International Business Machines Corporation

Carsten D Frehr

Todd Weston Arnold

Richard Victor Kisley

Elizabeth A Dames

Michael James Kelly

Eric David Rossman

Kenneth B Kerr

Eric B Smith

Thomas J Dewkett

Mark D Marik

Clifford L Hansen

Shelia M Sittinger

Kurt S Jacobsen

Jesper Wiese

According to one embodiment, a method for implementing secure key management is provided. The method includes populating a section of information associated with a key, the section being populated with information relating to how the key was created. The method also includes populating the section with information relating to how the key was acquired by a secure module; and binding the section to the key, wherein the key is encrypted.

Secure key management

According to one embodiment, a method for implementing computer security is provided. The method includes creating a token and populating a payload section of the token with key material and selecting a wrapping method that specifies how the key material is securely bound to key control information, wherein a structure of the key control information in the token is independent of the wrapping method. The method also includes wrapping the key material and binding key control information to the key material in the token, wherein the key control information includes information relating to usage and management of the key material.

A system for implementing computer security is provided. The system includes a computer processor and an application configured to execute on the computer processor, the application implementing a method that includes creating a token and populating a payload section of the token with key material and selecting a wrapping method that specifies how the key material is securely bound to key control information. A structure of the key control information in the token is independent of the wrapping method. Implementing computer security also includes wrapping the key material and binding key control information to the key material in the token. The key control information includes information relating to usage and management of the key material.

A method that includes receiving, from a first entity having an input permission, a first data structure into a HSM, wherein the first data structure maps a first many-to-one mapping between a first and a second PIN numeral system. The method also includes determining whether the content of the first data structure is valid, storing the first data structure in the HSM if the first data structure is valid and marking the stored first data structure as inactive. The method further includes activating the first data structure if a second data structure is input into the HSM by a second entity having an activation permission, wherein the first entity is different from the second entity, the first data structure is identical to the second data structure. The method additionally includes converting from the first to the second PIN numeral system responsive to the activated first data structure.

Personal identification number security enhancement

A computer program product is provided and includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes validating parameters passed to a parameter database, computing a length required for control vector CV data, preparing an optional block in accordance with a result of the computation, converting the CV to a format for a standardized key block while copying the converted CV into the optional block and updating optional block data in the standardized key block.

Method of protecting a control vector in an optional block of a standard key block

A computer program product is provided and includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes initially verifying a presence of parameters passed to a parameter database and that a selected group of the parameters are greater than or equal to zero, parsing optional block data to validate the optional block data, determine a length thereof and a number of optional blocks contained therein and proceeding with one of a secondary info-parsing and a secondary data-parsing operation with respect to the optional block data in accordance with content of the parameters passed to the parameter database.

Method of parsing optional block data

A method for creating a key token includes receiving a first key token, second key token and a request to combine the first key token with the second key token, identifying a key type of the first key token and a key type of the second key token, determining whether the key type of the first key token may be combined with the key type of the second key token, combining the first key token with the second key token to create a third key token responsive to determining that the key type of the first key token may be combined with the key type of the second key token, and outputting the third key token.

Combining key control information in common cryptographic architecture services

A system includes a processor configured to perform a method, the method comprising receiving a first key token, second key token and a request to combine the first key token with the second key token, identifying a key type of the first key token and a key type of the second key token, determining whether the key type of the first key token may be combined with the key type of the second key token, combining the first key token with the second key token to create a third key token responsive to determining that the key type of the first key token may be combined with the key type of the second key token, and outputting the third key token.

Secure key management includes populating a section of information associated with a key, the section of information being populated with information relating to a level of protection of the key accumulated over time. Secure key management further includes securely binding the section of information to the key, wherein the key is encrypted.

A computer program product for secure key management is provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for creating a token and populating the token with key material, and binding key control information to the key material. The key control information includes information relating to usage of the key material populating one or more key usage fields that define attributes that limit actions that may be performed with the key material.

Key usage policies for cryptographic keys

A computer program product for secure key management is provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for creating a token and populating the token with key material, and binding key control information to the key material. The key control information includes information relating to management of the key material populating one or more key management fields that define attributes that limit distribution of the key material.

Key management policies for cryptographic keys

A computer program product for secure key management is provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes creating a token and populating the token with key material, and binding key control information to the key material. The key control information includes information relating to usage of the key material populating one or more key usage fields that define attributes that limit actions that may be performed with the key material.

A computer program product for secure key management is provided. The computer program product includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for performing a method. The method includes creating a token and populating the token with key material, and binding key control information to the key material. The key control information includes information relating to management of the key material populating one or more key management fields that define attributes that limit distribution of the key material.

A computer program product is provided and includes a tangible storage medium readable by a processing circuit and on which instructions are stored for execution by the processing circuit for validating parameters passed to a parameter database, computing a length required for control vector CV data, preparing an optional block in accordance with a result of the computation, converting the CV to a format for a standardized key block while copying the converted CV into the optional block and updating optional block data in the standardized key block.

Protecting a control vector in an optional block of a standard key block

A system for enhancing security of a personal identification number is configned for performing a method that includes receiving, from a first entity having an input permission, a first data structure into a HSM, wherein the first data structure maps a first many-to-one mapping between a first and a second PIN numeral system. The method also includes determining whether the content of the first data structure is valid, storing the first data structure in the HSM if the first data structure is valid and marking the stored first data structure as inactive. The method further includes activating the first data structure if a second data structure is input into the HSM by a second entity having an activation permission, wherein the first entity is different from the second entity, the first data structure is identical to the second data structure. The method additionally includes converting from the first to the second PIN numeral system responsive to the activated first data structure.

Growing community of inventors

Farum, Denmark

Carsten D Frehr