>type:
349 <itemizedlist>
350 <listitem>
351 <para>skcipher for symmetric key ciphers</para>
352 </listitem>
353 <listitem>
354 <para>cipher for single block ciphers that may be used with
355 an additional template</para>
356 </listitem>
357 <listitem>
358 <para>shash for synchronous message digest</para>
359 </listitem>
360 <listitem>
361 <para>ahash for asynchronous message digest</para>
362 </listitem>
363 <listitem>
364 <para>aead for AEAD cipher type</para>
365 </listitem>
366 <listitem>
367 <para>compression for compression type transformations</para>
368 </listitem>
369 <listitem>
370 <para>rng for random number generator</para>
371 </listitem>
372 <listitem>
373 <para>givcipher for cipher with associated IV generator
374 (see the geniv entry below for the specification of the
375 IV generator type used by the cipher implementation)</para>
376 </listitem>
377 </itemizedlist>
378 </para>
379 </listitem>
380 <listitem>
381 <para>blocksize: blocksize of cipher in bytes</para>
382 </listitem>
383 <listitem>
384 <para>keysize: key size in bytes</para>
385 </listitem>
386 <listitem>
387 <para>ivsize: IV size in bytes</para>
388 </listitem>
389 <listitem>
390 <para>seedsize: required size of seed data for random number
391 generator</para>
392 </listitem>
393 <listitem>
394 <para>digestsize: output size of the message digest</para>
395 </listitem>
396 <listitem>
397 <para>geniv: IV generation type:
398 <itemizedlist>
399 <listitem>
400 <para>eseqiv for encrypted sequence number based IV
401 generation</para>
402 </listitem>
403 <listitem>
404 <para>seqiv for sequence number based IV generation</para>
405 </listitem>
406 <listitem>
407 <para>chainiv for chain iv generation</para>
408 </listitem>
409 <listitem>
410 <para>&lt;builtin&gt; is a marker that the cipher implements
411 IV generation and handling as it is specific to the given
412 cipher</para>
413 </listitem>
414 </itemizedlist>
415 </para>
416 </listitem>
417 </itemizedlist>
418 </sect1>
420 <sect1><title>Key Sizes</title>
421 <para>
422 When allocating a cipher handle, the caller only specifies the
423 cipher type. Symmetric ciphers, however, typically support
424 multiple key sizes (e.g. AES-128 vs. AES-192 vs. AES-256).
425 These key sizes are determined with the length of the provided
426 key. Thus, the kernel crypto API does not provide a separate
427 way to select the particular symmetric cipher key size.
428 </para>
429 </sect1>
431 <sect1><title>Cipher Allocation Type And Masks</title>
432 <para>
433 The different cipher handle allocation functions allow the
434 specification of a type and mask flag. Both parameters have
435 the following meaning (and are therefore not covered in the
436 subsequent sections).
437 </para>
439 <para>
440 The type flag specifies the type of the cipher algorithm.
441 The caller usually provides a 0 when the caller wants the
442 default handling. Otherwise, the caller may provide the
443 following selections which match the aforementioned cipher
444 types:
445 </para>
447 <itemizedlist>
448 <listitem>
449 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_CIPHER Single block cipher</para>
450 </listitem>
451 <listitem>
452 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_COMPRESS Compression</para>
453 </listitem>
454 <listitem>
455 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_AEAD Authenticated Encryption with
456 Associated Data (MAC)</para>
457 </listitem>
458 <listitem>
459 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_BLKCIPHER Synchronous multi-block cipher</para>
460 </listitem>
461 <listitem>
462 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_ABLKCIPHER Asynchronous multi-block cipher</para>
463 </listitem>
464 <listitem>
465 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_GIVCIPHER Asynchronous multi-block
466 cipher packed together with an IV generator (see geniv field
467 in the /proc/crypto listing for the known IV generators)</para>
468 </listitem>
469 <listitem>
470 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_DIGEST Raw message digest</para>
471 </listitem>
472 <listitem>
473 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_HASH Alias for CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_DIGEST</para>
474 </listitem>
475 <listitem>
476 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_SHASH Synchronous multi-block hash</para>
477 </listitem>
478 <listitem>
479 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_AHASH Asynchronous multi-block hash</para>
480 </listitem>
481 <listitem>
482 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_RNG Random Number Generation</para>
483 </listitem>
484 <listitem>
485 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_AKCIPHER Asymmetric cipher</para>
486 </listitem>
487 <listitem>
488 <para>CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_PCOMPRESS Enhanced version of
489 CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_COMPRESS allowing for segmented compression /
490 decompression instead of performing the operation on one
491 segment only. CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_PCOMPRESS is intended to replace
492 CRYPTO_ALG_TYPE_COMPRESS once existing consumers are converted.</para>
493 </listitem>
494 </itemizedlist>
496 <para>
497 The mask flag restricts the type of cipher. The only allowed
498 flag is CRYPTO_ALG_ASYNC to restrict the cipher lookup function
499 to asynchronous ciphers. Usually, a caller provides a 0 for the
500 mask flag.
501 </para>
503 <para>
504 When the caller provides a mask and type specification, the
505 caller limits the search the kernel crypto API can perform for
506 a suitable cipher implementation for the given cipher name.
507 That means, even when a caller uses a cipher name that exists
508 during its initialization call, the kernel crypto API may not
509 select it due to the used type and mask field.
510 </para>
511 </sect1>
513 <sect1><title>Internal Structure of Kernel Crypto API</title>
515 <para>
516 The kernel crypto API has an internal structure where a cipher
517 implementation may use many layers and indirections. This section
518 shall help to clarify how the kernel crypto API uses
519 various components to implement the complete cipher.
520 </para>
522 <para>
523 The following subsections explain the internal structure based
524 on existing cipher implementations. The first section addresses
525 the most complex scenario where all other scenarios form a logical
526 subset.
527 </para>
529 <sect2><title>Generic AEAD Cipher Structure</title>
531 <para>
532 The following ASCII art decomposes the kernel crypto API layers
533 when using the AEAD cipher with the automated IV generation. The
534 shown example is used by the IPSEC layer.
535 </para>
537 <para>
538 For other use cases of AEAD ciphers, the ASCII art applies as
539 well, but the caller may not use the AEAD cipher with a separate
540 IV generator. In this case, the caller must generate the IV.
541 </para>
543 <para>
544 The depicted example decomposes the AEAD cipher of GCM(AES) based
545 on the generic C implementations (gcm.c, aes-generic.c, ctr.c,
546 ghash-generic.c, seqiv.c). The generic implementation serves as an
547 example showing the complete logic of the kernel crypto API.
548 </para>
550 <para>
551 It is possible that some streamlined cipher implementations (like
552 AES-NI) provide implementations merging aspects which in the view
553 of the kernel crypto API cannot be decomposed into layers any more.
554 In case of the AES-NI implementation, the CTR mode, the GHASH
555 implementation and the AES cipher are all merged into one cipher
556 implementation registered with the kernel crypto API. In this case,
557 the concept described by the following ASCII art applies too. However,
558 the decomposition of GCM into the individual sub-components
559 by the kernel crypto API is not done any more.
560 </para>
562 <para>
563 Each block in the following ASCII art is an independent cipher
564 instance obtained from the kernel crypto API. Each block
565 is accessed by the caller or by other blocks using the API functions
566 defined by the kernel crypto API for the cipher implementation type.
567 </para>
569 <para>
570 The blocks below indicate the cipher type as well as the specific
571 logic implemented in the cipher.
572 </para>
574 <para>
575 The ASCII art picture also indicates the call structure, i.e. who
576 calls which component. The arrows point to the invoked block
577 where the caller uses the API applicable to the cipher type
578 specified for the block.
579 </para>
581 <programlisting>
582 <![CDATA[
583 kernel crypto API | IPSEC Layer
585 +-----------+ |
586 | | (1)
587 | aead | <----------------------------------- esp_output
588 | (seqiv) | ---+
589 +-----------+ |
590 | (2)
591 +-----------+ |
592 | | <--+ (2)
593 | aead | <----------------------------------- esp_input
594 | (gcm) | ------------+
595 +-----------+ |
596 | (3) | (5)
598 +-----------+ +-----------+
599 | | | |
600 | skcipher | | ahash |
601 | (ctr) | ---+ | (ghash) |
602 +-----------+ | +-----------+
604 +-----------+ | (4)
605 | | <--+
606 | cipher |
607 | (aes) |
608 +-----------+
610 </programlisting>
612 <para>
613 The following call sequence is applicable when the IPSEC layer
614 triggers an encryption operation with the esp_output function. During
615 configuration, the administrator set up the use of rfc4106(gcm(aes)) as
616 the cipher for ESP. The following call sequence is now depicted in the
617 ASCII art above:
618 </para>
620 <orderedlist>
621 <listitem>
622 <para>
623 esp_output() invokes crypto_aead_encrypt() to trigger an encryption
624 operation of the AEAD cipher with IV generator.
625 </para>
627 <para>
628 In case of GCM, the SEQIV implementation is registered as GIVCIPHER
629 in crypto_rfc4106_alloc().
630 </para>
632 <para>
633 The SEQIV performs its operation to generate an IV where the core
634 function is seqiv_geniv().
635 </para>
636 </listitem>
638 <listitem>
639 <para>
640 Now, SEQIV uses the AEAD API function calls to invoke the associated
641 AEAD cipher. In our case, during the instantiation of SEQIV, the
642 cipher handle for GCM is provided to SEQIV. This means that SEQIV
643 invokes AEAD cipher operations with the GCM cipher handle.
644 </para>
646 <para>
647 During instantiation of the GCM handle, the CTR(AES) and GHASH
648 ciphers are instantiated. The cipher handles for CTR(AES) and GHASH
649 are retained for later use.
650 </para>
652 <para>
653 The GCM implementation is responsible to invoke the CTR mode AES and
654 the GHASH cipher in the right manner to implement the GCM
655 specification.
656 </para>
657 </listitem>
659 <listitem>
660 <para>
661 The GCM AEAD cipher type implementation now invokes the SKCIPHER API
662 with the instantiated CTR(AES) cipher handle.
663 </para>
665 <para>
666 During instantiation of the CTR(AES) cipher, the CIPHER type
667 implementation of AES is instantiated. The cipher handle for AES is
668 retained.
669 </para>
671 <para>
672 That means that the SKCIPHER implementation of CTR(AES) only
673 implements the CTR block chaining mode. After performing the block
674 chaining operation, the CIPHER implementation of AES is invoked.
675 </para>
676 </listitem>
678 <listitem>
679 <para>
680 The SKCIPHER of CTR(AES) now invokes the CIPHER API with the AES
681 cipher handle to encrypt one block.
682 </para>
683 </listitem>
685 <listitem>
686 <para>
687 The GCM AEAD implementation also invokes the GHASH cipher
688 implementation via the AHASH API.
689 </para>
690 </listitem>
691 </orderedlist>
693 <para>
694 When the IPSEC layer triggers the esp_input() function, the same call
695 sequence is followed with the only difference that the operation starts
696 with step (2).
697 </para>
698 </sect2>
700 <sect2><title>Generic Block Cipher Structure</title>
701 <para>
702 Generic block ciphers follow the same concept as depicted with the ASCII
703 art picture above.
704 </para>
706 <para>
707 For example, CBC(AES) is implemented with cbc.c, and aes-generic.c. The
708 ASCII art picture above applies as well with the difference that only
709 step (4) is used and the SKCIPHER block chaining mode is CBC.
710 </para>
711 </sect2>
713 <sect2><title>Generic Keyed Message Digest Structure</title>
714 <para>
715 Keyed message digest implementations again follow the same concept as
716 depicted in the ASCII art picture above.
717 </para>
719 <para>
720 For example, HMAC(SHA256) is implemented with hmac.c and
721 sha256_generic.c. The following ASCII art illustrates the
722 implementation:
723 </para>
725 <programlisting>
726 <![CDATA[
727 kernel crypto API | Caller
729 +-----------+ (1) |
730 | | <------------------ some_function
731 | ahash |
732 | (hmac) | ---+
733 +-----------+ |
734 | (2)
735 +-----------+ |
736 | | <--+
737 | shash |
738 | (sha256) |
739 +-----------+
741 </programlisting>
743 <para>
744 The following call sequence is applicable when a caller triggers
745 an HMAC operation:
746 </para>
748 <orderedlist>
749 <listitem>
750 <para>
751 The AHASH API functions are invoked by the caller. The HMAC
752 implementation performs its operation as needed.
753 </para>
755 <para>
756 During initialization of the HMAC cipher, the SHASH cipher type of
757 SHA256 is instantiated. The cipher handle for the SHA256 instance is
758 retained.
759 </para>
761 <para>
762 At one time, the HMAC implementation requires a SHA256 operation
763 where the SHA256 cipher handle is used.
764 </para>
765 </listitem>
767 <listitem>
768 <para>
769 The HMAC instance now invokes the SHASH API with the SHA256
770 cipher handle to calculate the message digest.
771 </para>
772 </listitem>
773 </orderedlist>
774 </sect2>
775 </sect1>
776 </chapter>
778 <chapter id="Development"><title>Developing Cipher Algorithms</title>
779 <sect1><title>Registering And Unregistering Transformation</title>
780 <para>
781 There are three distinct types of registration functions in
782 the Crypto API. One is used to register a generic cryptographic
783 transformation, while the other two are specific to HASH
784 transformations and COMPRESSion. We will discuss the latter
785 two in a separate chapter, here we will only look at the
786 generic ones.
787 </para>
789 <para>
790 Before discussing the register functions, the data structure
791 to be filled with each, struct crypto_alg, must be considered
792 -- see below for a description of this data structure.
793 </para>
795 <para>
796 The generic registration functions can be found in
797 include/linux/crypto.h and their definition can be seen below.
798 The former function registers a single transformation, while
799 the latter works on an array of transformation descriptions.
800 The latter is useful when registering transformations in bulk,
801 for example when a driver implements multiple transformations.
802 </para>
804 <programlisting>
805 int crypto_register_alg(struct crypto_alg *alg);
806 int crypto_register_algs(struct crypto_alg *algs, int count);
807 </programlisting>
809 <para>
810 The counterparts to those functions are listed below.
811 </para>
813 <programlisting>
814 int crypto_unregister_alg(struct crypto_alg *alg);
815 int crypto_unregister_algs(struct crypto_alg *algs, int count);
816 </programlisting>
818 <para>
819 Notice that both registration and unregistration functions
820 do return a value, so make sure to handle errors. A return
821 code of zero implies success. Any return code &lt; 0 implies
822 an error.
823 </para>
825 <para>
826 The bulk registration/unregistration functions
827 register/unregister each transformation in the given array of
828 length count. They handle errors as follows:
829 </para>
830 <itemizedlist>
831 <listitem>
832 <para>
833 crypto_register_algs() succeeds if and only if it
834 successfully registers all the given transformations. If an
835 error occurs partway through, then it rolls back successful
836 registrations before returning the error code. Note that if
837 a driver needs to handle registration errors for individual
838 transformations, then it will need to use the non-bulk
839 function crypto_register_alg() instead.
840 </para>
841 </listitem>
842 <listitem>
843 <para>
844 crypto_unregister_algs() tries to unregister all the given
845 transformations, continuing on error. It logs errors and
846 always returns zero.
847 </para>
848 </listitem>
849 </itemizedlist>
851 </sect1>
853 <sect1><title>Single-Block Symmetric Ciphers [CIPHER]</title>
854 <para>
855 Example of transformations: aes, arc4, ...
856 </para>
858 <para>
859 This section describes the simplest of all transformation
860 implementations, that being the CIPHER type used for symmetric
861 ciphers. The CIPHER type is used for transformations which
862 operate on exactly one block at a time and there are no
863 dependencies between blocks at all.
864 </para>
866 <sect2><title>Registration specifics</title>
867 <para>
868 The registration of [CIPHER] algorithm is specific in that
869 struct crypto_alg field .cra_type is empty. The .cra_u.cipher
870 has to be filled in with proper callbacks to implement this
871 transformation.
872 </para>
874 <para>
875 See struct cipher_alg below.
876 </para>
877 </sect2>
879 <sect2><title>Cipher Definition With struct cipher_alg</title>
880 <para>
881 Struct cipher_alg defines a single block cipher.
882 </para>
884 <para>
885 Here are schematics of how these functions are called when
886 operated from other part of the kernel. Note that the
887 .cia_setkey() call might happen before or after any of these
888 schematics happen, but must not happen during any of these
889 are in-flight.
890 </para>
892 <para>
893 <programlisting>
894 KEY ---. PLAINTEXT ---.
896 .cia_setkey() -&gt; .cia_encrypt()
898 '-----&gt; CIPHERTEXT
899 </programlisting>
900 </para>
902 <para>
903 Please note that a pattern where .cia_setkey() is called
904 multiple times is also valid:
905 </para>
907 <para>
908 <programlisting>
910 KEY1 --. PLAINTEXT1 --. KEY2 --. PLAINTEXT2 --.
911 v v v v
912 .cia_setkey() -&gt; .cia_encrypt() -&gt; .cia_setkey() -&gt; .cia_encrypt()
914 '---&gt; CIPHERTEXT1 '---&gt; CIPHERTEXT2
915 </programlisting>
916 </para>
918 </sect2>
919 </sect1>
921 <sect1><title>Multi-Block Ciphers</title>
922 <para>
923 Example of transformations: cbc(aes), ecb(arc4), ...
924 </para>
926 <para>
927 This section describes the multi-block cipher transformation
928 implementations. The multi-block ciphers are
929 used for transformations which operate on scatterlists of
930 data supplied to the transformation functions. They output
931 the result into a scatterlist of data as well.
932 </para>
934 <sect2><title>Registration Specifics</title>
936 <para>
937 The registration of multi-block cipher algorithms
938 is one of the most standard procedures throughout the crypto API.
939 </para>
941 <para>
942 Note, if a cipher implementation requires a proper alignment
943 of data, the caller should use the functions of
944 crypto_skcipher_alignmask() to identify a memory alignment mask.
945 The kernel crypto API is able to process requests that are unaligned.
946 This implies, however, additional overhead as the kernel
947 crypto API needs to perform the realignment of the data which
948 may imply moving of data.
949 </para>
950 </sect2>
952 <sect2><title>Cipher Definition With struct blkcipher_alg and ablkcipher_alg</title>
953 <para>
954 Struct blkcipher_alg defines a synchronous block cipher whereas
955 struct ablkcipher_alg defines an asynchronous block cipher.
956 </para>
958 <para>
959 Please refer to the single block cipher description for schematics
960 of the block cipher usage.
961 </para>
962 </sect2>
964 <sect2><title>Specifics Of Asynchronous Multi-Block Cipher</title>
965 <para>
966 There are a couple of specifics to the asynchronous interface.
967 </para>
969 <para>
970 First of all, some of the drivers will want to use the
971 Generic ScatterWalk in case the hardware needs to be fed
972 separate chunks of the scatterlist which contains the
973 plaintext and will contain the ciphertext. Please refer
974 to the ScatterWalk interface offered by the Linux kernel
975 scatter / gather list implementation.
976 </para>
977 </sect2>
978 </sect1>
980 <sect1><title>Hashing [HASH]</title>
982 <para>
983 Example of transformations: crc32, md5, sha1, sha256,...
984 </para>
986 <sect2><title>Registering And Unregistering The Transformation</title>
988 <para>
989 There are multiple ways to register a HASH transformation,
990 depending on whether the transformation is synchronous [SHASH]
991 or asynchronous [AHASH] and the amount of HASH transformations
992 we are registering. You can find the prototypes defined in
993 include/crypto/internal/hash.h:
994 </para>
996 <programlisting>
997 int crypto_register_ahash(struct ahash_alg *alg);
999 int crypto_register_shash(struct shash_alg *alg);
1000 int crypto_register_shashes(struct shash_alg *algs, int count);
1001 </programlisting>
1003 <para>
1004 The respective counterparts for unregistering the HASH
1005 transformation are as follows:
1006 </para>
1008 <programlisting>
1009 int crypto_unregister_ahash(struct ahash_alg *alg);
1011 int crypto_unregister_shash(struct shash_alg *alg);
1012 int crypto_unregister_shashes(struct shash_alg *algs, int count);
1013 </programlisting>
1014 </sect2>
1016 <sect2><title>Cipher Definition With struct shash_alg and ahash_alg</title>
1017 <para>
1018 Here are schematics of how these functions are called when
1019 operated from other part of the kernel. Note that the .setkey()
1020 call might happen before or after any of these schematics happen,
1021 but must not happen during any of these are in-flight. Please note
1022 that calling .init() followed immediately by .finish() is also a
1023 perfectly valid transformation.
1024 </para>
1026 <programlisting>
1027 I) DATA -----------.
1029 .init() -&gt; .update() -&gt; .final() ! .update() might not be called
1030 ^ | | at all in this scenario.
1031 '----' '---&gt; HASH
1033 II) DATA -----------.-----------.
1035 .init() -&gt; .update() -&gt; .finup() ! .update() may not be called
1036 ^ | | at all in this scenario.
1037 '----' '---&gt; HASH
1039 III) DATA -----------.
1041 .digest() ! The entire process is handled
1042 | by the .digest() call.
1043 '---------------&gt; HASH
1044 </programlisting>
1046 <para>
1047 Here is a schematic of how the .export()/.import() functions are
1048 called when used from another part of the kernel.
1049 </para>
1051 <programlisting>
1052 KEY--. DATA--.
1053 v v ! .update() may not be called
1054 .setkey() -&gt; .init() -&gt; .update() -&gt; .export() at all in this scenario.
1055 ^ | |
1056 '-----' '--&gt; PARTIAL_HASH
1058 ----------- other transformations happen here -----------
1060 PARTIAL_HASH--. DATA1--.
1062 .import -&gt; .update() -&gt; .final() ! .update() may not be called
1063 ^ | | at all in this scenario.
1064 '----' '--&gt; HASH1
1066 PARTIAL_HASH--. DATA2-.
1068 .import -&gt; .finup()
1070 '---------------&gt; HASH2
1071 </programlisting>
1072 </sect2>
1074 <sect2><title>Specifics Of Asynchronous HASH Transformation</title>
1075 <para>
1076 Some of the drivers will want to use the Generic ScatterWalk
1077 in case the implementation needs to be fed separate chunks of the
1078 scatterlist which contains the input data. The buffer containing
1079 the resulting hash will always be properly aligned to
1080 .cra_alignmask so there is no need to worry about this.
1081 </para>
1082 </sect2>
1083 </sect1>
1084 </chapter>
1086 <chapter id="User"><title>User Space Interface</title>
1087 <sect1><title>Introduction</title>
1088 <para>
1089 The concepts of the kernel crypto API visible to kernel space is fully
1090 applicable to the user space interface as well. Therefore, the kernel
1091 crypto API high level discussion for the in-kernel use cases applies
1092 here as well.
1093 </para>
1095 <para>
1096 The major difference, however, is that user space can only act as a
1097 consumer and never as a provider of a transformation or cipher algorithm.
1098 </para>
1100 <para>
1101 The following covers the user space interface exported by the kernel
1102 crypto API. A working example of this description is libkcapi that
1103 can be obtained from [1]. That library can be used by user space
1104 applications that require cryptographic services from the kernel.
1105 </para>
1107 <para>
1108 Some details of the in-kernel kernel crypto API aspects do not
1109 apply to user space, however. This includes the difference between
1110 synchronous and asynchronous invocations. The user space API call
1111 is fully synchronous.
1112 </para>
1114 <para>
1115 [1] <ulink url="http://www.chronox.de/libkcapi.html">http://www.chronox.de/libkcapi.html</ulink>
1116 </para>
1118 </sect1>
1120 <sect1><title>User Space API General Remarks</title>
1121 <para>
1122 The kernel crypto API is accessible from user space. Currently,
1123 the following ciphers are accessible:
1124 </para>
1126 <itemizedlist>
1127 <listitem>
1128 <para>Message digest including keyed message digest (HMAC, CMAC)</para>
1129 </listitem>
1131 <listitem>
1132 <para>Symmetric ciphers</para>
1133 </listitem>
1135 <listitem>
1136 <para>AEAD ciphers</para>
1137 </listitem>
1139 <listitem>
1140 <para>Random Number Generators</para>
1141 </listitem>
1142 </itemizedlist>
1144 <para>
1145 The interface is provided via socket type using the type AF_ALG.
1146 In addition, the setsockopt option type is SOL_ALG. In case the
1147 user space header files do not export these flags yet, use the
1148 following macros:
1149 </para>
1151 <programlisting>
1152 #ifndef AF_ALG
1153 #define AF_ALG 38
1154 #endif
1155 #ifndef SOL_ALG
1156 #define SOL_ALG 279
1157 #endif
1158 </programlisting>
1160 <para>
1161 A cipher is accessed with the same name as done for the in-kernel
1162 API calls. This includes the generic vs. unique naming schema for
1163 ciphers as well as the enforcement of priorities for generic names.
1164 </para>
1166 <para>
1167 To interact with the kernel crypto API, a socket must be
1168 created by the user space application. User space invokes the cipher
1169 operation with the send()/write() system call family. The result of the
1170 cipher operation is obtained with the read()/recv() system call family.
1171 </para>
1173 <para>
1174 The following API calls assume that the socket descriptor
1175 is already opened by the user space application and discusses only
1176 the kernel crypto API specific invocations.
1177 </para>
1179 <para>
1180 To initialize the socket interface, the following sequence has to
1181 be performed by the consumer:
1182 </para>
1184 <orderedlist>
1185 <listitem>
1186 <para>
1187 Create a socket of type AF_ALG with the struct sockaddr_alg
1188 parameter specified below for the different cipher types.
1189 </para>
1190 </listitem>
1192 <listitem>
1193 <para>
1194 Invoke bind with the socket descriptor
1195 </para>
1196 </listitem>
1198 <listitem>
1199 <para>
1200 Invoke accept with the socket descriptor. The accept system call
1201 returns a new file descriptor that is to be used to interact with
1202 the particular cipher instance. When invoking send/write or recv/read
1203 system calls to send data to the kernel or obtain data from the
1204 kernel, the file descriptor returned by accept must be used.
1205 </para>
1206 </listitem>
1207 </orderedlist>
1208 </sect1>
1210 <sect1><title>In-place Cipher operation</title>
1211 <para>
1212 Just like the in-kernel operation of the kernel crypto API, the user
1213 space interface allows the cipher operation in-place. That means that
1214 the input buffer used for the send/write system call and the output
1215 buffer used by the read/recv system call may be one and the same.
1216 This is of particular interest for symmetric cipher operations where a
1217 copying of the output data to its final destination can be avoided.
1218 </para>
1220 <para>
1221 If a consumer on the other hand wants to maintain the plaintext and
1222 the ciphertext in different memory locations, all a consumer needs
1223 to do is to provide different memory pointers for the encryption and
1224 decryption operation.
1225 </para>
1226 </sect1>
1228 <sect1><title>Message Digest API</title>
1229 <para>
1230 The message digest type to be used for the cipher operation is
1231 selected when invoking the bind syscall. bind requires the caller
1232 to provide a filled struct sockaddr data structure. This data
1233 structure must be filled as follows:
1234 </para>
1236 <programlisting>
1237 struct sockaddr_alg sa = {
1238 .salg_family = AF_ALG,
1239 .salg_type = "hash", /* this selects the hash logic in the kernel */
1240 .salg_name = "sha1" /* this is the cipher name */
1242 </programlisting>
1244 <para>
1245 The salg_type value "hash" applies to message digests and keyed
1246 message digests. Though, a keyed message digest is referenced by
1247 the appropriate salg_name. Please see below for the setsockopt
1248 interface that explains how the key can be set for a keyed message
1249 digest.
1250 </para>
1252 <para>
1253 Using the send() system call, the application provides the data that
1254 should be processed with the message digest. The send system call
1255 allows the following flags to be specified:
1256 </para>
1258 <itemizedlist>
1259 <listitem>
1260 <para>
1261 MSG_MORE: If this flag is set, the send system call acts like a
1262 message digest update function where the final hash is not
1263 yet calculated. If the flag is not set, the send system call
1264 calculates the final message digest immediately.
1265 </para>
1266 </listitem>
1267 </itemizedlist>
1269 <para>
1270 With the recv() system call, the application can read the message
1271 digest from the kernel crypto API. If the buffer is too small for the
1272 message digest, the flag MSG_TRUNC is set by the kernel.
1273 </para>
1275 <para>
1276 In order to set a message digest key, the calling application must use
1277 the setsockopt() option of ALG_SET_KEY. If the key is not set the HMAC
1278 operation is performed without the initial HMAC state change caused by
1279 the key.
1280 </para>
1281 </sect1>
1283 <sect1><title>Symmetric Cipher API</title>
1284 <para>
1285 The operation is very similar to the message digest discussion.
1286 During initialization, the struct sockaddr data structure must be
1287 filled as follows:
1288 </para>
1290 <programlisting>
1291 struct sockaddr_alg sa = {
1292 .salg_family = AF_ALG,
1293 .salg_type = "skcipher", /* this selects the symmetric cipher */
1294 .salg_name = "cbc(aes)" /* this is the cipher name */
1296 </programlisting>
1298 <para>
1299 Before data can be sent to the kernel using the write/send system
1300 call family, the consumer must set the key. The key setting is
1301 described with the setsockopt invocation below.
1302 </para>
1304 <para>
1305 Using the sendmsg() system call, the application provides the data that should be processed for encryption or decryption. In addition, the IV is
1306 specified with the data structure provided by the sendmsg() system call.
1307 </para>
1309 <para>
1310 The sendmsg system call parameter of struct msghdr is embedded into the
1311 struct cmsghdr data structure. See recv(2) and cmsg(3) for more
1312 information on how the cmsghdr data structure is used together with the
1313 send/recv system call family. That cmsghdr data structure holds the
1314 following information specified with a separate header instances:
1315 </para>
1317 <itemizedlist>
1318 <listitem>
1319 <para>
1320 specification of the cipher operation type with one of these flags:
1321 </para>
1322 <itemizedlist>
1323 <listitem>
1324 <para>ALG_OP_ENCRYPT - encryption of data</para>
1325 </listitem>
1326 <listitem>
1327 <para>ALG_OP_DECRYPT - decryption of data</para>
1328 </listitem>
1329 </itemizedlist>
1330 </listitem>
1332 <listitem>
1333 <para>
1334 specification of the IV information marked with the flag ALG_SET_IV
1335 </para>
1336 </listitem>
1337 </itemizedlist>
1339 <para>
1340 The send system call family allows the following flag to be specified:
1341 </para>
1343 <itemizedlist>
1344 <listitem>
1345 <para>
1346 MSG_MORE: If this flag is set, the send system call acts like a
1347 cipher update function where more input data is expected
1348 with a subsequent invocation of the send system call.
1349 </para>
1350 </listitem>
1351 </itemizedlist>
1353 <para>
1354 Note: The kernel reports -EINVAL for any unexpected data. The caller
1355 must make sure that all data matches the constraints given in
1356 /proc/crypto for the selected cipher.
1357 </para>
1359 <para>
1360 With the recv() system call, the application can read the result of
1361 the cipher operation from the kernel crypto API. The output buffer
1362 must be at least as large as to hold all blocks of the encrypted or
1363 decrypted data. If the output data size is smaller, only as many
1364 blocks are returned that fit into that output buffer size.
1365 </para>
1366 </sect1>
1368 <sect1><title>AEAD Cipher API</title>
1369 <para>
1370 The operation is very similar to the symmetric cipher discussion.
1371 During initialization, the struct sockaddr data structure must be
1372 filled as follows:
1373 </para>
1375 <programlisting>
1376 struct sockaddr_alg sa = {
1377 .salg_family = AF_ALG,
1378 .salg_type = "aead", /* this selects the symmetric cipher */
1379 .salg_name = "gcm(aes)" /* this is the cipher name */
1381 </programlisting>
1383 <para>
1384 Before data can be sent to the kernel using the write/send system
1385 call family, the consumer must set the key. The key setting is
1386 described with the setsockopt invocation below.
1387 </para>
1389 <para>
1390 In addition, before data can be sent to the kernel using the
1391 write/send system call family, the consumer must set the authentication
1392 tag size. To set the authentication tag size, the caller must use the
1393 setsockopt invocation described below.
1394 </para>
1396 <para>
1397 Using the sendmsg() system call, the application provides the data that should be processed for encryption or decryption. In addition, the IV is
1398 specified with the data structure provided by the sendmsg() system call.
1399 </para>
1401 <para>
1402 The sendmsg system call parameter of struct msghdr is embedded into the
1403 struct cmsghdr data structure. See recv(2) and cmsg(3) for more
1404 information on how the cmsghdr data structure is used together with the
1405 send/recv system call family. That cmsghdr data structure holds the
1406 following information specified with a separate header instances:
1407 </para>
1409 <itemizedlist>
1410 <listitem>
1411 <para>
1412 specification of the cipher operation type with one of these flags:
1413 </para>
1414 <itemizedlist>
1415 <listitem>
1416 <para>ALG_OP_ENCRYPT - encryption of data</para>
1417 </listitem>
1418 <listitem>
1419 <para>ALG_OP_DECRYPT - decryption of data</para>
1420 </listitem>
1421 </itemizedlist>
1422 </listitem>
1424 <listitem>
1425 <para>
1426 specification of the IV information marked with the flag ALG_SET_IV
1427 </para>
1428 </listitem>
1430 <listitem>
1431 <para>
1432 specification of the associated authentication data (AAD) with the
1433 flag ALG_SET_AEAD_ASSOCLEN. The AAD is sent to the kernel together
1434 with the plaintext / ciphertext. See below for the memory structure.
1435 </para>
1436 </listitem>
1437 </itemizedlist>
1439 <para>
1440 The send system call family allows the following flag to be specified:
1441 </para>
1443 <itemizedlist>
1444 <listitem>
1445 <para>
1446 MSG_MORE: If this flag is set, the send system call acts like a
1447 cipher update function where more input data is expected
1448 with a subsequent invocation of the send system call.
1449 </para>
1450 </listitem>
1451 </itemizedlist>
1453 <para>
1454 Note: The kernel reports -EINVAL for any unexpected data. The caller
1455 must make sure that all data matches the constraints given in
1456 /proc/crypto for the selected cipher.
1457 </para>
1459 <para>
1460 With the recv() system call, the application can read the result of
1461 the cipher operation from the kernel crypto API. The output buffer
1462 must be at least as large as defined with the memory structure below.
1463 If the output data size is smaller, the cipher operation is not performed.
1464 </para>
1466 <para>
1467 The authenticated decryption operation may indicate an integrity error.
1468 Such breach in integrity is marked with the -EBADMSG error code.
1469 </para>
1471 <sect2><title>AEAD Memory Structure</title>
1472 <para>
1473 The AEAD cipher operates with the following information that
1474 is communicated between user and kernel space as one data stream:
1475 </para>
1477 <itemizedlist>
1478 <listitem>
1479 <para>plaintext or ciphertext</para>
1480 </listitem>
1482 <listitem>
1483 <para>associated authentication data (AAD)</para>
1484 </listitem>
1486 <listitem>
1487 <para>authentication tag</para>
1488 </listitem>
1489 </itemizedlist>
1491 <para>
1492 The sizes of the AAD and the authentication tag are provided with
1493 the sendmsg and setsockopt calls (see there). As the kernel knows
1494 the size of the entire data stream, the kernel is now able to
1495 calculate the right offsets of the data components in the data
1496 stream.
1497 </para>
1499 <para>
1500 The user space caller must arrange the aforementioned information
1501 in the following order:
1502 </para>
1504 <itemizedlist>
1505 <listitem>
1506 <para>
1507 AEAD encryption input: AAD || plaintext
1508 </para>
1509 </listitem>
1511 <listitem>
1512 <para>
1513 AEAD decryption input: AAD || ciphertext || authentication tag
1514 </para>
1515 </listitem>
1516 </itemizedlist>
1518 <para>
1519 The output buffer the user space caller provides must be at least as
1520 large to hold the following data:
1521 </para>
1523 <itemizedlist>
1524 <listitem>
1525 <para>
1526 AEAD encryption output: ciphertext || authentication tag
1527 </para>
1528 </listitem>
1530 <listitem>
1531 <para>
1532 AEAD decryption output: plaintext
1533 </para>
1534 </listitem>
1535 </itemizedlist>
1536 </sect2>
1537 </sect1>
1539 <sect1><title>Random Number Generator API</title>
1540 <para>
1541 Again, the operation is very similar to the other APIs.
1542 During initialization, the struct sockaddr data structure must be
1543 filled as follows:
1544 </para>
1546 <programlisting>
1547 struct sockaddr_alg sa = {
1548 .salg_family = AF_ALG,
1549 .salg_type = "rng", /* this selects the symmetric cipher */
1550 .salg_name = "drbg_nopr_sha256" /* this is the cipher name */
1552 </programlisting>
1554 <para>
1555 Depending on the RNG type, the RNG must be seeded. The seed is provided
1556 using the setsockopt interface to set the key. For example, the
1557 ansi_cprng requires a seed. The DRBGs do not require a seed, but
1558 may be seeded.
1559 </para>
1561 <para>
1562 Using the read()/recvmsg() system calls, random numbers can be obtained.
1563 The kernel generates at most 128 bytes in one call. If user space
1564 requires more data, multiple calls to read()/recvmsg() must be made.
1565 </para>
1567 <para>
1568 WARNING: The user space caller may invoke the initially mentioned
1569 accept system call multiple times. In this case, the returned file
1570 descriptors have the same state.
1571 </para>
1573 </sect1>
1575 <sect1><title>Zero-Copy Interface</title>
1576 <para>
1577 In addition to the send/write/read/recv system call family, the AF_ALG
1578 interface can be accessed with the zero-copy interface of splice/vmsplice.
1579 As the name indicates, the kernel tries to avoid a copy operation into
1580 kernel space.
1581 </para>
1583 <para>
1584 The zero-copy operation requires data to be aligned at the page boundary.
1585 Non-aligned data can be used as well, but may require more operations of
1586 the kernel which would defeat the speed gains obtained from the zero-copy
1587 interface.
1588 </para>
1590 <para>
1591 The system-interent limit for the size of one zero-copy operation is
1592 16 pages. If more data is to be sent to AF_ALG, user space must slice
1593 the input into segments with a maximum size of 16 pages.
1594 </para>
1596 <para>
1597 Zero-copy can be used with the following code example (a complete working
1598 example is provided with libkcapi):
1599 </para>
1601 <programlisting>
1602 int pipes[2];
1604 pipe(pipes);
1605 /* input data in iov */
1606 vmsplice(pipes[1], iov, iovlen, SPLICE_F_GIFT);
1607 /* opfd is the file descriptor returned from accept() system call */
1608 splice(pipes[0], NULL, opfd, NULL, ret, 0);
1609 read(opfd, out, outlen);
1610 </programlisting>
1612 </sect1>
1614 <sect1><title>Setsockopt Interface</title>
1615 <para>
1616 In addition to the read/recv and send/write system call handling
1617 to send and retrieve data subject to the cipher operation, a consumer
1618 also needs to set the additional information for the cipher operation.
1619 This additional information is set using the setsockopt system call
1620 that must be invoked with the file descriptor of the open cipher
1621 (i.e. the file descriptor returned by the accept system call).
1622 </para>
1624 <para>
1625 Each setsockopt invocation must use the level SOL_ALG.
1626 </para>
1628 <para>
1629 The setsockopt interface allows setting the following data using
1630 the mentioned optname:
1631 </para>
1633 <itemizedlist>
1634 <listitem>
1635 <para>
1636 ALG_SET_KEY -- Setting the key. Key setting is applicable to:
1637 </para>
1638 <itemizedlist>
1639 <listitem>
1640 <para>the skcipher cipher type (symmetric ciphers)</para>
1641 </listitem>
1642 <listitem>
1643 <para>the hash cipher type (keyed message digests)</para>
1644 </listitem>
1645 <listitem>
1646 <para>the AEAD cipher type</para>
1647 </listitem>
1648 <listitem>
1649 <para>the RNG cipher type to provide the seed</para>
1650 </listitem>
1651 </itemizedlist>
1652 </listitem>
1654 <listitem>
1655 <para>
1656 ALG_SET_AEAD_AUTHSIZE -- Setting the authentication tag size
1657 for AEAD ciphers. For a encryption operation, the authentication
1658 tag of the given size will be generated. For a decryption operation,
1659 the provided ciphertext is assumed to contain an authentication tag
1660 of the given size (see section about AEAD memory layout below).
1661 </para>
1662 </listitem>
1663 </itemizedlist>
1665 </sect1>
1667 <sect1><title>User space API example</title>
1668 <para>
1669 Please see [1] for libkcapi which provides an easy-to-use wrapper
1670 around the aforementioned Netlink kernel interface. [1] also contains
1671 a test application that invokes all libkcapi API calls.
1672 </para>
1674 <para>
1675 [1] <ulink url="http://www.chronox.de/libkcapi.html">http://www.chronox.de/libkcapi.html</ulink>
1676 </para>
1678 </sect1>
1680 </chapter>
1682 <chapter id="API"><title>Programming Interface</title>
1683 <para>
1684 Please note that the kernel crypto API contains the AEAD givcrypt
1685 API (crypto_aead_giv* and aead_givcrypt_* function calls in
1686 include/crypto/aead.h). This API is obsolete and will be removed
1687 in the future. To obtain the functionality of an AEAD cipher with
1688 internal IV generation, use the IV generator as a regular cipher.
1689 For example, rfc4106(gcm(aes)) is the AEAD cipher with external
1690 IV generation and seqniv(rfc4106(gcm(aes))) implies that the kernel
1691 crypto API generates the IV. Different IV generators are available.
1692 </para>
1693 <sect1><title>Block Cipher Context Data Structures</title>
1694 !Pinclude/linux/crypto.h Block Cipher Context Data Structures
1695 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h aead_request
1696 </sect1>
1697 <sect1><title>Block Cipher Algorithm Definitions</title>
1698 !Pinclude/linux/crypto.h Block Cipher Algorithm Definitions
1699 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_alg
1700 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h ablkcipher_alg
1701 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h aead_alg
1702 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h blkcipher_alg
1703 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h cipher_alg
1704 !Finclude/crypto/rng.h rng_alg
1705 </sect1>
1706 <sect1><title>Symmetric Key Cipher API</title>
1707 !Pinclude/crypto/skcipher.h Symmetric Key Cipher API
1708 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_alloc_skcipher
1709 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_free_skcipher
1710 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_has_skcipher
1711 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_skcipher_ivsize
1712 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_skcipher_blocksize
1713 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_skcipher_setkey
1714 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_skcipher_reqtfm
1715 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_skcipher_encrypt
1716 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_skcipher_decrypt
1717 </sect1>
1718 <sect1><title>Symmetric Key Cipher Request Handle</title>
1719 !Pinclude/crypto/skcipher.h Symmetric Key Cipher Request Handle
1720 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h crypto_skcipher_reqsize
1721 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h skcipher_request_set_tfm
1722 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h skcipher_request_alloc
1723 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h skcipher_request_free
1724 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h skcipher_request_set_callback
1725 !Finclude/crypto/skcipher.h skcipher_request_set_crypt
1726 </sect1>
1727 <sect1><title>Asynchronous Block Cipher API - Deprecated</title>
1728 !Pinclude/linux/crypto.h Asynchronous Block Cipher API
1729 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_alloc_ablkcipher
1730 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_free_ablkcipher
1731 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_has_ablkcipher
1732 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_ablkcipher_ivsize
1733 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_ablkcipher_blocksize
1734 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_ablkcipher_setkey
1735 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_ablkcipher_reqtfm
1736 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_ablkcipher_encrypt
1737 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_ablkcipher_decrypt
1738 </sect1>
1739 <sect1><title>Asynchronous Cipher Request Handle - Deprecated</title>
1740 !Pinclude/linux/crypto.h Asynchronous Cipher Request Handle
1741 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_ablkcipher_reqsize
1742 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h ablkcipher_request_set_tfm
1743 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h ablkcipher_request_alloc
1744 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h ablkcipher_request_free
1745 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h ablkcipher_request_set_callback
1746 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h ablkcipher_request_set_crypt
1747 </sect1>
1748 <sect1><title>Authenticated Encryption With Associated Data (AEAD) Cipher API</title>
1749 !Pinclude/crypto/aead.h Authenticated Encryption With Associated Data (AEAD) Cipher API
1750 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_alloc_aead
1751 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_free_aead
1752 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_aead_ivsize
1753 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_aead_authsize
1754 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_aead_blocksize
1755 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_aead_setkey
1756 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_aead_setauthsize
1757 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_aead_encrypt
1758 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_aead_decrypt
1759 </sect1>
1760 <sect1><title>Asynchronous AEAD Request Handle</title>
1761 !Pinclude/crypto/aead.h Asynchronous AEAD Request Handle
1762 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h crypto_aead_reqsize
1763 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h aead_request_set_tfm
1764 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h aead_request_alloc
1765 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h aead_request_free
1766 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h aead_request_set_callback
1767 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h aead_request_set_crypt
1768 !Finclude/crypto/aead.h aead_request_set_ad
1769 </sect1>
1770 <sect1><title>Synchronous Block Cipher API - Deprecated</title>
1771 !Pinclude/linux/crypto.h Synchronous Block Cipher API
1772 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_alloc_blkcipher
1773 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_free_blkcipher
1774 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_has_blkcipher
1775 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_name
1776 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_ivsize
1777 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_blocksize
1778 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_setkey
1779 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_encrypt
1780 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_encrypt_iv
1781 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_decrypt
1782 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_decrypt_iv
1783 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_set_iv
1784 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_blkcipher_get_iv
1785 </sect1>
1786 <sect1><title>Single Block Cipher API</title>
1787 !Pinclude/linux/crypto.h Single Block Cipher API
1788 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_alloc_cipher
1789 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_free_cipher
1790 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_has_cipher
1791 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_cipher_blocksize
1792 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_cipher_setkey
1793 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_cipher_encrypt_one
1794 !Finclude/linux/crypto.h crypto_cipher_decrypt_one
1795 </sect1>
1796 <sect1><title>Message Digest Algorithm Definitions</title>
1797 !Pinclude/crypto/hash.h Message Digest Algorithm Definitions
1798 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h hash_alg_common
1799 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h ahash_alg
1800 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h shash_alg
1801 </sect1>
1802 <sect1><title>Asynchronous Message Digest API</title>
1803 !Pinclude/crypto/hash.h Asynchronous Message Digest API
1804 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_alloc_ahash
1805 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_free_ahash
1806 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_init
1807 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_digestsize
1808 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_reqtfm
1809 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_reqsize
1810 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_setkey
1811 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_finup
1812 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_final
1813 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_digest
1814 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_export
1815 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_ahash_import
1816 </sect1>
1817 <sect1><title>Asynchronous Hash Request Handle</title>
1818 !Pinclude/crypto/hash.h Asynchronous Hash Request Handle
1819 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h ahash_request_set_tfm
1820 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h ahash_request_alloc
1821 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h ahash_request_free
1822 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h ahash_request_set_callback
1823 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h ahash_request_set_crypt
1824 </sect1>
1825 <sect1><title>Synchronous Message Digest API</title>
1826 !Pinclude/crypto/hash.h Synchronous Message Digest API
1827 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_alloc_shash
1828 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_free_shash
1829 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_blocksize
1830 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_digestsize
1831 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_descsize
1832 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_setkey
1833 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_digest
1834 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_export
1835 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_import
1836 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_init
1837 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_update
1838 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_final
1839 !Finclude/crypto/hash.h crypto_shash_finup
1840 </sect1>
1841 <sect1><title>Crypto API Random Number API</title>
1842 !Pinclude/crypto/rng.h Random number generator API
1843 !Finclude/crypto/rng.h crypto_alloc_rng
1844 !Finclude/crypto/rng.h crypto_rng_alg
1845 !Finclude/crypto/rng.h crypto_free_rng
1846 !Finclude/crypto/rng.h crypto_rng_generate
1847 !Finclude/crypto/rng.h crypto_rng_get_bytes
1848 !Finclude/crypto/rng.h crypto_rng_reset
1849 !Finclude/crypto/rng.h crypto_rng_seedsize
1850 !Cinclude/crypto/rng.h
1851 </sect1>
1852 <sect1><title>Asymmetric Cipher API</title>
1853 !Pinclude/crypto/akcipher.h Generic Public Key API
1854 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h akcipher_alg
1855 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h akcipher_request
1856 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_alloc_akcipher
1857 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_free_akcipher
1858 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_akcipher_set_pub_key
1859 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_akcipher_set_priv_key
1860 </sect1>
1861 <sect1><title>Asymmetric Cipher Request Handle</title>
1862 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h akcipher_request_alloc
1863 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h akcipher_request_free
1864 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h akcipher_request_set_callback
1865 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h akcipher_request_set_crypt
1866 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_akcipher_maxsize
1867 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_akcipher_encrypt
1868 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_akcipher_decrypt
1869 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_akcipher_sign
1870 !Finclude/crypto/akcipher.h crypto_akcipher_verify
1871 </sect1>
1872 </chapter>
1874 <chapter id="Code"><title>Code Examples</title>
1875 <sect1><title>Code Example For Symmetric Key Cipher Operation</title>
1876 <programlisting>
1878 struct tcrypt_result {
1879 struct completion completion;
1880 int err;
1883 /* tie all data structures together */
1884 struct skcipher_def {
1885 struct scatterlist sg;
1886 struct crypto_skcipher *tfm;
1887 struct skcipher_request *req;
1888 struct tcrypt_result result;
1891 /* Callback function */
1892 static void test_skcipher_cb(struct crypto_async_request *req, int error)
1894 struct tcrypt_result *result = req-&gt;data;
1896 if (error == -EINPROGRESS)
1897 return;
1898 result-&gt;err = error;
1899 complete(&amp;result-&gt;completion);
1900 pr_info("Encryption finished successfully\n");
1903 /* Perform cipher operation */
1904 static unsigned int test_skcipher_encdec(struct skcipher_def *sk,
1905 int enc)
1907 int rc = 0;
1909 if (enc)
1910 rc = crypto_skcipher_encrypt(sk-&gt;req);
1911 else
1912 rc = crypto_skcipher_decrypt(sk-&gt;req);
1914 switch (rc) {
1915 case 0:
1916 break;
1917 case -EINPROGRESS:
1918 case -EBUSY:
1919 rc = wait_for_completion_interruptible(
1920 &amp;sk-&gt;result.completion);
1921 if (!rc &amp;&amp; !sk-&gt;result.err) {
1922 reinit_completion(&amp;sk-&gt;result.completion);
1923 break;
1925 default:
1926 pr_info("skcipher encrypt returned with %d result %d\n",
1927 rc, sk-&gt;result.err);
1928 break;
1930 init_completion(&amp;sk-&gt;result.completion);
1932 return rc;
1935 /* Initialize and trigger cipher operation */
1936 static int test_skcipher(void)
1938 struct skcipher_def sk;
1939 struct crypto_skcipher *skcipher = NULL;
1940 struct skcipher_request *req = NULL;
1941 char *scratchpad = NULL;
1942 char *ivdata = NULL;
1943 unsigned char key[32];
1944 int ret = -EFAULT;
1946 skcipher = crypto_alloc_skcipher("cbc-aes-aesni", 0, 0);
1947 if (IS_ERR(skcipher)) {
1948 pr_info("could not allocate skcipher handle\n");
1949 return PTR_ERR(skcipher);
1952 req = skcipher_request_alloc(skcipher, GFP_KERNEL);
1953 if (!req) {
1954 pr_info("could not allocate skcipher request\n");
1955 ret = -ENOMEM;
1956 goto out;
1959 skcipher_request_set_callback(req, CRYPTO_TFM_REQ_MAY_BACKLOG,
1960 test_skcipher_cb,
1961 &amp;sk.result);
1963 /* AES 256 with random key */
1964 get_random_bytes(&amp;key, 32);
1965 if (crypto_skcipher_setkey(skcipher, key, 32)) {
1966 pr_info("key could not be set\n");
1967 ret = -EAGAIN;
1968 goto out;
1971 /* IV will be random */
1972 ivdata = kmalloc(16, GFP_KERNEL);
1973 if (!ivdata) {
1974 pr_info("could not allocate ivdata\n");
1975 goto out;
1977 get_random_bytes(ivdata, 16);
1979 /* Input data will be random */
1980 scratchpad = kmalloc(16, GFP_KERNEL);
1981 if (!scratchpad) {
1982 pr_info("could not allocate scratchpad\n");
1983 goto out;
1985 get_random_bytes(scratchpad, 16);
1987 sk.tfm = skcipher;
1988 sk.req = req;
1990 /* We encrypt one block */
1991 sg_init_one(&amp;sk.sg, scratchpad, 16);
1992 skcipher_request_set_crypt(req, &amp;sk.sg, &amp;sk.sg, 16, ivdata);
1993 init_completion(&amp;sk.result.completion);
1995 /* encrypt data */
1996 ret = test_skcipher_encdec(&amp;sk, 1);
1997 if (ret)
1998 goto out;
2000 pr_info("Encryption triggered successfully\n");
2002 out:
2003 if (skcipher)
2004 crypto_free_skcipher(skcipher);
2005 if (req)
2006 skcipher_request_free(req);
2007 if (ivdata)
2008 kfree(ivdata);
2009 if (scratchpad)
2010 kfree(scratchpad);
2011 return ret;
2013 </programlisting>
2014 </sect1>
2016 <sect1><title>Code Example For Use of Operational State Memory With SHASH</title>
2017 <programlisting>
2019 struct sdesc {
2020 struct shash_desc shash;
2021 char ctx[];
2024 static struct sdescinit_sdesc(struct crypto_shash *alg)
2026 struct sdescsdesc;
2027 int size;
2029 size = sizeof(struct shash_desc) + crypto_shash_descsize(alg);
2030 sdesc = kmalloc(size, GFP_KERNEL);
2031 if (!sdesc)
2032 return ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM);
2033 sdesc-&gt;shash.tfm = alg;
2034 sdesc-&gt;shash.flags = 0x0;
2035 return sdesc;
2038 static int calc_hash(struct crypto_shashalg,
2039 const unsigned chardata, unsigned int datalen,
2040 unsigned chardigest) {
2041 struct sdescsdesc;
2042 int ret;
2044 sdesc = init_sdesc(alg);
2045 if (IS_ERR(sdesc)) {
2046 pr_info("trusted_key: can't alloc %s\n", hash_alg);
2047 return PTR_ERR(sdesc);
2050 ret = crypto_shash_digest(&amp;sdesc-&gt;shash, data, datalen, digest);
2051 kfree(sdesc);
2052 return ret;
2054 </programlisting>
2055 </sect1>
2057 <sect1><title>Code Example For Random Number Generator Usage</title>
2058 <programlisting>
2060 static int get_random_numbers(u8 *buf, unsigned int len)
2062 struct crypto_rngrng = NULL;
2063 chardrbg = "drbg_nopr_sha256"; /* Hash DRBG with SHA-256, no PR */
2064 int ret;
2066 if (!buf || !len) {
2067 pr_debug("No output buffer provided\n");
2068 return -EINVAL;
2071 rng = crypto_alloc_rng(drbg, 0, 0);
2072 if (IS_ERR(rng)) {
2073 pr_debug("could not allocate RNG handle for %s\n", drbg);
2074 return -PTR_ERR(rng);
2077 ret = crypto_rng_get_bytes(rng, buf, len);
2078 if (ret &lt; 0)
2079 pr_debug("generation of random numbers failed\n");
2080 else if (ret == 0)
2081 pr_debug("RNG returned no data");
2082 else
2083 pr_debug("RNG returned %d bytes of data\n", ret);
2085 out:
2086 crypto_free_rng(rng);
2087 return ret;
2089 </programlisting>
2090 </sect1>
2091 </chapter>
2092 </book>