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1=pod
2
3=head1 NAME
4
5openssl-ts,
6ts - Time Stamping Authority tool (client/server)
7
8=head1 SYNOPSIS
9
10B<openssl> B<ts>
11B<-query>
12[B<-rand file...>]
13[B<-writerand file>]
14[B<-config> configfile]
15[B<-data> file_to_hash]
16[B<-digest> digest_bytes]
17[B<-I<digest>>]
18[B<-tspolicy> object_id]
19[B<-no_nonce>]
20[B<-cert>]
21[B<-in> request.tsq]
22[B<-out> request.tsq]
23[B<-text>]
24
25B<openssl> B<ts>
26B<-reply>
27[B<-config> configfile]
28[B<-section> tsa_section]
29[B<-queryfile> request.tsq]
30[B<-passin> password_src]
31[B<-signer> tsa_cert.pem]
32[B<-inkey> file_or_id]
33[B<-I<digest>>]
34[B<-chain> certs_file.pem]
35[B<-tspolicy> object_id]
36[B<-in> response.tsr]
37[B<-token_in>]
38[B<-out> response.tsr]
39[B<-token_out>]
40[B<-text>]
41[B<-engine> id]
42
43B<openssl> B<ts>
44B<-verify>
45[B<-data> file_to_hash]
46[B<-digest> digest_bytes]
47[B<-queryfile> request.tsq]
48[B<-in> response.tsr]
49[B<-token_in>]
50[B<-CApath> trusted_cert_path]
51[B<-CAfile> trusted_certs.pem]
52[B<-untrusted> cert_file.pem]
53[I<verify options>]
54
55I<verify options:>
56[-attime timestamp]
57[-check_ss_sig]
58[-crl_check]
59[-crl_check_all]
60[-explicit_policy]
61[-extended_crl]
62[-ignore_critical]
63[-inhibit_any]
64[-inhibit_map]
65[-issuer_checks]
66[-no_alt_chains]
67[-no_check_time]
68[-partial_chain]
69[-policy arg]
70[-policy_check]
71[-policy_print]
72[-purpose purpose]
73[-suiteB_128]
74[-suiteB_128_only]
75[-suiteB_192]
76[-trusted_first]
77[-use_deltas]
78[-auth_level num]
79[-verify_depth num]
80[-verify_email email]
81[-verify_hostname hostname]
82[-verify_ip ip]
83[-verify_name name]
84[-x509_strict]
85
86=head1 DESCRIPTION
87
88The B<ts> command is a basic Time Stamping Authority (TSA) client and server
89application as specified in RFC 3161 (Time-Stamp Protocol, TSP). A
90TSA can be part of a PKI deployment and its role is to provide long
91term proof of the existence of a certain datum before a particular
92time. Here is a brief description of the protocol:
93
94=over 4
95
96=item 1.
97
98The TSA client computes a one-way hash value for a data file and sends
99the hash to the TSA.
100
101=item 2.
102
103The TSA attaches the current date and time to the received hash value,
104signs them and sends the timestamp token back to the client. By
105creating this token the TSA certifies the existence of the original
106data file at the time of response generation.
107
108=item 3.
109
110The TSA client receives the timestamp token and verifies the
111signature on it. It also checks if the token contains the same hash
112value that it had sent to the TSA.
113
114=back
115
116There is one DER encoded protocol data unit defined for transporting
117a timestamp request to the TSA and one for sending the timestamp response
118back to the client. The B<ts> command has three main functions:
119creating a timestamp request based on a data file,
120creating a timestamp response based on a request, verifying if a
121response corresponds to a particular request or a data file.
122
123There is no support for sending the requests/responses automatically
124over HTTP or TCP yet as suggested in RFC 3161. The users must send the
125requests either by ftp or e-mail.
126
127=head1 OPTIONS
128
129=head2 Time Stamp Request generation
130
131The B<-query> switch can be used for creating and printing a timestamp
132request with the following options:
133
134=over 4
135
136=item B<-rand file...>
137
138A file or files containing random data used to seed the random number
139generator.
140Multiple files can be specified separated by an OS-dependent character.
141The separator is B<;> for MS-Windows, B<,> for OpenVMS, and B<:> for
142all others.
143
144=item [B<-writerand file>]
145
146Writes random data to the specified I<file> upon exit.
147This can be used with a subsequent B<-rand> flag.
148
149=item B<-config> configfile
150
151The configuration file to use.
152Optional; for a description of the default value,
153see L<openssl(1)/COMMAND SUMMARY>.
154
155=item B<-data> file_to_hash
156
157The data file for which the timestamp request needs to be
158created. stdin is the default if neither the B<-data> nor the B<-digest>
159parameter is specified. (Optional)
160
161=item B<-digest> digest_bytes
162
163It is possible to specify the message imprint explicitly without the data
164file. The imprint must be specified in a hexadecimal format, two characters
165per byte, the bytes optionally separated by colons (e.g. 1A:F6:01:... or
1661AF601...). The number of bytes must match the message digest algorithm
167in use. (Optional)
168
169=item B<-I<digest>>
170
171The message digest to apply to the data file.
172Any digest supported by the OpenSSL B<dgst> command can be used.
173The default is SHA-1. (Optional)
174
175=item B<-tspolicy> object_id
176
177The policy that the client expects the TSA to use for creating the
178timestamp token. Either the dotted OID notation or OID names defined
179in the config file can be used. If no policy is requested the TSA will
180use its own default policy. (Optional)
181
182=item B<-no_nonce>
183
184No nonce is specified in the request if this option is
185given. Otherwise a 64 bit long pseudo-random none is
186included in the request. It is recommended to use nonce to
187protect against replay-attacks. (Optional)
188
189=item B<-cert>
190
191The TSA is expected to include its signing certificate in the
192response. (Optional)
193
194=item B<-in> request.tsq
195
196This option specifies a previously created timestamp request in DER
197format that will be printed into the output file. Useful when you need
198to examine the content of a request in human-readable
199format. (Optional)
200
201=item B<-out> request.tsq
202
203Name of the output file to which the request will be written. Default
204is stdout. (Optional)
205
206=item B<-text>
207
208If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format
209instead of DER. (Optional)
210
211=back
212
213=head2 Time Stamp Response generation
214
215A timestamp response (TimeStampResp) consists of a response status
216and the timestamp token itself (ContentInfo), if the token generation was
217successful. The B<-reply> command is for creating a timestamp
218response or timestamp token based on a request and printing the
219response/token in human-readable format. If B<-token_out> is not
220specified the output is always a timestamp response (TimeStampResp),
221otherwise it is a timestamp token (ContentInfo).
222
223=over 4
224
225=item B<-config> configfile
226
227The configuration file to use.
228Optional; for a description of the default value,
229see L<openssl(1)/COMMAND SUMMARY>.
230See B<CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS> for configurable variables.
231
232=item B<-section> tsa_section
233
234The name of the config file section containing the settings for the
235response generation. If not specified the default TSA section is
236used, see B<CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS> for details. (Optional)
237
238=item B<-queryfile> request.tsq
239
240The name of the file containing a DER encoded timestamp request. (Optional)
241
242=item B<-passin> password_src
243
244Specifies the password source for the private key of the TSA. See
245L<openssl(1)/Pass Phrase Options>. (Optional)
246
247=item B<-signer> tsa_cert.pem
248
249The signer certificate of the TSA in PEM format. The TSA signing
250certificate must have exactly one extended key usage assigned to it:
251timeStamping. The extended key usage must also be critical, otherwise
252the certificate is going to be refused. Overrides the B<signer_cert>
253variable of the config file. (Optional)
254
255=item B<-inkey> file_or_id
256
257The signer private key of the TSA in PEM format. Overrides the
258B<signer_key> config file option. (Optional)
259If no engine is used, the argument is taken as a file; if an engine is
260specified, the argument is given to the engine as a key identifier.
261
262=item B<-I<digest>>
263
264Signing digest to use. Overrides the B<signer_digest> config file
265option. (Mandatory unless specified in the config file)
266
267=item B<-chain> certs_file.pem
268
269The collection of certificates in PEM format that will all
270be included in the response in addition to the signer certificate if
271the B<-cert> option was used for the request. This file is supposed to
272contain the certificate chain for the signer certificate from its
273issuer upwards. The B<-reply> command does not build a certificate
274chain automatically. (Optional)
275
276=item B<-tspolicy> object_id
277
278The default policy to use for the response unless the client
279explicitly requires a particular TSA policy. The OID can be specified
280either in dotted notation or with its name. Overrides the
281B<default_policy> config file option. (Optional)
282
283=item B<-in> response.tsr
284
285Specifies a previously created timestamp response or timestamp token
286(if B<-token_in> is also specified) in DER format that will be written
287to the output file. This option does not require a request, it is
288useful e.g. when you need to examine the content of a response or
289token or you want to extract the timestamp token from a response. If
290the input is a token and the output is a timestamp response a default
291'granted' status info is added to the token. (Optional)
292
293=item B<-token_in>
294
295This flag can be used together with the B<-in> option and indicates
296that the input is a DER encoded timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead
297of a timestamp response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
298
299=item B<-out> response.tsr
300
301The response is written to this file. The format and content of the
302file depends on other options (see B<-text>, B<-token_out>). The default is
303stdout. (Optional)
304
305=item B<-token_out>
306
307The output is a timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead of timestamp
308response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
309
310=item B<-text>
311
312If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format
313instead of DER. (Optional)
314
315=item B<-engine> id
316
317Specifying an engine (by its unique B<id> string) will cause B<ts>
318to attempt to obtain a functional reference to the specified engine,
319thus initialising it if needed. The engine will then be set as the default
320for all available algorithms. Default is builtin. (Optional)
321
322=back
323
324=head2 Time Stamp Response verification
325
326The B<-verify> command is for verifying if a timestamp response or
327timestamp token is valid and matches a particular timestamp request or
328data file. The B<-verify> command does not use the configuration file.
329
330=over 4
331
332=item B<-data> file_to_hash
333
334The response or token must be verified against file_to_hash. The file
335is hashed with the message digest algorithm specified in the token.
336The B<-digest> and B<-queryfile> options must not be specified with this one.
337(Optional)
338
339=item B<-digest> digest_bytes
340
341The response or token must be verified against the message digest specified
342with this option. The number of bytes must match the message digest algorithm
343specified in the token. The B<-data> and B<-queryfile> options must not be
344specified with this one. (Optional)
345
346=item B<-queryfile> request.tsq
347
348The original timestamp request in DER format. The B<-data> and B<-digest>
349options must not be specified with this one. (Optional)
350
351=item B<-in> response.tsr
352
353The timestamp response that needs to be verified in DER format. (Mandatory)
354
355=item B<-token_in>
356
357This flag can be used together with the B<-in> option and indicates
358that the input is a DER encoded timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead
359of a timestamp response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
360
361=item B<-CApath> trusted_cert_path
362
363The name of the directory containing the trusted CA certificates of the
364client. See the similar option of L<verify(1)> for additional
365details. Either this option or B<-CAfile> must be specified. (Optional)
366
367
368=item B<-CAfile> trusted_certs.pem
369
370The name of the file containing a set of trusted self-signed CA
371certificates in PEM format. See the similar option of
372L<verify(1)> for additional details. Either this option
373or B<-CApath> must be specified.
374(Optional)
375
376=item B<-untrusted> cert_file.pem
377
378Set of additional untrusted certificates in PEM format which may be
379needed when building the certificate chain for the TSA's signing
380certificate. This file must contain the TSA signing certificate and
381all intermediate CA certificates unless the response includes them.
382(Optional)
383
384=item I<verify options>
385
386The options B<-attime timestamp>, B<-check_ss_sig>, B<-crl_check>,
387B<-crl_check_all>, B<-explicit_policy>, B<-extended_crl>, B<-ignore_critical>,
388B<-inhibit_any>, B<-inhibit_map>, B<-issuer_checks>, B<-no_alt_chains>,
389B<-no_check_time>, B<-partial_chain>, B<-policy>, B<-policy_check>,
390B<-policy_print>, B<-purpose>, B<-suiteB_128>, B<-suiteB_128_only>,
391B<-suiteB_192>, B<-trusted_first>, B<-use_deltas>, B<-auth_level>,
392B<-verify_depth>, B<-verify_email>, B<-verify_hostname>, B<-verify_ip>,
393B<-verify_name>, and B<-x509_strict> can be used to control timestamp
394verification.  See L<verify(1)>.
395
396=back
397
398=head1 CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS
399
400The B<-query> and B<-reply> commands make use of a configuration file.
401See L<config(5)>
402for a general description of the syntax of the config file. The
403B<-query> command uses only the symbolic OID names section
404and it can work without it. However, the B<-reply> command needs the
405config file for its operation.
406
407When there is a command line switch equivalent of a variable the
408switch always overrides the settings in the config file.
409
410=over 4
411
412=item B<tsa> section, B<default_tsa>
413
414This is the main section and it specifies the name of another section
415that contains all the options for the B<-reply> command. This default
416section can be overridden with the B<-section> command line switch. (Optional)
417
418=item B<oid_file>
419
420See L<ca(1)> for description. (Optional)
421
422=item B<oid_section>
423
424See L<ca(1)> for description. (Optional)
425
426=item B<RANDFILE>
427
428See L<ca(1)> for description. (Optional)
429
430=item B<serial>
431
432The name of the file containing the hexadecimal serial number of the
433last timestamp response created. This number is incremented by 1 for
434each response. If the file does not exist at the time of response
435generation a new file is created with serial number 1. (Mandatory)
436
437=item B<crypto_device>
438
439Specifies the OpenSSL engine that will be set as the default for
440all available algorithms. The default value is builtin, you can specify
441any other engines supported by OpenSSL (e.g. use chil for the NCipher HSM).
442(Optional)
443
444=item B<signer_cert>
445
446TSA signing certificate in PEM format. The same as the B<-signer>
447command line option. (Optional)
448
449=item B<certs>
450
451A file containing a set of PEM encoded certificates that need to be
452included in the response. The same as the B<-chain> command line
453option. (Optional)
454
455=item B<signer_key>
456
457The private key of the TSA in PEM format. The same as the B<-inkey>
458command line option. (Optional)
459
460=item B<signer_digest>
461
462Signing digest to use. The same as the
463B<-I<digest>> command line option. (Mandatory unless specified on the command
464line)
465
466=item B<default_policy>
467
468The default policy to use when the request does not mandate any
469policy. The same as the B<-tspolicy> command line option. (Optional)
470
471=item B<other_policies>
472
473Comma separated list of policies that are also acceptable by the TSA
474and used only if the request explicitly specifies one of them. (Optional)
475
476=item B<digests>
477
478The list of message digest algorithms that the TSA accepts. At least
479one algorithm must be specified. (Mandatory)
480
481=item B<accuracy>
482
483The accuracy of the time source of the TSA in seconds, milliseconds
484and microseconds. E.g. secs:1, millisecs:500, microsecs:100. If any of
485the components is missing zero is assumed for that field. (Optional)
486
487=item B<clock_precision_digits>
488
489Specifies the maximum number of digits, which represent the fraction of
490seconds, that  need to be included in the time field. The trailing zeros
491must be removed from the time, so there might actually be fewer digits,
492or no fraction of seconds at all. Supported only on UNIX platforms.
493The maximum value is 6, default is 0.
494(Optional)
495
496=item B<ordering>
497
498If this option is yes the responses generated by this TSA can always
499be ordered, even if the time difference between two responses is less
500than the sum of their accuracies. Default is no. (Optional)
501
502=item B<tsa_name>
503
504Set this option to yes if the subject name of the TSA must be included in
505the TSA name field of the response. Default is no. (Optional)
506
507=item B<ess_cert_id_chain>
508
509The SignedData objects created by the TSA always contain the
510certificate identifier of the signing certificate in a signed
511attribute (see RFC 2634, Enhanced Security Services). If this option
512is set to yes and either the B<certs> variable or the B<-chain> option
513is specified then the certificate identifiers of the chain will also
514be included in the SigningCertificate signed attribute. If this
515variable is set to no, only the signing certificate identifier is
516included. Default is no. (Optional)
517
518=item B<ess_cert_id_alg>
519
520This option specifies the hash function to be used to calculate the TSA's
521public key certificate identifier. Default is sha1. (Optional)
522
523=back
524
525=head1 EXAMPLES
526
527All the examples below presume that B<OPENSSL_CONF> is set to a proper
528configuration file, e.g. the example configuration file
529openssl/apps/openssl.cnf will do.
530
531=head2 Time Stamp Request
532
533To create a timestamp request for design1.txt with SHA-1
534without nonce and policy and no certificate is required in the response:
535
536  openssl ts -query -data design1.txt -no_nonce \
537        -out design1.tsq
538
539To create a similar timestamp request with specifying the message imprint
540explicitly:
541
542  openssl ts -query -digest b7e5d3f93198b38379852f2c04e78d73abdd0f4b \
543         -no_nonce -out design1.tsq
544
545To print the content of the previous request in human readable format:
546
547  openssl ts -query -in design1.tsq -text
548
549To create a timestamp request which includes the MD-5 digest
550of design2.txt, requests the signer certificate and nonce,
551specifies a policy id (assuming the tsa_policy1 name is defined in the
552OID section of the config file):
553
554  openssl ts -query -data design2.txt -md5 \
555        -tspolicy tsa_policy1 -cert -out design2.tsq
556
557=head2 Time Stamp Response
558
559Before generating a response a signing certificate must be created for
560the TSA that contains the B<timeStamping> critical extended key usage extension
561without any other key usage extensions. You can add this line to the
562user certificate section of the config file to generate a proper certificate;
563
564   extendedKeyUsage = critical,timeStamping
565
566See L<req(1)>, L<ca(1)>, and L<x509(1)> for instructions. The examples
567below assume that cacert.pem contains the certificate of the CA,
568tsacert.pem is the signing certificate issued by cacert.pem and
569tsakey.pem is the private key of the TSA.
570
571To create a timestamp response for a request:
572
573  openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -inkey tsakey.pem \
574        -signer tsacert.pem -out design1.tsr
575
576If you want to use the settings in the config file you could just write:
577
578  openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -out design1.tsr
579
580To print a timestamp reply to stdout in human readable format:
581
582  openssl ts -reply -in design1.tsr -text
583
584To create a timestamp token instead of timestamp response:
585
586  openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -out design1_token.der -token_out
587
588To print a timestamp token to stdout in human readable format:
589
590  openssl ts -reply -in design1_token.der -token_in -text -token_out
591
592To extract the timestamp token from a response:
593
594  openssl ts -reply -in design1.tsr -out design1_token.der -token_out
595
596To add 'granted' status info to a timestamp token thereby creating a
597valid response:
598
599  openssl ts -reply -in design1_token.der -token_in -out design1.tsr
600
601=head2 Time Stamp Verification
602
603To verify a timestamp reply against a request:
604
605  openssl ts -verify -queryfile design1.tsq -in design1.tsr \
606        -CAfile cacert.pem -untrusted tsacert.pem
607
608To verify a timestamp reply that includes the certificate chain:
609
610  openssl ts -verify -queryfile design2.tsq -in design2.tsr \
611        -CAfile cacert.pem
612
613To verify a timestamp token against the original data file:
614  openssl ts -verify -data design2.txt -in design2.tsr \
615        -CAfile cacert.pem
616
617To verify a timestamp token against a message imprint:
618  openssl ts -verify -digest b7e5d3f93198b38379852f2c04e78d73abdd0f4b \
619         -in design2.tsr -CAfile cacert.pem
620
621You could also look at the 'test' directory for more examples.
622
623=head1 BUGS
624
625=for comment foreign manuals: procmail(1), perl(1)
626
627=over 2
628
629=item *
630
631No support for timestamps over SMTP, though it is quite easy
632to implement an automatic e-mail based TSA with L<procmail(1)>
633and L<perl(1)>. HTTP server support is provided in the form of
634a separate apache module. HTTP client support is provided by
635L<tsget(1)>. Pure TCP/IP protocol is not supported.
636
637=item *
638
639The file containing the last serial number of the TSA is not
640locked when being read or written. This is a problem if more than one
641instance of L<openssl(1)> is trying to create a timestamp
642response at the same time. This is not an issue when using the apache
643server module, it does proper locking.
644
645=item *
646
647Look for the FIXME word in the source files.
648
649=item *
650
651The source code should really be reviewed by somebody else, too.
652
653=item *
654
655More testing is needed, I have done only some basic tests (see
656test/testtsa).
657
658=back
659
660=head1 SEE ALSO
661
662L<tsget(1)>, L<openssl(1)>, L<req(1)>,
663L<x509(1)>, L<ca(1)>, L<genrsa(1)>,
664L<config(5)>
665
666=head1 COPYRIGHT
667
668Copyright 2006-2021 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved.
669
670Licensed under the OpenSSL license (the "License").  You may not use
671this file except in compliance with the License.  You can obtain a copy
672in the file LICENSE in the source distribution or at
673L<https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html>.
674
675=cut
676