Features/DevCrypto

Feature: Dev Crypto Userspace API

Summary

Allow the user space applications directly or indirectly through existing crypto libraries interfacing with the kernel crypto implementation.

Owner

• Name: Tomáš Mráz

• Email: tmraz AT redhat DOT com

Current status

• Targeted release: Fedora XX
• Last updated: 2010-07-13
• Percentage of completion: 5%

Detailed Description

The /dev/crypto is a special device which is currently in development for the upstream kernel inclusion. This device allows user space applications to directly call the cryptographic routines that are part of the Linux kernel code. Similar device is available also on other kernels.

Separation of the cryptographic primitives into the kernel allows fulfilling the requirements of the new U.S. Government standards (such as FIPS-140-3) in regards to the implementation and usage of the cryptographic algorithms on general purpose operating systems.

This separation allows isolation of the private and secret keys from the user space applications so these critical security parameters (CSP) are not leaked in case the user space applications are for example exploited by malicious users. It also allows proper auditing of any administrative manipulation with these CSP.

Benefit to Fedora

Fedora will be able to declare being the leader in developing and enabling users of the cryptographic algorithms to comply with the newest government standards.

Scope

Required steps are:

* /dev/crypto interface built into the kernel
* user space library allowing easy access to the /dev/crypto interface

Optional steps (maybe a feature for Fedora 15):

* PKCS#11 module directly pluggable into the Mozilla NSS crypto library
* Configurable replacement of the crypto implementation in other system crypto libraries
  such as OpenSSL or libgcrypt

Comments and Discussion

• See Talk:Features/YourFeatureName