SYNOPSIS
openssl ts
openssl ts
openssl ts
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:
- The TSA client computes a one-way hash value for a data file and sends the hash to the TSA.
- 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.
- 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
-help -
Print out a usage message.
-query -
Generate a TS query. For details see Timestamp Request generation.
-reply -
Generate a TS reply. For details see Timestamp Response generation.
-verify -
Verify a TS response. For details see Timestamp Response verification.
Timestamp Request generation
The
-config configfile-
The configuration file to use. Optional; for a description of the default value, see COMMAND SUMMARY in openssl.
-data file_to_hash-
The data file for which the timestamp 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(1) command can be used. The default is SHA-256. (Optional)
-tspolicy object_id-
The policy that the client expects the TSA to use for creating the timestamp 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 timestamp 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)
-rand files-writerand file-
See Random State Options in openssl for details.
Timestamp Response generation
A timestamp response (TimeStampResp) consists of a response status and
the timestamp token itself (ContentInfo), if the token generation was
successful. The
-config configfile-
The configuration file to use. Optional; for a description of the default value, see COMMAND SUMMARY in openssl. 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 timestamp request. (Optional)
-passin password_src-
Specifies the password source for the private key of the TSA. See description in openssl. (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 filename|uri-
The signer private key of the TSA in PEM format. Overrides the signer_key config file option. (Optional)
- -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 timestamp response or timestamp 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 timestamp token from a response. If the input is a token and the output is a timestamp 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 timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead of a timestamp 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 timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead of timestamp response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
-text -
If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format instead of DER. (Optional)
-engine id-
See Engine Options in openssl for details. This option is deprecated.
-provider name-provider-path path-propquery propq-
See Provider Options in openssl for details.
Timestamp Response verification
The
-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 timestamp request in DER format. The
-data and-digest options must not be specified with this one. (Optional) -in response.tsr-
The timestamp 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 timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead of a timestamp response (TimeStampResp). (Optional) -untrusted files|uris-
A set of additional untrusted certificates which may be needed when building the certificate chain for the TSA's signing certificate. These do not need to contain the TSA signing certificate and intermediate CA certificates as far as the response already includes them. (Optional)
Multiple sources may be given, separated by commas and/or whitespace. Each file may contain multiple certificates.
-CAfile file-CApath dir-CAstore uri-
See Trusted Certificate Options in openssl verification-options for details. At least one of
-CAfile, -CApath or-CAstore must be specified. -allow_proxy_certs -attime -no_check_time -check_ss_sig -crl_check -crl_check_all -explicit_policy -extended_crl -ignore_critical -inhibit_any -inhibit_map -no_alt_chains -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 -x509_strict -issuer_checks -
Set various options of certificate chain verification. See Verification Options in openssl verification-options for details.
Any verification errors cause the command to exit.
CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS
The
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 -
This specifies a file containing additional OBJECT IDENTIFIERS. Each line of the file should consist of the numerical form of the object identifier followed by whitespace then the short name followed by whitespace and finally the long name. (Optional)
oid_section -
This specifies a section in the configuration file containing extra object identifiers. Each line should consist of the short name of the object identifier followed by = and the numerical form. The short and long names are the same when this option is used. (Optional)
RANDFILE -
At startup the specified file is loaded into the random number generator, and at exit 256 bytes will be written to it. (Note: Using a RANDFILE is not necessary anymore, see the "HISTORY" section.
serial -
The name of the file containing the hexadecimal serial number of the last timestamp 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 built-in, 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 zeros 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 variable is set to no, only this signing certificate identifier is included in the SigningCertificate signed attribute. If this variable is set to yes and the certs variable or the
-chain option is specified then the certificate identifiers of the chain will also be included, where the-chain option overrides the certs variable. 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 sha256. (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.
Timestamp Request
To create a timestamp request for design1.txt with SHA-256 digest, without nonce and policy, and without requirement for a certificate 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 timestamp request which includes the SHA-512 digest of design2.txt, requests the signer certificate and nonce, and 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 -sha512 \
-tspolicy tsa_policy1 -cert -out design2.tsq
Timestamp 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 req, ca, and x509 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
Timestamp 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 and perl. HTTP server support is provided in the form of a separate apache module. HTTP client support is provided by tsget. 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 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).
HISTORY
OpenSSL 1.1.1 introduced a new random generator (CSPRNG) with an improved seeding mechanism. The new seeding mechanism makes it unnecessary to define a RANDFILE for saving and restoring randomness. This option is retained mainly for compatibility reasons.
The
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2016-2021 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 here: OpenSSL.
AVAILABILITY
PTC MKS Toolkit for System Administrators
PTC MKS Toolkit for Developers
PTC MKS Toolkit for Interoperability
PTC MKS Toolkit for Professional Developers
PTC MKS Toolkit for Professional Developers 64-Bit Edition
PTC MKS Toolkit for Enterprise Developers
PTC MKS Toolkit for Enterprise Developers 64-Bit Edition
SEE ALSO
- Commands:
- openssl, openssl ca, openssl genrsa, openssl req, openssl tsget, openssl x509
- Miscellaneous:
- openssl config
PTC MKS Toolkit 10.5 Documentation Build 40.