TS
Section: OpenSSL (1SSL)
Updated: 2021-08-23
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NAME
openssl-ts, ts - Time Stamping Authority tool (client/server)
SYNOPSIS
openssl ts
-query
[-rand file...]
[-writerand file]
[-config configfile]
[-data file_to_hash]
[-digest digest_bytes]
[-digest]
[-tspolicy object_id]
[-no_nonce]
[-cert]
[-in request.tsq]
[-out request.tsq]
[-text]
openssl ts
-reply
[-config configfile]
[-section tsa_section]
[-queryfile request.tsq]
[-passin password_src]
[-signer tsa_cert.pem]
[-inkey file_or_id]
[-digest]
[-chain certs_file.pem]
[-tspolicy object_id]
[-in response.tsr]
[-token_in]
[-out response.tsr]
[-token_out]
[-text]
[-engine id]
openssl ts
-verify
[-data file_to_hash]
[-digest digest_bytes]
[-queryfile request.tsq]
[-in response.tsr]
[-token_in]
[-CApath trusted_cert_path]
[-CAfile trusted_certs.pem]
[-untrusted cert_file.pem]
[verify options]
verify options:
[-attime timestamp]
[-check_ss_sig]
[-crl_check]
[-crl_check_all]
[-explicit_policy]
[-extended_crl]
[-ignore_critical]
[-inhibit_any]
[-inhibit_map]
[-issuer_checks]
[-no_alt_chains]
[-no_check_time]
[-partial_chain]
[-policy arg]
[-policy_check]
[-policy_print]
[-purpose purpose]
[-suiteB_128]
[-suiteB_128_only]
[-suiteB_192]
[-trusted_first]
[-use_deltas]
[-auth_level num]
[-verify_depth num]
[-verify_email email]
[-verify_hostname hostname]
[-verify_ip ip]
[-verify_name name]
[-x509_strict]
DESCRIPTION
The ts command is a basic Time Stamping Authority (TSA) client and server
application as specified in RFC 3161 (Time-Stamp Protocol, TSP). A
TSA can be part of a PKI deployment and its role is to provide long
term proof of the existence of a certain datum before a particular
time. Here is a brief description of the protocol:
- 1.
-
The TSA client computes a one-way hash value for a data file and sends
the hash to the TSA.
- 2.
-
The TSA attaches the current date and time to the received hash value,
signs them and sends the time stamp token back to the client. By
creating this token the TSA certifies the existence of the original
data file at the time of response generation.
- 3.
-
The TSA client receives the time stamp token and verifies the
signature on it. It also checks if the token contains the same hash
value that it had sent to the TSA.
There is one DER encoded protocol data unit defined for transporting a time
stamp request to the TSA and one for sending the time stamp response
back to the client. The ts command has three main functions:
creating a time stamp request based on a data file,
creating a time stamp response based on a request, verifying if a
response corresponds to a particular request or a data file.
There is no support for sending the requests/responses automatically
over HTTP or TCP yet as suggested in RFC 3161. The users must send the
requests either by ftp or e-mail.
OPTIONS
Time Stamp Request generation
The -query switch can be used for creating and printing a time stamp
request with the following options:
- -rand file...
-
A file or files containing random data used to seed the random number
generator.
Multiple files can be specified separated by an OS-dependent character.
The separator is ; for MS-Windows, , for OpenVMS, and : for
all others.
- [-writerand file]
-
Writes random data to the specified file upon exit.
This can be used with a subsequent -rand flag.
- -config configfile
-
The configuration file to use.
Optional; for a description of the default value,
see ``COMMAND SUMMARY'' in openssl(1).
- -data file_to_hash
-
The data file for which the time stamp request needs to be
created. stdin is the default if neither the -data nor the -digest
parameter is specified. (Optional)
- -digest digest_bytes
-
It is possible to specify the message imprint explicitly without the data
file. The imprint must be specified in a hexadecimal format, two characters
per byte, the bytes optionally separated by colons (e.g. 1A:F6:01:... or
1AF601...). The number of bytes must match the message digest algorithm
in use. (Optional)
- -digest
-
The message digest to apply to the data file.
Any digest supported by the OpenSSL dgst command can be used.
The default is SHA-1. (Optional)
- -tspolicy object_id
-
The policy that the client expects the TSA to use for creating the
time stamp token. Either the dotted OID notation or OID names defined
in the config file can be used. If no policy is requested the TSA will
use its own default policy. (Optional)
- -no_nonce
-
No nonce is specified in the request if this option is
given. Otherwise a 64 bit long pseudo-random none is
included in the request. It is recommended to use nonce to
protect against replay-attacks. (Optional)
- -cert
-
The TSA is expected to include its signing certificate in the
response. (Optional)
- -in request.tsq
-
This option specifies a previously created time stamp request in DER
format that will be printed into the output file. Useful when you need
to examine the content of a request in human-readable
format. (Optional)
- -out request.tsq
-
Name of the output file to which the request will be written. Default
is stdout. (Optional)
- -text
-
If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format
instead of DER. (Optional)
Time Stamp Response generation
A time stamp response (TimeStampResp) consists of a response status
and the time stamp token itself (ContentInfo), if the token generation was
successful. The -reply command is for creating a time stamp
response or time stamp token based on a request and printing the
response/token in human-readable format. If -token_out is not
specified the output is always a time stamp response (TimeStampResp),
otherwise it is a time stamp token (ContentInfo).
- -config configfile
-
The configuration file to use.
Optional; for a description of the default value,
see ``COMMAND SUMMARY'' in openssl(1).
See CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS for configurable variables.
- -section tsa_section
-
The name of the config file section containing the settings for the
response generation. If not specified the default TSA section is
used, see CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS for details. (Optional)
- -queryfile request.tsq
-
The name of the file containing a DER encoded time stamp request. (Optional)
- -passin password_src
-
Specifies the password source for the private key of the TSA. See
PASS PHRASE ARGUMENTS in openssl(1). (Optional)
- -signer tsa_cert.pem
-
The signer certificate of the TSA in PEM format. The TSA signing
certificate must have exactly one extended key usage assigned to it:
timeStamping. The extended key usage must also be critical, otherwise
the certificate is going to be refused. Overrides the signer_cert
variable of the config file. (Optional)
- -inkey file_or_id
-
The signer private key of the TSA in PEM format. Overrides the
signer_key config file option. (Optional)
If no engine is used, the argument is taken as a file; if an engine is
specified, the argument is given to the engine as a key identifier.
- -digest
-
Signing digest to use. Overrides the signer_digest config file
option. (Mandatory unless specified in the config file)
- -chain certs_file.pem
-
The collection of certificates in PEM format that will all
be included in the response in addition to the signer certificate if
the -cert option was used for the request. This file is supposed to
contain the certificate chain for the signer certificate from its
issuer upwards. The -reply command does not build a certificate
chain automatically. (Optional)
- -tspolicy object_id
-
The default policy to use for the response unless the client
explicitly requires a particular TSA policy. The OID can be specified
either in dotted notation or with its name. Overrides the
default_policy config file option. (Optional)
- -in response.tsr
-
Specifies a previously created time stamp response or time stamp token
(if -token_in is also specified) in DER format that will be written
to the output file. This option does not require a request, it is
useful e.g. when you need to examine the content of a response or
token or you want to extract the time stamp token from a response. If
the input is a token and the output is a time stamp response a default
'granted' status info is added to the token. (Optional)
- -token_in
-
This flag can be used together with the -in option and indicates
that the input is a DER encoded time stamp token (ContentInfo) instead
of a time stamp response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
- -out response.tsr
-
The response is written to this file. The format and content of the
file depends on other options (see -text, -token_out). The default is
stdout. (Optional)
- -token_out
-
The output is a time stamp token (ContentInfo) instead of time stamp
response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
- -text
-
If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format
instead of DER. (Optional)
- -engine id
-
Specifying an engine (by its unique id string) will cause ts
to attempt to obtain a functional reference to the specified engine,
thus initialising it if needed. The engine will then be set as the default
for all available algorithms. Default is builtin. (Optional)
Time Stamp Response verification
The -verify command is for verifying if a time stamp response or time
stamp token is valid and matches a particular time stamp request or
data file. The -verify command does not use the configuration file.
- -data file_to_hash
-
The response or token must be verified against file_to_hash. The file
is hashed with the message digest algorithm specified in the token.
The -digest and -queryfile options must not be specified with this one.
(Optional)
- -digest digest_bytes
-
The response or token must be verified against the message digest specified
with this option. The number of bytes must match the message digest algorithm
specified in the token. The -data and -queryfile options must not be
specified with this one. (Optional)
- -queryfile request.tsq
-
The original time stamp request in DER format. The -data and -digest
options must not be specified with this one. (Optional)
- -in response.tsr
-
The time stamp response that needs to be verified in DER format. (Mandatory)
- -token_in
-
This flag can be used together with the -in option and indicates
that the input is a DER encoded time stamp token (ContentInfo) instead
of a time stamp response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
- -CApath trusted_cert_path
-
The name of the directory containing the trusted CA certificates of the
client. See the similar option of verify(1) for additional
details. Either this option or -CAfile must be specified. (Optional)
- -CAfile trusted_certs.pem
-
The name of the file containing a set of trusted self-signed CA
certificates in PEM format. See the similar option of
verify(1) for additional details. Either this option
or -CApath must be specified.
(Optional)
- -untrusted cert_file.pem
-
Set of additional untrusted certificates in PEM format which may be
needed when building the certificate chain for the TSA's signing
certificate. This file must contain the TSA signing certificate and
all intermediate CA certificates unless the response includes them.
(Optional)
- verify options
-
The options -attime timestamp, -check_ss_sig, -crl_check,
-crl_check_all, -explicit_policy, -extended_crl, -ignore_critical,
-inhibit_any, -inhibit_map, -issuer_checks, -no_alt_chains,
-no_check_time, -partial_chain, -policy, -policy_check,
-policy_print, -purpose, -suiteB_128, -suiteB_128_only,
-suiteB_192, -trusted_first, -use_deltas, -auth_level,
-verify_depth, -verify_email, -verify_hostname, -verify_ip,
-verify_name, and -x509_strict can be used to control timestamp
verification. See verify(1).
CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS
The -query and -reply commands make use of a configuration file.
See config(5)
for a general description of the syntax of the config file. The
-query command uses only the symbolic OID names section
and it can work without it. However, the -reply command needs the
config file for its operation.
When there is a command line switch equivalent of a variable the
switch always overrides the settings in the config file.
- tsa section, default_tsa
-
This is the main section and it specifies the name of another section
that contains all the options for the -reply command. This default
section can be overridden with the -section command line switch. (Optional)
- oid_file
-
See ca(1) for description. (Optional)
- oid_section
-
See ca(1) for description. (Optional)
- RANDFILE
-
See ca(1) for description. (Optional)
- serial
-
The name of the file containing the hexadecimal serial number of the
last time stamp response created. This number is incremented by 1 for
each response. If the file does not exist at the time of response
generation a new file is created with serial number 1. (Mandatory)
- crypto_device
-
Specifies the OpenSSL engine that will be set as the default for
all available algorithms. The default value is builtin, you can specify
any other engines supported by OpenSSL (e.g. use chil for the NCipher HSM).
(Optional)
- signer_cert
-
TSA signing certificate in PEM format. The same as the -signer
command line option. (Optional)
- certs
-
A file containing a set of PEM encoded certificates that need to be
included in the response. The same as the -chain command line
option. (Optional)
- signer_key
-
The private key of the TSA in PEM format. The same as the -inkey
command line option. (Optional)
- signer_digest
-
Signing digest to use. The same as the
-digest command line option. (Mandatory unless specified on the command
line)
- default_policy
-
The default policy to use when the request does not mandate any
policy. The same as the -tspolicy command line option. (Optional)
- other_policies
-
Comma separated list of policies that are also acceptable by the TSA
and used only if the request explicitly specifies one of them. (Optional)
- digests
-
The list of message digest algorithms that the TSA accepts. At least
one algorithm must be specified. (Mandatory)
- accuracy
-
The accuracy of the time source of the TSA in seconds, milliseconds
and microseconds. E.g. secs:1, millisecs:500, microsecs:100. If any of
the components is missing zero is assumed for that field. (Optional)
- clock_precision_digits
-
Specifies the maximum number of digits, which represent the fraction of
seconds, that need to be included in the time field. The trailing zeroes
must be removed from the time, so there might actually be fewer digits,
or no fraction of seconds at all. Supported only on UNIX platforms.
The maximum value is 6, default is 0.
(Optional)
- ordering
-
If this option is yes the responses generated by this TSA can always
be ordered, even if the time difference between two responses is less
than the sum of their accuracies. Default is no. (Optional)
- tsa_name
-
Set this option to yes if the subject name of the TSA must be included in
the TSA name field of the response. Default is no. (Optional)
- ess_cert_id_chain
-
The SignedData objects created by the TSA always contain the
certificate identifier of the signing certificate in a signed
attribute (see RFC 2634, Enhanced Security Services). If this option
is set to yes and either the certs variable or the -chain option
is specified then the certificate identifiers of the chain will also
be included in the SigningCertificate signed attribute. If this
variable is set to no, only the signing certificate identifier is
included. Default is no. (Optional)
- ess_cert_id_alg
-
This option specifies the hash function to be used to calculate the TSA's
public key certificate identifier. Default is sha1. (Optional)
EXAMPLES
All the examples below presume that OPENSSL_CONF is set to a proper
configuration file, e.g. the example configuration file
openssl/apps/openssl.cnf will do.
Time Stamp Request
To create a time stamp request for design1.txt with SHA-1
without nonce and policy and no certificate is required in the response:
openssl ts -query -data design1.txt -no_nonce \
-out design1.tsq
To create a similar time stamp request with specifying the message imprint
explicitly:
openssl ts -query -digest b7e5d3f93198b38379852f2c04e78d73abdd0f4b \
-no_nonce -out design1.tsq
To print the content of the previous request in human readable format:
openssl ts -query -in design1.tsq -text
To create a time stamp request which includes the MD-5 digest
of design2.txt, requests the signer certificate and nonce,
specifies a policy id (assuming the tsa_policy1 name is defined in the
OID section of the config file):
openssl ts -query -data design2.txt -md5 \
-tspolicy tsa_policy1 -cert -out design2.tsq
Time Stamp Response
Before generating a response a signing certificate must be created for
the TSA that contains the timeStamping critical extended key usage extension
without any other key usage extensions. You can add this line to the
user certificate section of the config file to generate a proper certificate;
extendedKeyUsage = critical,timeStamping
See x509(1) for instructions. The examples
below assume that cacert.pem contains the certificate of the CA,
tsacert.pem is the signing certificate issued by cacert.pem and
tsakey.pem is the private key of the TSA.
To create a time stamp response for a request:
openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -inkey tsakey.pem \
-signer tsacert.pem -out design1.tsr
If you want to use the settings in the config file you could just write:
openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -out design1.tsr
To print a time stamp reply to stdout in human readable format:
openssl ts -reply -in design1.tsr -text
To create a time stamp token instead of time stamp response:
openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -out design1_token.der -token_out
To print a time stamp token to stdout in human readable format:
openssl ts -reply -in design1_token.der -token_in -text -token_out
To extract the time stamp token from a response:
openssl ts -reply -in design1.tsr -out design1_token.der -token_out
To add 'granted' status info to a time stamp token thereby creating a
valid response:
openssl ts -reply -in design1_token.der -token_in -out design1.tsr
Time Stamp Verification
To verify a time stamp reply against a request:
openssl ts -verify -queryfile design1.tsq -in design1.tsr \
-CAfile cacert.pem -untrusted tsacert.pem
To verify a time stamp reply that includes the certificate chain:
openssl ts -verify -queryfile design2.tsq -in design2.tsr \
-CAfile cacert.pem
To verify a time stamp token against the original data file:
openssl ts -verify -data design2.txt -in design2.tsr \
-CAfile cacert.pem
To verify a time stamp token against a message imprint:
openssl ts -verify -digest b7e5d3f93198b38379852f2c04e78d73abdd0f4b \
-in design2.tsr -CAfile cacert.pem
You could also look at the 'test' directory for more examples.
BUGS
- •
-
No support for time stamps over SMTP, though it is quite easy
to implement an automatic e-mail based TSA with procmail(1)
and perl(1). HTTP server support is provided in the form of
a separate apache module. HTTP client support is provided by
tsget(1). Pure TCP/IP protocol is not supported.
- •
-
The file containing the last serial number of the TSA is not
locked when being read or written. This is a problem if more than one
instance of openssl(1) is trying to create a time stamp
response at the same time. This is not an issue when using the apache
server module, it does proper locking.
- •
-
Look for the FIXME word in the source files.
- •
-
The source code should really be reviewed by somebody else, too.
- •
-
More testing is needed, I have done only some basic tests (see
test/testtsa).
SEE ALSO
req(1),
genrsa(1),
config(5)
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2006-2019 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved.
Licensed under the OpenSSL license (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>.
Index
- NAME
-
- SYNOPSIS
-
- DESCRIPTION
-
- OPTIONS
-
- Time Stamp Request generation
-
- Time Stamp Response generation
-
- Time Stamp Response verification
-
- CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS
-
- EXAMPLES
-
- Time Stamp Request
-
- Time Stamp Response
-
- Time Stamp Verification
-
- BUGS
-
- SEE ALSO
-
- COPYRIGHT
-
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Time: 08:55:19 GMT, December 16, 2021