ts.pod revision 279264
1=pod
2
3=head1 NAME
4
5ts - Time Stamping Authority tool (client/server)
6
7=head1 SYNOPSIS
8
9B<openssl> B<ts>
10B<-query>
11[B<-rand> file:file...]
12[B<-config> configfile]
13[B<-data> file_to_hash]
14[B<-digest> digest_bytes]
15[B<-md2>|B<-md4>|B<-md5>|B<-sha>|B<-sha1>|B<-mdc2>|B<-ripemd160>|B<...>]
16[B<-policy> object_id]
17[B<-no_nonce>]
18[B<-cert>]
19[B<-in> request.tsq]
20[B<-out> request.tsq]
21[B<-text>]
22
23B<openssl> B<ts>
24B<-reply>
25[B<-config> configfile]
26[B<-section> tsa_section]
27[B<-queryfile> request.tsq]
28[B<-passin> password_src]
29[B<-signer> tsa_cert.pem]
30[B<-inkey> private.pem]
31[B<-chain> certs_file.pem]
32[B<-policy> object_id]
33[B<-in> response.tsr]
34[B<-token_in>]
35[B<-out> response.tsr]
36[B<-token_out>]
37[B<-text>]
38[B<-engine> id]
39
40B<openssl> B<ts>
41B<-verify>
42[B<-data> file_to_hash]
43[B<-digest> digest_bytes]
44[B<-queryfile> request.tsq]
45[B<-in> response.tsr]
46[B<-token_in>]
47[B<-CApath> trusted_cert_path]
48[B<-CAfile> trusted_certs.pem]
49[B<-untrusted> cert_file.pem]
50
51=head1 DESCRIPTION
52
53The B<ts> command is a basic Time Stamping Authority (TSA) client and server
54application as specified in RFC 3161 (Time-Stamp Protocol, TSP). A
55TSA can be part of a PKI deployment and its role is to provide long
56term proof of the existence of a certain datum before a particular
57time. Here is a brief description of the protocol:
58
59=over 4
60
61=item 1.
62
63The TSA client computes a one-way hash value for a data file and sends
64the hash to the TSA.
65
66=item 2.
67
68The TSA attaches the current date and time to the received hash value,
69signs them and sends the time stamp token back to the client. By
70creating this token the TSA certifies the existence of the original
71data file at the time of response generation.
72
73=item 3.
74
75The TSA client receives the time stamp token and verifies the
76signature on it. It also checks if the token contains the same hash
77value that it had sent to the TSA.
78
79=back
80
81There is one DER encoded protocol data unit defined for transporting a time
82stamp request to the TSA and one for sending the time stamp response
83back to the client. The B<ts> command has three main functions:
84creating a time stamp request based on a data file,
85creating a time stamp response based on a request, verifying if a
86response corresponds to a particular request or a data file.
87
88There is no support for sending the requests/responses automatically
89over HTTP or TCP yet as suggested in RFC 3161. The users must send the
90requests either by ftp or e-mail.
91
92=head1 OPTIONS
93
94=head2 Time Stamp Request generation
95
96The B<-query> switch can be used for creating and printing a time stamp
97request with the following options:
98
99=over 4
100
101=item B<-rand> file:file...
102
103The files containing random data for seeding the random number
104generator. Multiple files can be specified, the separator is B<;> for
105MS-Windows, B<,> for VMS and B<:> for all other platforms. (Optional)
106
107=item B<-config> configfile
108
109The configuration file to use, this option overrides the
110B<OPENSSL_CONF> environment variable. Only the OID section
111of the config file is used with the B<-query> command. (Optional)
112
113=item B<-data> file_to_hash
114
115The data file for which the time stamp request needs to be
116created. stdin is the default if neither the B<-data> nor the B<-digest>
117parameter is specified. (Optional)
118
119=item B<-digest> digest_bytes
120
121It is possible to specify the message imprint explicitly without the data
122file. The imprint must be specified in a hexadecimal format, two characters
123per byte, the bytes optionally separated by colons (e.g. 1A:F6:01:... or
1241AF601...). The number of bytes must match the message digest algorithm 
125in use. (Optional)
126
127=item B<-md2>|B<-md4>|B<-md5>|B<-sha>|B<-sha1>|B<-mdc2>|B<-ripemd160>|B<...>
128
129The message digest to apply to the data file, it supports all the message
130digest algorithms that are supported by the openssl B<dgst> command.
131The default is SHA-1. (Optional)
132
133=item B<-policy> object_id
134
135The policy that the client expects the TSA to use for creating the
136time stamp token. Either the dotted OID notation or OID names defined
137in the config file can be used. If no policy is requested the TSA will
138use its own default policy. (Optional)
139
140=item B<-no_nonce>
141
142No nonce is specified in the request if this option is
143given. Otherwise a 64 bit long pseudo-random none is
144included in the request. It is recommended to use nonce to
145protect against replay-attacks. (Optional)
146
147=item B<-cert>
148
149The TSA is expected to include its signing certificate in the
150response. (Optional)
151
152=item B<-in> request.tsq
153
154This option specifies a previously created time stamp request in DER
155format that will be printed into the output file. Useful when you need
156to examine the content of a request in human-readable
157
158format. (Optional)
159
160=item B<-out> request.tsq
161
162Name of the output file to which the request will be written. Default
163is stdout. (Optional)
164
165=item B<-text>
166
167If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format
168instead of DER. (Optional)
169
170=back
171
172=head2 Time Stamp Response generation
173
174A time stamp response (TimeStampResp) consists of a response status
175and the time stamp token itself (ContentInfo), if the token generation was
176successful. The B<-reply> command is for creating a time stamp
177response or time stamp token based on a request and printing the
178response/token in human-readable format. If B<-token_out> is not
179specified the output is always a time stamp response (TimeStampResp),
180otherwise it is a time stamp token (ContentInfo).
181
182=over 4
183
184=item B<-config> configfile
185
186The configuration file to use, this option overrides the
187B<OPENSSL_CONF> environment variable. See B<CONFIGURATION FILE
188OPTIONS> for configurable variables. (Optional)
189
190=item B<-section> tsa_section
191
192The name of the config file section conatining the settings for the
193response generation. If not specified the default TSA section is
194used, see B<CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS> for details. (Optional)
195
196=item B<-queryfile> request.tsq
197
198The name of the file containing a DER encoded time stamp request. (Optional)
199
200=item B<-passin> password_src
201
202Specifies the password source for the private key of the TSA. See
203B<PASS PHRASE ARGUMENTS> in L<openssl(1)|openssl(1)>. (Optional)
204
205=item B<-signer> tsa_cert.pem
206
207The signer certificate of the TSA in PEM format. The TSA signing
208certificate must have exactly one extended key usage assigned to it:
209timeStamping. The extended key usage must also be critical, otherwise
210the certificate is going to be refused. Overrides the B<signer_cert>
211variable of the config file. (Optional)
212
213=item B<-inkey> private.pem
214
215The signer private key of the TSA in PEM format. Overrides the
216B<signer_key> config file option. (Optional)
217
218=item B<-chain> certs_file.pem
219
220The collection of certificates in PEM format that will all
221be included in the response in addition to the signer certificate if
222the B<-cert> option was used for the request. This file is supposed to
223contain the certificate chain for the signer certificate from its
224issuer upwards. The B<-reply> command does not build a certificate
225chain automatically. (Optional)
226
227=item B<-policy> object_id
228
229The default policy to use for the response unless the client
230explicitly requires a particular TSA policy. The OID can be specified
231either in dotted notation or with its name. Overrides the
232B<default_policy> config file option. (Optional)
233
234=item B<-in> response.tsr
235
236Specifies a previously created time stamp response or time stamp token
237(if B<-token_in> is also specified) in DER format that will be written
238to the output file. This option does not require a request, it is
239useful e.g. when you need to examine the content of a response or
240token or you want to extract the time stamp token from a response. If
241the input is a token and the output is a time stamp response a default
242'granted' status info is added to the token. (Optional)
243
244=item B<-token_in>
245
246This flag can be used together with the B<-in> option and indicates
247that the input is a DER encoded time stamp token (ContentInfo) instead
248of a time stamp response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
249
250=item B<-out> response.tsr
251
252The response is written to this file. The format and content of the
253file depends on other options (see B<-text>, B<-token_out>). The default is
254stdout. (Optional)
255
256=item B<-token_out>
257
258The output is a time stamp token (ContentInfo) instead of time stamp
259response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
260
261=item B<-text>
262
263If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format
264instead of DER. (Optional)
265
266=item B<-engine> id
267
268Specifying an engine (by its unique B<id> string) will cause B<ts>
269to attempt to obtain a functional reference to the specified engine,
270thus initialising it if needed. The engine will then be set as the default
271for all available algorithms. Default is builtin. (Optional)
272
273=back
274
275=head2 Time Stamp Response verification
276
277The B<-verify> command is for verifying if a time stamp response or time
278stamp token is valid and matches a particular time stamp request or
279data file. The B<-verify> command does not use the configuration file.
280
281=over 4
282
283=item B<-data> file_to_hash
284
285The response or token must be verified against file_to_hash. The file
286is hashed with the message digest algorithm specified in the token. 
287The B<-digest> and B<-queryfile> options must not be specified with this one.
288(Optional)
289
290=item B<-digest> digest_bytes
291
292The response or token must be verified against the message digest specified
293with this option. The number of bytes must match the message digest algorithm
294specified in the token. The B<-data> and B<-queryfile> options must not be
295specified with this one. (Optional)
296
297=item B<-queryfile> request.tsq
298
299The original time stamp request in DER format. The B<-data> and B<-digest>
300options must not be specified with this one. (Optional)
301
302=item B<-in> response.tsr
303
304The time stamp response that needs to be verified in DER format. (Mandatory)
305
306=item B<-token_in>
307
308This flag can be used together with the B<-in> option and indicates
309that the input is a DER encoded time stamp token (ContentInfo) instead
310of a time stamp response (TimeStampResp). (Optional)
311
312=item B<-CApath> trusted_cert_path
313
314The name of the directory containing the trused CA certificates of the
315client. See the similar option of L<verify(1)|verify(1)> for additional
316details. Either this option or B<-CAfile> must be specified. (Optional)
317
318
319=item B<-CAfile> trusted_certs.pem
320
321The name of the file containing a set of trusted self-signed CA 
322certificates in PEM format. See the similar option of 
323L<verify(1)|verify(1)> for additional details. Either this option 
324or B<-CApath> must be specified.
325(Optional)
326
327=item B<-untrusted> cert_file.pem
328
329Set of additional untrusted certificates in PEM format which may be
330needed when building the certificate chain for the TSA's signing
331certificate. This file must contain the TSA signing certificate and
332all intermediate CA certificates unless the response includes them.
333(Optional)
334
335=back
336
337=head1 CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS
338
339The B<-query> and B<-reply> commands make use of a configuration file
340defined by the B<OPENSSL_CONF> environment variable. See L<config(5)|config(5)>
341for a general description of the syntax of the config file. The
342B<-query> command uses only the symbolic OID names section
343and it can work without it. However, the B<-reply> command needs the
344config file for its operation.
345
346When there is a command line switch equivalent of a variable the
347switch always overrides the settings in the config file.
348
349=over 4
350
351=item B<tsa> section, B<default_tsa>	
352
353This is the main section and it specifies the name of another section
354that contains all the options for the B<-reply> command. This default
355section can be overridden with the B<-section> command line switch. (Optional)
356
357=item B<oid_file>
358
359See L<ca(1)|ca(1)> for description. (Optional)
360
361=item B<oid_section>
362
363See L<ca(1)|ca(1)> for description. (Optional)
364
365=item B<RANDFILE>
366
367See L<ca(1)|ca(1)> for description. (Optional)
368
369=item B<serial>
370
371The name of the file containing the hexadecimal serial number of the
372last time stamp response created. This number is incremented by 1 for
373each response. If the file does not exist at the time of response
374generation a new file is created with serial number 1. (Mandatory)
375
376=item B<crypto_device>
377
378Specifies the OpenSSL engine that will be set as the default for 
379all available algorithms. The default value is builtin, you can specify 
380any other engines supported by OpenSSL (e.g. use chil for the NCipher HSM).
381(Optional)
382
383=item B<signer_cert>
384
385TSA signing certificate in PEM format. The same as the B<-signer>
386command line option. (Optional)
387
388=item B<certs>
389
390A file containing a set of PEM encoded certificates that need to be
391included in the response. The same as the B<-chain> command line
392option. (Optional)
393
394=item B<signer_key>
395
396The private key of the TSA in PEM format. The same as the B<-inkey>
397command line option. (Optional)
398
399=item B<default_policy>
400
401The default policy to use when the request does not mandate any
402policy. The same as the B<-policy> command line option. (Optional)
403
404=item B<other_policies>
405
406Comma separated list of policies that are also acceptable by the TSA
407and used only if the request explicitly specifies one of them. (Optional)
408
409=item B<digests>
410
411The list of message digest algorithms that the TSA accepts. At least
412one algorithm must be specified. (Mandatory)
413
414=item B<accuracy>
415
416The accuracy of the time source of the TSA in seconds, milliseconds
417and microseconds. E.g. secs:1, millisecs:500, microsecs:100. If any of
418the components is missing zero is assumed for that field. (Optional)
419
420=item B<clock_precision_digits>
421
422Specifies the maximum number of digits, which represent the fraction of 
423seconds, that  need to be included in the time field. The trailing zeroes
424must be removed from the time, so there might actually be fewer digits,
425or no fraction of seconds at all. Supported only on UNIX platforms.
426The maximum value is 6, default is 0.
427(Optional)
428
429=item B<ordering>
430
431If this option is yes the responses generated by this TSA can always
432be ordered, even if the time difference between two responses is less
433than the sum of their accuracies. Default is no. (Optional)
434
435=item B<tsa_name>
436
437Set this option to yes if the subject name of the TSA must be included in
438the TSA name field of the response. Default is no. (Optional)
439
440=item B<ess_cert_id_chain>
441
442The SignedData objects created by the TSA always contain the
443certificate identifier of the signing certificate in a signed
444attribute (see RFC 2634, Enhanced Security Services). If this option
445is set to yes and either the B<certs> variable or the B<-chain> option
446is specified then the certificate identifiers of the chain will also
447be included in the SigningCertificate signed attribute. If this
448variable is set to no, only the signing certificate identifier is
449included. Default is no. (Optional)
450
451=back
452
453=head1 ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES
454
455B<OPENSSL_CONF> contains the path of the configuration file and can be
456overridden by the B<-config> command line option.
457
458=head1 EXAMPLES
459
460All the examples below presume that B<OPENSSL_CONF> is set to a proper
461configuration file, e.g. the example configuration file 
462openssl/apps/openssl.cnf will do.
463
464=head2 Time Stamp Request
465
466To create a time stamp request for design1.txt with SHA-1 
467without nonce and policy and no certificate is required in the response:
468
469  openssl ts -query -data design1.txt -no_nonce \
470	-out design1.tsq
471
472To create a similar time stamp request with specifying the message imprint
473explicitly:
474
475  openssl ts -query -digest b7e5d3f93198b38379852f2c04e78d73abdd0f4b \
476	 -no_nonce -out design1.tsq
477
478To print the content of the previous request in human readable format:
479
480  openssl ts -query -in design1.tsq -text
481
482To create a time stamp request which includes the MD-5 digest 
483of design2.txt, requests the signer certificate and nonce,
484specifies a policy id (assuming the tsa_policy1 name is defined in the
485OID section of the config file):
486
487  openssl ts -query -data design2.txt -md5 \
488	-policy tsa_policy1 -cert -out design2.tsq
489
490=head2 Time Stamp Response
491
492Before generating a response a signing certificate must be created for
493the TSA that contains the B<timeStamping> critical extended key usage extension
494without any other key usage extensions. You can add the
495'extendedKeyUsage = critical,timeStamping' line to the user certificate section
496of the config file to generate a proper certificate. See L<req(1)|req(1)>,
497L<ca(1)|ca(1)>, L<x509(1)|x509(1)> for instructions. The examples
498below assume that cacert.pem contains the certificate of the CA,
499tsacert.pem is the signing certificate issued by cacert.pem and
500tsakey.pem is the private key of the TSA.
501
502To create a time stamp response for a request:
503
504  openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -inkey tsakey.pem \
505	-signer tsacert.pem -out design1.tsr
506
507If you want to use the settings in the config file you could just write:
508
509  openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -out design1.tsr
510
511To print a time stamp reply to stdout in human readable format:
512
513  openssl ts -reply -in design1.tsr -text
514
515To create a time stamp token instead of time stamp response:
516
517  openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -out design1_token.der -token_out
518
519To print a time stamp token to stdout in human readable format:
520
521  openssl ts -reply -in design1_token.der -token_in -text -token_out
522
523To extract the time stamp token from a response:
524
525  openssl ts -reply -in design1.tsr -out design1_token.der -token_out
526
527To add 'granted' status info to a time stamp token thereby creating a
528valid response:
529
530  openssl ts -reply -in design1_token.der -token_in -out design1.tsr
531
532=head2 Time Stamp Verification
533
534To verify a time stamp reply against a request:
535
536  openssl ts -verify -queryfile design1.tsq -in design1.tsr \
537	-CAfile cacert.pem -untrusted tsacert.pem
538
539To verify a time stamp reply that includes the certificate chain:
540
541  openssl ts -verify -queryfile design2.tsq -in design2.tsr \
542	-CAfile cacert.pem
543
544To verify a time stamp token against the original data file:
545  openssl ts -verify -data design2.txt -in design2.tsr \
546	-CAfile cacert.pem
547
548To verify a time stamp token against a message imprint:
549  openssl ts -verify -digest b7e5d3f93198b38379852f2c04e78d73abdd0f4b \
550	 -in design2.tsr -CAfile cacert.pem
551
552You could also look at the 'test' directory for more examples.
553
554=head1 BUGS
555
556If you find any bugs or you have suggestions please write to
557Zoltan Glozik <zglozik@opentsa.org>. Known issues:
558
559=over 4
560
561=item * No support for time stamps over SMTP, though it is quite easy
562to implement an automatic e-mail based TSA with L<procmail(1)|procmail(1)> 
563and L<perl(1)|perl(1)>. HTTP server support is provided in the form of 
564a separate apache module. HTTP client support is provided by
565L<tsget(1)|tsget(1)>. Pure TCP/IP protocol is not supported.
566
567=item * The file containing the last serial number of the TSA is not
568locked when being read or written. This is a problem if more than one
569instance of L<openssl(1)|openssl(1)> is trying to create a time stamp
570response at the same time. This is not an issue when using the apache
571server module, it does proper locking.
572
573=item * Look for the FIXME word in the source files.
574
575=item * The source code should really be reviewed by somebody else, too.
576
577=item * More testing is needed, I have done only some basic tests (see
578test/testtsa).
579
580=back
581
582=cut
583
584=head1 AUTHOR
585
586Zoltan Glozik <zglozik@opentsa.org>, OpenTSA project (http://www.opentsa.org)
587
588=head1 SEE ALSO
589
590L<tsget(1)|tsget(1)>, L<openssl(1)|openssl(1)>, L<req(1)|req(1)>, 
591L<x509(1)|x509(1)>, L<ca(1)|ca(1)>, L<genrsa(1)|genrsa(1)>, 
592L<config(5)|config(5)>
593
594=cut
595