| tpm2_create(1) | General Commands Manual | tpm2_create(1) |
tpm2_create(1) - Create a child object.
tpm2_create [OPTIONS]
tpm2_create(1) - Create a child object. The object can either be a key or a sealing object. A sealing object allows to seal user data to the TPM, with a maximum size of 128 bytes. Additionally it will load the created object if the -c is specified.
These options for creating the TPM entity:
The parent of the object to be created.
The authorization value of the parent object specified with -C.
The authorization value for the created object.
The hash algorithm for generating the objects name. This is optional and defaults to sha256 when not specified.
The key algorithm associated with this object. It defaults to “rsa” if not specified.
The object attributes, optional. The default for created objects is:
TPMA_OBJECT_SIGN_ENCRYPT|TPMA_OBJECT_DECRYPT|TPMA_OBJECT_FIXEDTPM| TPMA_OBJECT_FIXEDPARENT|TPMA_OBJECT_SENSITIVEDATAORIGIN| TPMA_OBJECT_USERWITHAUTH
When -i is specified for sealing, TPMA_OBJECT_SIGN_ENCRYPT and TPMA_OBJECT_DECRYPT are removed from the default attribute set. The algorithm is set in a way where the the object is only good for sealing and unsealing. I.e. one cannot use an object for sealing and cryptography operations.
When -L is specified for adding policy based authorization information AND no string password is specified, the attribute TPMA_OBJECT_USERWITHAUTH is cleared unless an explicit choice is made by setting of the attribute with -a option. This prevents creation of objects with inadvertent auth model where in user intended to enforce a policy but inadvertently created an object with empty auth which can be used instead of policy authorization.
The data file to be sealed, optional. If file is -, read from stdin. When sealing data only the TPM_ALG_KEYEDHASH algorithm with a NULL scheme is allowed. Thus, -G cannot be specified.
The input policy file or a hex string, optional.
The output file which contains the public portion of the created object, optional.
The output file which contains the sensitive portion of the object, optional. # Protection Details
Objects that can move outside of TPM need to be protected (confidentiality and integrity). For instance, transient objects require that TPM protected data (key or seal material) be stored outside of the TPM. This is seen in tools like tpm2_create(1), where the -r option outputs this protected data. This blob contains the sensitive portions of the object. The sensitive portions of the object are protected by the parent object, using the parent’s symmetric encryption details to encrypt the sensitive data and HMAC it.
In-depth details can be found in sections 23 of:
Notably Figure 20, is relevant, even though it’s specifically referring to duplication blobs, the process is identical.
If the output is from tpm2_duplicate(1), the output will be slightly different, as described fully in section 23.
The output file which contains the key context, optional. The key context is analogous to the context file produced by tpm2_load(1), however is generated via a tpm2_createloaded(1) command. This option can be used to avoid the normal tpm2_create(1) and tpm2_load(1) command sequences and do it all in one command, atomically.
An optional file output that saves the creation data for certification.
An optional file output that saves the key template data (TPM2B_PUBLIC) to be used in tpm2_policytemplate.
An optional file output that saves the creation ticket for certification.
An optional file output that saves the creation hash for certification.
An optional hex string or path to add unique data to the creation data. Note that it does not contribute in creating statistically unique object.
The list of PCR banks and selected PCRs’ ids for each bank to be included in the creation data for certification.
File path to record the hash of the command parameters. This is commonly termed as cpHash. NOTE: When this option is selected, The tool will not actually execute the command, it simply returns a cpHash.
File path to record the hash of the response parameters. This is commonly termed as rpHash.
The session created using tpm2_startauthsession. Multiple of these can be specified. For example, you can have one session for auditing and another for encryption/decryption of the parameters.
Format selection for the public key output file. `tss' (the default) will output a binary blob according to the TPM 2.0 Specification. `pem' will output an OpenSSL compatible PEM encoded public key. `der' will output an OpenSSL compatible DER encoded public key. `tpmt' will output a binary blob of the TPMT_PUBLIC struct referenced by TPM 2.0 specs.
Public key format.
The output file path, recording the public portion of the object.
The type of a context object, whether it is a handle or file name, is determined according to the following logic in-order:
Authorization for use of an object in TPM2.0 can come in 3 different forms: 1. Password 2. HMAC 3. Sessions
NOTE: “Authorizations default to the EMPTY PASSWORD when not specified”.
Passwords are interpreted in the following forms below using prefix identifiers.
Note: By default passwords are assumed to be in the string form when they do not have a prefix.
A string password, specified by prefix “str:” or it’s absence (raw string without prefix) is not interpreted, and is directly used for authorization.
foobar
str:foobar
A hex-string password, specified by prefix “hex:” is converted from a hexidecimal form into a byte array form, thus allowing passwords with non-printable and/or terminal un-friendly characters.
hex:1122334455667788
A file based password, specified be prefix “file:” should be the path of a file containing the password to be read by the tool or a “-” to use stdin. Storing passwords in files prevents information leakage, passwords passed as options can be read from the process list or common shell history features.
# to use stdin and be prompted
file:-
# to use a file from a path
file:path/to/password/file
# to echo a password via stdin:
echo foobar | tpm2_tool -p file:-
# to use a bash here-string via stdin:
tpm2_tool -p file:- <<< foobar
When using a policy session to authorize the use of an object, prefix the option argument with the session keyword. Then indicate a path to a session file that was created with tpm2_startauthsession(1). Optionally, if the session requires an auth value to be sent with the session handle (eg policy password), then append a + and a string as described in the Passwords section.
To use a session context file called session.ctx.
session:session.ctx
To use a session context file called session.ctx AND send the authvalue mypassword.
session:session.ctx+mypassword
To use a session context file called session.ctx AND send the HEX authvalue 0x11223344.
session:session.ctx+hex:11223344
You can satisfy a PCR policy using the “pcr:” prefix and the PCR minilanguage. The PCR minilanguage is as follows: <pcr-spec>=<raw-pcr-file>
The PCR spec is documented in in the section “PCR bank specifiers”.
The raw-pcr-file is an optional argument that contains the output of the raw PCR contents as returned by tpm2_pcrread(1).
PCR bank specifiers
To satisfy a PCR policy of sha256 on banks 0, 1, 2 and 3 use a specifier of:
pcr:sha256:0,1,2,3
specifying AUTH.
Options that take algorithms support “nice-names”.
There are two major algorithm specification string classes, simple and complex. Only certain algorithms will be accepted by the TPM, based on usage and conditions.
These are strings with no additional specification data. When creating objects, non-specified portions of an object are assumed to defaults. You can find the list of known “Simple Specifiers” below.
Objects, when specified for creation by the TPM, have numerous algorithms to populate in the public data. Things like type, scheme and asymmetric details, key size, etc. Below is the general format for specifying this data: <type>:<scheme>:<symmetric-details>
This portion of the complex algorithm specifier is required. The remaining scheme and symmetric details will default based on the type specified and the type of the object being created.
Next, is an optional field, it can be skipped.
Schemes are usually Signing Schemes or Asymmetric Encryption Schemes. Most signing schemes take a hash algorithm directly following the signing scheme. If the hash algorithm is missing, it defaults to sha256. Some take no arguments, and some take multiple arguments.
These scheme specifiers are followed by a dash and a valid hash algorithm, For example: oaep-sha256.
This scheme specifier is followed by a count (max size UINT16) then followed by a dash(-) and a valid hash algorithm. * ecdaa For example, ecdaa4-sha256. If no count is specified, it defaults to 4.
This scheme specifier takes NO arguments. * rsaes
This field is optional, and defaults based on the type of object being created and it’s attributes. Generally, any valid Symmetric specifier from the Type Specifiers list should work. If not specified, an asymmetric objects symmetric details defaults to aes128cfb.
tpm2_create -C parent.ctx -G rsa2048:rsaes -u key.pub -r key.priv
/tpm2_create -C parent.ctx -G ecc256:ecdaa4-sha384 -u key.pub -r key.priv cryptographic algorithms ALGORITHM.
Object Attributes are used to control various properties of created objects. When specified as an option, either the raw bitfield mask or “nice-names” may be used. The values can be found in Table 31 Part 2 of the TPM2.0 specification, which can be found here:
<https://trustedcomputinggroup.org/wp-content/uploads/TPM-Rev-2.0-Part-2-Structures-01.38.pdf>
Nice names are calculated by taking the name field of table 31 and removing the prefix TPMA_OBJECT_ and lowercasing the result. Thus, TPMA_OBJECT_FIXEDTPM becomes fixedtpm. Nice names can be joined using the bitwise or “|” symbol.
For instance, to set The fields TPMA_OBJECT_FIXEDTPM, TPMA_OBJECT_NODA, and TPMA_OBJECT_SIGN_ENCRYPT, the argument would be:
fixedtpm|noda|sign specifying the object attributes ATTRIBUTES.
This collection of options are common to many programs and provide information that many users may expect.
To successfully use the manpages feature requires the manpages to be installed or on MANPATH, See man(1) for more details.
The TCTI or “Transmission Interface” is the communication mechanism with the TPM. TCTIs can be changed for communication with TPMs across different mediums.
To control the TCTI, the tools respect:
Note: The command line option always overrides the environment variable.
The current known TCTIs are:
The arguments to either the command line option or the environment variable are in the form:
<tcti-name>:<tcti-option-config>
Specifying an empty string for either the <tcti-name> or <tcti-option-config> results in the default being used for that portion respectively.
When a TCTI is not specified, the default TCTI is searched for using dlopen(3) semantics. The tools will search for tabrmd, device and mssim TCTIs IN THAT ORDER and USE THE FIRST ONE FOUND. You can query what TCTI will be chosen as the default by using the -v option to print the version information. The “default-tcti” key-value pair will indicate which of the aforementioned TCTIs is the default.
Any TCTI that implements the dynamic TCTI interface can be loaded. The tools internally use dlopen(3), and the raw tcti-name value is used for the lookup. Thus, this could be a path to the shared library, or a library name as understood by dlopen(3) semantics.
This collection of options are used to configure the various known TCTI modules available:
Example: -T device:/dev/tpm0 or export TPM2TOOLS_TCTI=“device:/dev/tpm0”
Example: -T mssim:host=localhost,port=2321 or export TPM2TOOLS_TCTI=“mssim:host=localhost,port=2321”
Specify the tabrmd tcti name and a config string of bus_name=com.example.FooBar:
\--tcti=tabrmd:bus_name=com.example.FooBar
Specify the default (abrmd) tcti and a config string of bus_type=session:
\--tcti:bus_type=session
NOTE: abrmd and tabrmd are synonymous. the various known TCTI modules.
In order to create an object, we must first create a primary key as it’s parent.
tpm2_createprimary -c primary.ctx
This will create an object using all the default values and store the TPM sealed private and public portions to the paths specified via -u and -r respectively. The tool defaults to an RSA key.
tpm2_create -C primary.ctx -u obj.pub -r obj.priv
Outside of key objects, the TPM allows for small amounts of user specified data to be sealed to the TPM.
echo "my sealed data" > seal.dat
tpm2_create -C primary.ctx -i seal.dat -u obj.pub -r obj.priv
Normally, when creating an object, only the public and private portions of the object are returned and the caller needs to use tpm2_load(1) to load those public and private portions to the TPM before being able to use the object. However, this can be accomplished within this command as well, when supported by the TPM. You can verify your TPM supports this feature by checking that tpm2_getcap(1) commands returns TPM2_CC_CreateLoaded in the command set. If your TPM does not support TPM2_CC_CreateLoaded an unsuported command code error will be returned. If it’s not supported one must use tpm2_load(1). See that manpage for details on its usage.
tpm2_create -C primary.ctx -G ecc -u obj.pub -r obj.priv -c ecc.ctx
This will create an object using all the default values but also output the public key as a PEM file compatible with tools like OpenSSL and whatever supports PEM files.
tpm2_create -C primary.ctx -u obj.pub -r obj.priv -f pem -o obj.pem
Tools can return any of the following codes:
Github Issues (https://github.com/tpm2-software/tpm2-tools/issues)
See the Mailing List (https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/mailman/listinfo/tpm2)
| tpm2-tools |