| This document describes the compile-time configuration option |
| `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` from a user's perspective. |
| |
| This option makes the X.509 and TLS library use PSA for cryptographic |
| operations, and enables new APIs for using keys handled by PSA Crypto. |
| |
| General considerations |
| ---------------------- |
| |
| **Application code:** when this option is enabled, you need to call |
| `psa_crypto_init()` before calling any function from the SSL/TLS, X.509 or PK |
| module. |
| |
| **Scope:** `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` has no effect on the parts of the code that |
| are specific to TLS 1.3; those parts always use PSA Crypto. The parts of the |
| TLS 1.3 code that are common with TLS 1.2, however, follow this option; |
| currently this is the record protection code, computation of the running |
| handshake hash, and X.509. You need to enable `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` if you |
| want TLS 1.3 to use PSA everywhere. |
| |
| New APIs / API extensions |
| ------------------------- |
| |
| ### PSA-held (opaque) keys in the PK layer |
| |
| **New API function:** `mbedtls_pk_setup_opaque()` - can be used to |
| wrap a PSA key pair into a PK context. The key can be used for private-key |
| operations and its public part can be exported. |
| |
| **Benefits:** isolation of long-term secrets, use of PSA Crypto drivers. |
| |
| **Limitations:** can only wrap a key pair, can only use it for private key |
| operations. (That is, signature generation, and for RSA decryption too.) |
| Note: for ECDSA, currently this uses randomized ECDSA while Mbed TLS uses |
| deterministic ECDSA by default. The following operations are not supported |
| with a context set this way, while they would be available with a normal |
| context: `mbedtls_pk_check_pair()`, `mbedtls_pk_debug()`, all public key |
| operations. |
| |
| **Use in X.509 and TLS:** opt-in. The application needs to construct the PK context |
| using the new API in order to get the benefits; it can then pass the |
| resulting context to the following existing APIs: |
| |
| - `mbedtls_ssl_conf_own_cert()` or `mbedtls_ssl_set_hs_own_cert()` to use the |
| key together with a certificate for certificate-based key exchanges; |
| - `mbedtls_x509write_csr_set_key()` to generate a CSR (certificate signature |
| request); |
| - `mbedtls_x509write_crt_set_issuer_key()` to generate a certificate. |
| |
| ### PSA-held (opaque) keys for TLS pre-shared keys (PSK) |
| |
| **New API functions:** `mbedtls_ssl_conf_psk_opaque()` and |
| `mbedtls_ssl_set_hs_psk_opaque()`. Call one of these from an application to |
| register a PSA key for use with a PSK key exchange. |
| |
| **Benefits:** isolation of long-term secrets. |
| |
| **Limitations:** none. |
| |
| **Use in TLS:** opt-in. The application needs to register the key using one of |
| the new APIs to get the benefits. |
| |
| ### PSA-based operations in the Cipher layer |
| |
| There is a new API function `mbedtls_cipher_setup_psa()` to set up a context |
| that will call PSA to store the key and perform the operations. |
| |
| This function only worked for a small number of ciphers. It is now deprecated |
| and it is recommended to use `psa_cipher_xxx()` or `psa_aead_xxx()` functions |
| directly instead. |
| |
| **Warning:** This function will be removed in a future version of Mbed TLS. If |
| you are using it and would like us to keep it, please let us know about your |
| use case. |
| |
| Internal changes |
| ---------------- |
| |
| All of these internal changes are active as soon as `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` |
| is enabled, no change required on the application side. |
| |
| ### TLS: most crypto operations based on PSA |
| |
| Current exceptions: |
| |
| - Finite-field (non-EC) Diffie-Hellman (used in key exchanges: DHE-RSA, |
| DHE-PSK). |
| - Restartable operations when `MBEDTLS_ECP_RESTARTABLE` is also enabled (see |
| the documentation of that option). |
| |
| Other than the above exceptions, all crypto operations are based on PSA when |
| `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` is enabled. |
| |
| ### X.509: most crypto operations based on PSA |
| |
| Current exceptions: |
| |
| - Restartable operations when `MBEDTLS_ECP_RESTARTABLE` is also enabled (see |
| the documentation of that option). |
| |
| Other than the above exception, all crypto operations are based on PSA when |
| `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` is enabled. |
| |
| ### PK layer: most crypto operations based on PSA |
| |
| Current exceptions: |
| |
| - Verification of RSA-PSS signatures with an MGF hash that's different from |
| the message hash. |
| - Restartable operations when `MBEDTLS_ECP_RESTARTABLE` is also enabled (see |
| the documentation of that option). |
| |
| Other than the above exceptions, all crypto operations are based on PSA when |
| `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` is enabled. |
| |