International Business Machines Corporation

John D Wilkins

Donald B Johnson

Stephen M Matyas

An V Le

Rostislaw Prymak

Dennis G Abraham

Phil C Yeh

William C Martin

William S Rohland

Ramesh K Karne

Julian Thomas

Ronald M Smith

An Van Le

John Gary Waclawsky

Steve Richard White

Paul C Hershey

William Carlisle Arnold

Christopher J Holloway

Randall J Easter

Robert C Elander

James D Randall

Paul G Lubold

Patrick J McCormack

Rotislaw Prymak

Rostislaw Prymak, Deceased

Alphonse M Bracco

Bernard J Halter

Michael J Kelly

The invention described herein suggests methods of cryptographic key management based on control vectors in which the control vectors are generated or derived internal to a cryptographic facility implementing a set of cryptographic operations. The methods of alternate control vector enforcement described in the present application provide a high-integrity facility to ensure that cryptographic keys are used in a manner consistent with the type and usage attributes assigned to the keys by the originator of those keys. Since the control vectors are generated or derived internal to the cryptographic facility on the basis of data contained in each cryptographic service request to the cryptographic facility, control vectors need not be stored or managed outside the cryptographic facility.

Secure cryptographic operations using control vectors generated inside a

A system and method provide a security agent, consisting of a monitor and a responder, that respond to a detected security event in a data communications network, by producing and transmitting a security alert message to a network security manager. The alert is a security administration action which includes setting a flag in an existing transmitted protocol frame to indicate a security event has occurred. The security agent detects the transmission of infected programs and data across a high-speed communications network. The security agent includes an adaptive, active monitor using finite state machines, that can be dynamically reprogrammed in the event it becomes necessary to dynamically reconfigure it to provide real time detection of the presence of a suspected offending virus.

Network security system and method using a parallel finite state machine

A method and system are disclosed for securely distributing a plurality of software files from a software distribution processor to a user processor, while selectively enabling the user processor to only use a subset of a lesser plurality of the software files. This is achieved by employing a customer key which includes a clear customer number and a derived portion derived from the customer number. The customer key is transformed into a second customer key which serves as a key expression for encrypting a file encryption key specifically intended for a respective one of the plurality of files. A plurality of software files can be stored together, for example on a CD-ROM, with each file encrypted under a corresponding file encryption key. The CD-ROM can be distributed to many user processors. When a specific user processor needs to run one of the software files, a request will be transmitted from the user processor to the software distribution processor. In response to that request, an encrypted file encryption key specific for the requested file, will be transmitted to the user processor. This will enable the user processor to decrypt only the requested file from the CD-ROM. All other files on the CD-ROM remain in their encrypted form and cannot be decrypted and used by the file encryption key received from the software distribution processor.

Method and system for multimedia access control enablement

A computer apparatus, program and method function in a data processing system to replicate a cryptographic facility. The system includes a first cryptographic facility containing a portable part which personalizes the first cryptographic facility. The system also includes a second cryptographic facility which is linked to the first cryptographic facility by a public key cryptographic system. The portable part of the first cryptographic facility is encrypted and transferred to the second cryptographic facility, where it is decrypted and used to personalize the second cryptographic facility to enable replication of the first cryptographic facility. In one application, personalization of the second cryptographic facility can be in response to the detection of a failure in the first cryptographic facility. In another application, multiple cryptographic facilities can be brought on-line for parallel operation in the data processing system.

Cryptographic facility environment backup/restore and replication in a

A cryptographic facility implements a multiple key part import procedure. The installation manager can verify that a key part has been correctly entered and has not been compromised. The security requirement for the procedure is that no single party can subvert the system security by misusing the procedure. This is accomplished by the use of a control-vector-dependent verification pattern to indicate that each key part has been accepted by using the proper control vector and the use of different key switch positions to specify whether the key part is a master key part or an operational key part and whether the key part is a first part or a subsequent key part. The apparatus provides an automatic reset of the key part register at the completion of each key-entry instruction so that each key part can be imported only once. This prevents the same key part from being imported twice as different key part types. The apparatus also prevents a key part from being combined with itself to create a known key. The procedure is fail-safe so that the program cannot steal a key part from a previously failed procedure.

Method and apparatus for validating entry of cryptographic keys

A data processing system, program and method are disclosed for managing a public key cryptographic system which includes a public key, private key pair generator. The method includes the step of generating a first public key, private key pair using a first seed value known to a user, the first seed value being generated from a passphrase. A first random number is generated using the first seed value and applied to generating the first key pair. The method then generates a first control vector defining a first use of the first public key, private key pair. The method then continues with the step of generating a second public key, private key pair using a second seed value unknown to the user, the second seed value being a true random number. The second random number is generated using the second seed value in a pseudorandom number generator and applied to generating the second key pair. The method generates a second control vector defining a second use of the second public key, private key pair. The method then controls the use of the first public key, private key pair using the first control vector and controls the use of the second public key, private key pair with the second control vector.

Method for generating public and private key pairs without using a

A data processing system, method and program are disclosed, for managing a public key cryptographic system. The method includes the steps of generating a first public key and a first private key as a first pair in the data processing system, for use with a first public key algorithm and further generating a second public key and a second private key as a second pair in the data processing system, for use with a second public key algorithm. The method then continues by assigning a private control vector for the first private key and the second private key in the data processing system, for defining permitted uses for the first and second private keys. Then the method continues by forming a private key record which includes the first private key and the second private key in the data processing system, and encrypting the private key record under a first master key expression which is a function of the private control vector. The method then forms a private key token which includes the private control vector and the private key record, and stores the private key token in the data processing system. At a later time, the method receives a first key use request in the data processing system, requiring the first public key algorithm. In response to this, the method continues by accessing the private key token in the data processing system and checking the private control vector to determine if the private key record contains a key having permitted uses which will satisfy the first request. The method then decrypts the private key record under the first master key expression in the data processing system and extracts the first private key from the private key record. The method selects the first public key algorithm in the data processing system for the first key use request and executes the first public key algorithm in the data processing system using the first private key to perform a cryptographic operation to satisfy the first key use request.

Public key cryptosystem key management based on control vectors

A working key of a certain key type is to be transmitted from a first system (having a first usage-control value associated with keys of the certain type) and a second system (having a second usage-control value associated with keys of the certain type). A translation control value, associated with the certain key type, is generated, functionally relating the first and second usage-control values. The translation control value is used in a cryptographic function to send or receive the working key between systems, the cryptographic function being designed to produce valid results when the correct translation control value, and usage-control values, are employed, and unpredictable results otherwise. Effectively, the first usage-control value is translated to the second usage-control value.

Secure translation of usage-control values for cryptographic keys

Device A in a public key cryptographic network will be constrained to continue to faithfully practice a security policy dictated by a network certification center, long after device A's public key PUMa has been certified. If device A alters its operations from the limits encoded in its configuration vector, for example by loading a new configuration vector, device A will be denied participation in the network. To accomplish this enforcement of the network security policy dictated by the certification center, it is necessary for the certification center to verify at the time device A requests certification of its public key PUMa, that device A is configured with the currently authorized configuration vector. Device A is required to transmit to the certification center a copy of device A's current configuration vector, in an audit record. the certification center then compares device A's copy of the configuration vector with the authorized configuration vector for device A stored at the certification center. If the comparison is satisfactory, then the certification center will issue the requested certificate and will produce a digital signiture dSigPRC on a representation of device A's public key PUMa, using the certification center's private certification key PRC. Thereafter, if device A attempts to change its configuration vector, device A's privacy key PRMa corresponding to the certified public key PUMa, will automatically become unavailable for use in communicating in the network.

Method to establish and enforce a network cryptographic security policy

The patent describes a method and apparatus for securely distributing an initial Data Encryption Algorithm (DEA) key-encrypting key by encrypting a key record (consisting of the key-encrypting key and control information associated with that key-encrypting key) using a public key algorithm and a public key belonging to the intended recipient of the key record. The patent further describes a method and apparatus for securely recovering the distributed key-encrypting key by the recipient by decrypting the received key record using the same public key algorithm and private key associated with the public key and re-encrypting the key-encrypting key under a key formed by arithmetically combining the recipient's master key with a control vector contained in the control information of the received key record. Thus the type and usage attributes assigned by the originator of the key-encrypting key in the form of a control vector are cryptographically coupled to the key-encrypting key such that the recipient may only use the received key-encrypting key in a manner defined by the key originator. The patent further describes a method and apparatus to improve the integrity of the key distribution process by applying a digital signature to the key record and by including identifying information (i.e., an originator identifier) in the control information of the key record. The integrity of the distribution process is enhanced by verifying the digital signature and originator identifier at the recipient node.

Hybrid public key algorithm/data encryption algorithm key distribution

A requested cryptographic function is validated for performance in conjunction with a cryptographic key, by inputting a first portion of an associated control vector into a first control vector checker, which outputs a first authorization signal if the requested cryptographic function has been authorized by the originator of the key. A second portion of the control vector is input to a second control vector checker, which outputs a second authorization signal if the requested cryptographic function has been authorized by the originator of the key. Both the first and the second authorization signals are applied to a cryptographic processor which initiates the execution of the requested cryptographic function.

Secure management of keys using control vectors with multi-path checking

A method and apparatus in a public crypto system, control the use of a public key, based on the level of import integrity for the public key. The method and apparatus generate a control vector associated with the public key, having a history field. The public key and the control vector are transmitted from the location of generation over a communications link to a receiving location, using the selected one of a plurality of levels of import integrity for the transmission. At the receiving location, the public key and the control vector are tested to determine the actual level of import integrity for the transmission. Then, a value is written into the history field of the control vector which characterizes the actual level of import integrity. Thereafter, cryptographic applications for the public key are limited by control vector checking, to only those applications which have a required level of integrity which is not greater than the actual level of import integrity characterized by the history field in the control vector.

Method and apparatus for controlling the use of a public key, based on

The invention includes a control vector checking code respository located either within the same system as the crytographic facility or alternately remotely from the system containing the cryptographic facility. The control vector checking code repository will be linked to the cryptographic facility by one of several means. A first means for linking the repository to the cryptographic facility would include a physically secure data communications link. A second means for connecting the repository to the cryptographic facility would be by using an insecure channel with authentication, wherein either a modification detection code or alternately a message authentication code would be transmitted to the cryptographic facility and then the desired control vector checking code would be transmitted over the link. The cryptographic facility will include a code authorization mechanism to compare the transmitted MAC or MDC with a corresponding value computed from the received control vector checking code. If the two values of the MDC or the MAC compare, then the control vector checking code is authenticated and loaded into the control vector checking unit for carrying out the control vector checking operations desired. The control vector checking code repository can be located in a remote system connected by means of the communications link to the crypto facility, or alternately the repository can reside in the same system as the crypto facility. This provides for the dynamic updating of control vector checking code, where improvements or alterations are made to the control vector checking sequence. This also provides for a reduced memory size in the crypto facility, being sufficiently large to accommodate subsidiary control vector checking applications, with alternate control vector checking applications requiring the reloading of the control vector checking unit from the repository.

Secure key management using programable control vector checking

A cryptographic system and method is provided which accepts a key K encrypted under a key formed by exclusive-ORing a key-encrypting key KK with a first control vector C5 and outputs the same key K encrypted under a key formed by exclusive-ORing KK with a second control vector C6. The set (C5, C6) represents a mapping of the type and usage of the key K defined by the control vector C5 to the type and usage defined by the control vector C6. The set of allowable control vector mappings, that is from C5 to C6, are defined in a control vector translation table, which is specified in advance by authorized installation personnel.

Secure key management using control vector translation

The invention is an apparatus and method for validating that key management functions requested for a cryptographic key by the program have been authorized by the originator of the key. The invention includes a cryptographic facility characterized by a secure boundary through which passes an input path for receiving the cryptographic service requests, cryptographic keys and their associated control vectors, and an output path for providing responses thereto. There can be included within the boundary a cryptographic instruction storage coupled to the input path, a control vector checking unit and a cryptographic processing unit coupled to the instruction storage, and a master key storage coupled to the processing means, for providing a secure location for executing key management functions in response to the received service requests. The cryptographic instruction storage receives over the input path a cryptographic service request for performing a key management function on a cryptographic key. The control vector checking unit has an input coupled to the input path for receiving a control vector associated with the cryptographic key and an input connected to the cryptographic instruction storage, for receiving control signals to initiate checking that the control vector authorizes the key management function which is requested by the cryptographic service request. The control vector checking unit has an authorization output connected to an input of the cryptographic processing means, for signalling that the key management function is authorized, the receipt of which by the cryptographic processing unit initiates the performance of the requested key management function with the cryptographic key. The invention enables the flexible control of many cryptographic key management functions in the generation, distribution and use of cryptographic keys, while maintaining a high security standard.

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Somerville, VA, United States of America

John D Wilkins