PROVIDER-KDF(7ossl) OpenSSL PROVIDER-KDF(7ossl)
NAME
provider-kdf - The KDF library <-> provider functions
SYNOPSIS
#include <openssl/core_dispatch.h>
#include <openssl/core_names.h>
/*
* None of these are actual functions, but are displayed like this for
* the function signatures for functions that are offered as function
* pointers in OSSL_DISPATCH arrays.
*/
/* Context management */
void *OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx(void *provctx);
void OSSL_FUNC_kdf_freectx(void *kctx);
void *OSSL_FUNC_kdf_dupctx(void *src);
/* Encryption/decryption */
int OSSL_FUNC_kdf_reset(void *kctx);
int OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive(void *kctx, unsigned char *key, size_t keylen,
const OSSL_PARAM params[]);
void *OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive_skey(void *ctx, const char *key_type, void *provctx,
OSSL_FUNC_skeymgmt_import_fn *import,
size_t keylen, const OSSL_PARAM params[]);
/* KDF parameter descriptors */
const OSSL_PARAM *OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_params(void *provctx);
const OSSL_PARAM *OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_ctx_params(void *kcxt, void *provctx);
const OSSL_PARAM *OSSL_FUNC_kdf_settable_ctx_params(void *kcxt, void *provctx);
/* KDF parameters */
int OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_params(OSSL_PARAM params[]);
int OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_ctx_params(void *kctx, OSSL_PARAM params[]);
int OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_ctx_params(void *kctx, const OSSL_PARAM params[]);
int OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_skey(void *kctx, void *skeydata, const char *paramname);
DESCRIPTION
This documentation is primarily aimed at provider authors. See
provider(7) for further information.
The KDF operation enables providers to implement KDF algorithms and make
them available to applications via the API functions
EVP_KDF_CTX_reset(3), and EVP_KDF_derive(3).
All "functions" mentioned here are passed as function pointers between
libcrypto and the provider in OSSL_DISPATCH(3) arrays via
OSSL_ALGORITHM(3) arrays that are returned by the provider's
provider_query_operation() function (see "Provider Functions" in
provider-base(7)).
All these "functions" have a corresponding function type definition named
OSSL_FUNC_{name}_fn, and a helper function to retrieve the function
pointer from an OSSL_DISPATCH(3) element named OSSL_FUNC_{name}. For
example, the "function" OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx() has these:
typedef void *(OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx_fn)(void *provctx);
static ossl_inline OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx_fn
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx(const OSSL_DISPATCH *opf);
OSSL_DISPATCH(3) array entries are identified by numbers that are
provided as macros in openssl-core_dispatch.h(7), as follows:
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx OSSL_FUNC_KDF_NEWCTX
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_freectx OSSL_FUNC_KDF_FREECTX
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_dupctx OSSL_FUNC_KDF_DUPCTX
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_reset OSSL_FUNC_KDF_RESET
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive OSSL_FUNC_KDF_DERIVE
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive_skey OSSL_FUNC_KDF_DERIVE_SKEY
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_params OSSL_FUNC_KDF_GET_PARAMS
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_ctx_params OSSL_FUNC_KDF_GET_CTX_PARAMS
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_ctx_params OSSL_FUNC_KDF_SET_CTX_PARAMS
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_params OSSL_FUNC_KDF_GETTABLE_PARAMS
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_ctx_params OSSL_FUNC_KDF_GETTABLE_CTX_PARAMS
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_settable_ctx_params OSSL_FUNC_KDF_SETTABLE_CTX_PARAMS
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_skey OSSL_FUNC_KDF_SET_SKEY
A KDF algorithm implementation may not implement all of these functions.
In order to be a consistent set of functions, at least the following
functions must be implemented: OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx(),
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_freectx(), OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_ctx_params(), and at least one
of OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive() or OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive_skey(). All other
functions are optional.
Context Management Functions
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx() should create and return a pointer to a provider
side structure for holding context information during a KDF operation. A
pointer to this context will be passed back in a number of the other KDF
operation function calls. The parameter provctx is the provider context
generated during provider initialisation (see provider(7)).
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_freectx() is passed a pointer to the provider side KDF
context in the kctx parameter. If it receives NULL as kctx value, it
should not do anything other than return. This function should free any
resources associated with that context.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_dupctx() should duplicate the provider side KDF context in
the kctx parameter and return the duplicate copy.
Encryption/Decryption Functions
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_reset() initialises a KDF operation given a provider side
KDF context in the kctx parameter.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive() performs the KDF operation after processing the
params as per OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_ctx_params(). The kctx parameter
contains a pointer to the provider side context. The resulting key of
the desired keylen should be written to key. If the algorithm does not
support the requested keylen the function must return error.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive_skey() is similar to OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive() but uses
an opaque object for storing the derived key. It accepts key_type
parameter to give a hint to the provider what type of the key (e.g.
generic or AES) would be generated and import function from the
EVP_SKEYMGMT object to be associated with the key. The EVP_SKEYMGMT
object comes from the same provider as the KDF itself.
KDF Parameters
See OSSL_PARAM(3) for further details on the parameters structure used by
these functions.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_params() gets details of parameter values associated
with the provider algorithm and stores them in params.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_ctx_params() sets KDF parameters associated with the
given provider side KDF context kctx to params. Any parameter settings
are additional to any that were previously set. Passing NULL for params
should return true.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_ctx_params() retrieves gettable parameter values
associated with the given provider side KDF context kctx and stores them
in params. Passing NULL for params should return true.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_params(), OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_ctx_params(), and
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_settable_ctx_params() all return constant OSSL_PARAM(3)
arrays as descriptors of the parameters that OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_params(),
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_ctx_params(), and OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_ctx_params() can
handle, respectively. OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_ctx_params() and
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_settable_ctx_params() will return the parameters associated
with the provider side context kctx in its current state if it is not
NULL. Otherwise, they return the parameters associated with the provider
side algorithm provctx.
OSSL_FUNF_kdf_set_skey() sets the input key for KDF functions that take a
key as input.
Parameters currently recognised by built-in KDFs are as follows. Not all
parameters are relevant to, or are understood by all KDFs:
"size" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SIZE) <unsigned integer>
Gets the output size from the associated KDF ctx. If the algorithm
produces a variable amount of output, SIZE_MAX should be returned.
If the input parameters required to calculate the fixed output size
have not yet been supplied, 0 should be returned indicating an error.
"key" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_KEY) <octet string>
Sets the key in the associated KDF ctx.
"secret" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SECRET) <octet string>
Sets the secret in the associated KDF ctx.
"pass" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_PASSWORD) <octet string>
Sets the password in the associated KDF ctx.
"cipher" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_CIPHER) <UTF8 string>
"digest" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_DIGEST) <UTF8 string>
"mac" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_MAC) <UTF8 string>
Sets the name of the underlying cipher, digest or MAC to be used. It
must name a suitable algorithm for the KDF that's being used.
"maclen" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_MAC_SIZE) <octet string>
Sets the length of the MAC in the associated KDF ctx.
"properties" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_PROPERTIES) <UTF8 string>
Sets the properties to be queried when trying to fetch the underlying
algorithm. This must be given together with the algorithm naming
parameter to be considered valid.
"iter" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_ITER) <unsigned integer>
Sets the number of iterations in the associated KDF ctx.
"mode" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_MODE) <UTF8 string>
Sets the mode in the associated KDF ctx.
"pkcs5" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_PKCS5) <integer>
Enables or disables the SP800-132 compliance checks. A mode of 0
enables the compliance checks.
The checks performed are:
- the iteration count is at least 1000.
- the salt length is at least 128 bits.
- the derived key length is at least 112 bits.
"ukm" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_UKM) <octet string>
Sets an optional random string that is provided by the sender called
"partyAInfo". In CMS this is the user keying material.
"cekalg" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_CEK_ALG) <UTF8 string>
Sets the CEK wrapping algorithm name in the associated KDF ctx.
"n" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SCRYPT_N) <unsigned integer>
Sets the scrypt work factor parameter N in the associated KDF ctx.
"r" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SCRYPT_R) <unsigned integer>
Sets the scrypt work factor parameter r in the associated KDF ctx.
"p" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SCRYPT_P) <unsigned integer>
Sets the scrypt work factor parameter p in the associated KDF ctx.
"maxmem_bytes" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SCRYPT_MAXMEM) <unsigned integer>
Sets the scrypt work factor parameter maxmem in the associated KDF
ctx.
"prefix" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_PREFIX) <octet string>
Sets the prefix string using by the TLS 1.3 version of HKDF in the
associated KDF ctx.
"label" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_LABEL) <octet string>
Sets the label string using by the TLS 1.3 version of HKDF in the
associated KDF ctx.
"data" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_DATA) <octet string>
Sets the context string using by the TLS 1.3 version of HKDF in the
associated KDF ctx.
"info" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_INFO) <octet string>
Sets the optional shared info in the associated KDF ctx.
"seed" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SEED) <octet string>
Sets the IV in the associated KDF ctx.
"xcghash" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SSHKDF_XCGHASH) <octet string>
Sets the xcghash in the associated KDF ctx.
"session_id" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SSHKDF_SESSION_ID) <octet string>
Sets the session ID in the associated KDF ctx.
"type" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_SSHKDF_TYPE) <UTF8 string>
Sets the SSH KDF type parameter in the associated KDF ctx. There are
six supported types:
EVP_KDF_SSHKDF_TYPE_INITIAL_IV_CLI_TO_SRV
The Initial IV from client to server. A single char of value 65
(ASCII char 'A').
EVP_KDF_SSHKDF_TYPE_INITIAL_IV_SRV_TO_CLI
The Initial IV from server to client A single char of value 66
(ASCII char 'B').
EVP_KDF_SSHKDF_TYPE_ENCRYPTION_KEY_CLI_TO_SRV
The Encryption Key from client to server A single char of value
67 (ASCII char 'C').
EVP_KDF_SSHKDF_TYPE_ENCRYPTION_KEY_SRV_TO_CLI
The Encryption Key from server to client A single char of value
68 (ASCII char 'D').
EVP_KDF_SSHKDF_TYPE_INTEGRITY_KEY_CLI_TO_SRV
The Integrity Key from client to server A single char of value 69
(ASCII char 'E').
EVP_KDF_SSHKDF_TYPE_INTEGRITY_KEY_SRV_TO_CLI
The Integrity Key from client to server A single char of value 70
(ASCII char 'F').
"constant" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_CONSTANT) <octet string>
Sets the constant value in the associated KDF ctx.
"id" (OSSL_KDF_PARAM_PKCS12_ID) <integer>
Sets the intended usage of the output bits in the associated KDF ctx.
It is defined as per RFC 7292 section B.3.
RETURN VALUES
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_newctx() and OSSL_FUNC_kdf_dupctx() should return the newly
created provider side KDF context, or NULL on failure.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive_skey() should return the newly created opaque
provider-side key object, or NULL on failure.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive(), OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_params(),
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_get_ctx_params(), OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_ctx_params() and
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_skey() should return 1 for success or 0 on error.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_params(), OSSL_FUNC_kdf_gettable_ctx_params() and
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_settable_ctx_params() should return a constant
OSSL_PARAM(3) array, or NULL if none is offered.
NOTES
The KDF life-cycle is described in life_cycle-kdf(7). Providers should
ensure that the various transitions listed there are supported. At some
point the EVP layer will begin enforcing the listed transitions.
SEE ALSO
provider(7), life_cycle-kdf(7), EVP_KDF(3).
HISTORY
The provider KDF interface was introduced in OpenSSL 3.0.
OSSL_FUNC_kdf_derive_skey() and OSSL_FUNC_kdf_set_skey() were added in
OpenSSL 3.6.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2020-2026 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved.
Licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (the "License"). You may not use
this file except in compliance with the License. You can obtain a copy
in the file LICENSE in the source distribution or at
<https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html>.
3.6.5 2026-09-29 PROVIDER-KDF(7ossl)
openssl 3.6.5 - Generated Sat Oct 3 13:05:52 CDT 2026