NTP_KEYGEN(8) BSD System Manager's Manual NTP_KEYGEN(8)
NAME
ntp-keygen -- generate public and private keys
SYNOPSIS
ntp-keygen [-deGgHIMnPT]
[-c RSA-MD2 | RSA-MD5 | RSA-SHA | RSA-SHA1 | RSA-MDC2 | RSA-RIPEMD160 | DSA-SHA | DSA-SHA1]
[-i name] [-p password] [-S -{RSA | -DSA}] [-s name] [-v keys]
DESCRIPTION
This program generates cryptographic data files used by the NTPv4 authentication and identification
schemes. It generates MD5 key files used in symmetric key cryptography. In addition, if the OpenSSL
software library has been installed, it generates keys, certificate and identity files used in public
key cryptography. These files are used for cookie encryption, digital signature and challenge/response
identification algorithms compatible with the Internet standard security infrastructure.
All files are in PEM-encoded printable ASCII format, so they can be embedded as MIME attachments in
mail to other sites and certificate authorities. By default, files are not encrypted. The -p password
option specifies the write password and -q password option the read password for previously encrypted
files. The ntp-keygen program prompts for the password if it reads an encrypted file and the password
is missing or incorrect. If an encrypted file is read successfully and no write password is specified,
the read password is used as the write password by default.
The ntpd configuration command crypto pw password specifies the read password for previously encrypted
files. The daemon expires on the spot if the password is missing or incorrect. For convenience, if a
file has been previously encrypted, the default read password is the name of the host running the pro-gram. program.
gram. If the previous write password is specified as the host name, these files can be read by that
host with no explicit password.
File names begin with the prefix ntpkey_ and end with the postfix _hostname.filestamp, where hostname
is the owner name, usually the string returned by the Unix gethostname() routine, and filestamp is the
NTP seconds when the file was generated, in decimal digits. This both guarantees uniqueness and simpli-fies simplifies
fies maintenance procedures, since all files can be quickly removed by a rm ntpkey* command or all
files generated at a specific time can be removed by a rm *filestamp command. To further reduce the
risk of misconfiguration, the first two lines of a file contain the file name and generation date and
time as comments.
All files are installed by default in the keys directory /usr/local/etc, which is normally in a shared
filesystem in NFS-mounted networks. The actual location of the keys directory and each file can be
overridden by configuration commands, but this is not recommended. Normally, the files for each host
are generated by that host and used only by that host, although exceptions exist as noted later on this
page.
Normally, files containing private values, including the host key, sign key and identification parame-ters, parameters,
ters, are permitted root read/write-only; while others containing public values are permitted world
readable. Alternatively, files containing private values can be encrypted and these files permitted
world readable, which simplifies maintenance in shared file systems. Since uniqueness is insured by the
hostname and file name extensions, the files for a NFS server and dependent clients can all be
installed in the same shared directory.
The recommended practice is to keep the file name extensions when installing a file and to install a
soft link from the generic names specified elsewhere on this page to the generated files. This allows
new file generations to be activated simply by changing the link. If a link is present, ntpd follows it
to the file name to extract the filestamp. If a link is not present, ntpd extracts the filestamp from
the file itself. This allows clients to verify that the file and generation times are always current.
The ntp-keygen program uses the same timestamp extension for all files generated at one time, so each
generation is distinct and can be readily recognized in monitoring data.
Running the program
The safest way to run the ntp-keygen program is logged in directly as root. The recommended procedure
is change to the keys directory, usually /ust/local/etc, then run the program. When run for the first
time, or if all ntpkey files have been removed, the program generates a RSA host key file and matching
RSA-MD5 certificate file, which is all that is necessary in many cases. The program also generates soft
links from the generic names to the respective files. If run again, the program uses the same host key
file, but generates a new certificate file and link.
The host key is used to encrypt the cookie when required and so must be RSA type. By default, the host
key is also the sign key used to encrypt signatures. When necessary, a different sign key can be speci-fied specified
fied and this can be either RSA or DSA type. By default, the message digest type is MD5, but any combi-nation combination
nation of sign key type and message digest type supported by the OpenSSL library can be specified,
including those using the MD2, MD5, SHA, SHA1, MDC2 and RIPE160 message digest algorithms. However, the
scheme specified in the certificate must be compatible with the sign key. Certificates using any
digest algorithm are compatible with RSA sign keys; however, only SHA and SHA1 certificates are compat-ible compatible
ible with DSA sign keys.
Private/public key files and certificates are compatible with other OpenSSL applications and very
likely other libraries as well. Certificates or certificate requests derived from them should be com-patible compatible
patible with extant industry practice, although some users might find the interpretation of X509v3
extension fields somewhat liberal. However, the identification parameter files, although encoded as the
other files, are probably not compatible with anything other than Autokey.
Running the program as other than root and using the Unix su command to assume root may not work prop-erly, properly,
erly, since by default the OpenSSL library looks for the random seed file .rnd in the user home direc-tory. directory.
tory. However, there should be only one .rnd, most conveniently in the root directory, so it is conve-nient convenient
nient to define the $RANDFILE environment variable used by the OpenSSL library as the path to /.rnd.
Installing the keys as root might not work in NFS-mounted shared file systems, as NFS clients may not
be able to write to the shared keys directory, even as root. In this case, NFS clients can specify the
files in another directory such as /etc using the keysdir command. There is no need for one client to
read the keys and certificates of other clients or servers, as these data are obtained automatically by
the Autokey protocol.
Ordinarily, cryptographic files are generated by the host that uses them, but it is possible for a
trusted agent (TA) to generate these files for other hosts; however, in such cases files should always
be encrypted. The subject name and trusted name default to the hostname of the host generating the
files, but can be changed by command line options. It is convenient to designate the owner name and
trusted name as the subject and issuer fields, respectively, of the certificate. The owner name is also
used for the host and sign key files, while the trusted name is used for the identity files.
Trusted Hosts and Groups
Each cryptographic configuration involves selection of a signature scheme and identification scheme,
called a cryptotype, as explained in the Authentication Options page. The default cryptotype uses RSA
encryption, MD5 message digest and TC identification. First, configure a NTP subnet including one or
more low-stratum trusted hosts from which all other hosts derive synchronization directly or indi-rectly. indirectly.
rectly. Trusted hosts have trusted certificates; all other hosts have nontrusted certificates. These
hosts will automatically and dynamically build authoritative certificate trails to one or more trusted
hosts. A trusted group is the set of all hosts that have, directly or indirectly, a certificate trail
ending at a trusted host. The trail is defined by static configuration file entries or dynamic means
described on the Automatic NTP Configuration Options page.
On each trusted host as root, change to the keys directory. To insure a fresh fileset, remove all ntp-key ntpkey
key files. Then run ntp-keygen -T to generate keys and a trusted certificate. On all other hosts do the
same, but leave off the -T flag to generate keys and nontrusted certificates. When complete, start the
NTP daemons beginning at the lowest stratum and working up the tree. It may take some time for Autokey
to instantiate the certificate trails throughout the subnet, but setting up the environment is com-pletely completely
pletely automatic.
If it is necessary to use a different sign key or different digest/signature scheme than the default,
run ntp-keygen with the -S type option, where type is either RSA or DSA. The most often need to do this
is when a DSA-signed certificate is used. If it is necessary to use a different certificate scheme than
the default, run ntp-keygen with the -c scheme option and selected scheme as needed. If ntp-keygen is
run again without these options, it generates a new certificate using the same scheme and sign key.
After setting up the environment it is advisable to update certificates from time to time, if only to
extend the validity interval. Simply run ntp-keygen with the same flags as before to generate new cer-tificates certificates
tificates using existing keys. However, if the host or sign key is changed, ntpd should be restarted.
When ntpd is restarted, it loads any new files and restarts the protocol. Other dependent hosts will
continue as usual until signatures are refreshed, at which time the protocol is restarted.
Identity Schemes
As mentioned on the Autonomous Authentication page, the default TC identity scheme is vulnerable to a
middleman attack. However, there are more secure identity schemes available, including PC, IFF, GQ and
MV described on the Identification Schemes page. These schemes are based on a TA, one or more trusted
hosts and some number of nontrusted hosts. Trusted hosts prove identity using values provided by the
TA, while the remaining hosts prove identity using values provided by a trusted host and certificate
trails that end on that host. The name of a trusted host is also the name of its sugroup and also the
subject and issuer name on its trusted certificate. The TA is not necessarily a trusted host in this
sense, but often is.
In some schemes there are separate keys for servers and clients. A server can also be a client of
another server, but a client can never be a server for another client. In general, trusted hosts and
nontrusted hosts that operate as both server and client have parameter files that contain both server
and client keys. Hosts that operate only as clients have key files that contain only client keys.
The PC scheme supports only one trusted host in the group. On trusted host alice run ntp-keygen -P -p
password to generate the host key file ntpkey_RSAkey_alice.filestamp and trusted private certificate
file ntpkey_RSA-MD5_cert_alice.filestamp. Copy both files to all group hosts; they replace the files
which would be generated in other schemes. On each host bob install a soft link from the generic name
ntpkey_host_bob to the host key file and soft link ntpkey_cert_bob to the private certificate file.
Note the generic links are on bob, but point to files generated by trusted host alice. In this scheme
it is not possible to refresh either the keys or certificates without copying them to all other hosts
in the group.
For the IFF scheme proceed as in the TC scheme to generate keys and certificates for all group hosts,
then for every trusted host in the group, generate the IFF parameter file. On trusted host alice run
ntp-keygen -T -I -p password to produce her parameter file ntpkey_IFFpar_alice.filestamp, which
includes both server and client keys. Copy this file to all group hosts that operate as both servers
and clients and install a soft link from the generic ntpkey_iff_alice to this file. If there are no
hosts restricted to operate only as clients, there is nothing further to do. As the IFF scheme is inde-pendent independent
pendent of keys and certificates, these files can be refreshed as needed.
If a rogue client has the parameter file, it could masquerade as a legitimate server and present a mid-dleman middleman
dleman threat. To eliminate this threat, the client keys can be extracted from the parameter file and
distributed to all restricted clients. After generating the parameter file, on alice run ntp-keygen -e
and pipe the output to a file or mail program. Copy or mail this file to all restricted clients. On
these clients install a soft link from the generic ntpkey_iff_alice to this file. To further protect
the integrity of the keys, each file can be encrypted with a secret password.
For the GQ scheme proceed as in the TC scheme to generate keys and certificates for all group hosts,
then for every trusted host in the group, generate the IFF parameter file. On trusted host alice run
ntp-keygen -T -G -p password to produce her parameter file ntpkey_GQpar_alice.filestamp, which includes
both server and client keys. Copy this file to all group hosts and install a soft link from the
generic ntpkey_gq_alice to this file. In addition, on each host bob install a soft link from generic
ntpkey_gq_bob to this file. As the GQ scheme updates the GQ parameters file and certificate at the same
time, keys and certificates can be regenerated as needed.
For the MV scheme, proceed as in the TC scheme to generate keys and certificates for all group hosts.
For illustration assume trish is the TA, alice one of several trusted hosts and bob one of her clients.
On TA trish run ntp-keygen -V n -p password, where n is the number of revokable keys (typically 5) to
produce the parameter file ntpkeys_MVpar_trish.filestamp and client key files ntp-keys_MVkeyd_trish.filestamp ntpkeys_MVkeyd_trish.filestamp
keys_MVkeyd_trish.filestamp where d is the key number (0 < d < n). Copy the parameter file to alice and
install a soft link from the generic ntpkey_mv_alice to this file. Copy one of the client key files to
alice for later distribution to her clients. It doesn't matter which client key file goes to alice,
since they all work the same way. Alice copies the client key file to all of her cliens. On client bob
install a soft link from generic ntpkey_mvkey_bob to the client key file. As the MV scheme is indepen-
dent of keys and certificates, these files can be refreshed as needed.
OPTIONS
-c RSA-MD2 | RSA-MD5 | RSA-SHA | RSA-SHA1 | RSA-MDC2 | RSA-RIPEMD160 | DSA-SHA | DSA-SHA1
Select certificate message digest/signature encryption scheme. Note that RSA schemes must be
used with a RSA sign key and DSA schemes must be used with a DSA sign key. The default without
this option is RSA-MD5.
-d Enable debugging. This option displays the cryptographic data produced in eye-friendly bill-boards. billboards.
boards.
-e Write the IFF client keys to the standard output. This is intended for automatic key distribu-tion distribution
tion by mail.
-G Generate parameters and keys for the GQ identification scheme, obsoleting any that may exist.
-g Generate keys for the GQ identification scheme using the existing GQ parameters. If the GQ
parameters do not yet exist, create them first.
-H Generate new host keys, obsoleting any that may exist.
-I Generate parameters for the IFF identification scheme, obsoleting any that may exist.
-i name
Set the suject name to name. This is used as the subject field in certificates and in the file
name for host and sign keys.
-M Generate MD5 keys, obsoleting any that may exist.
-P Generate a private certificate. By default, the program generates public certificates.
-p password
Encrypt generated files containing private data with password and the DES-CBC algorithm.
-q Set the password for reading files to password.
-S RSA | DSA
Generate a new sign key of the designated type, obsoleting any that may exist. By default, the
program uses the host key as the sign key.
-s name
Set the issuer name to name. This is used for the issuer field in certificates and in the file
name for identity files.
-T Generate a trusted certificate. By default, the program generates a non-trusted certificate.
-v nkeys
Generate parameters and keys for the Mu-Varadharajan (MV) identification scheme.
Random Seed File
All cryptographically sound key generation schemes must have means to randomize the entropy seed used
to initialize the internal pseudo-random number generator used by the library routines. The OpenSSL
library uses a designated random seed file for this purpose. The file must be available when starting
the NTP daemon and ntp-keygen program. If a site supports OpenSSL or its companion OpenSSH, it is very
likely that means to do this are already available.
It is important to understand that entropy must be evolved for each generation, for otherwise the ran-dom random
dom number sequence would be predictable. Various means dependent on external events, such as key-stroke keystroke
stroke intervals, can be used to do this and some systems have built-in entropy sources. Suitable
means are described in the OpenSSL software documentation, but are outside the scope of this page.
The entropy seed used by the OpenSSL library is contained in a file, usually called .rnd, which must be
available when starting the NTP daemon or the ntp-keygen program. The NTP daemon will first look for
the file using the path specified by the randfile subcommand of the crypto configuration command. If
not specified in this way, or when starting the ntp-keygen program, the OpenSSL library will look for
the file using the path specified by the RANDFILE environment variable in the user home directory,
whether root or some other user. If the RANDFILE environment variable is not present, the library will
look for the .rnd file in the user home directory. If the file is not available or cannot be written,
the daemon exits with a message to the system log and the program exits with a suitable error message.
Cryptographic Data Files
All other file formats begin with two lines. The first contains the file name, including the generated
host name and filestamp. The second contains the datestamp in conventional Unix date format. Lines
beginning with # are considered comments and ignored by the ntp-keygen program and ntpd daemon. Cryp-tographic Cryptographic
tographic values are encoded first using ASN.1 rules, then encrypted if necessary, and finally written
PEM-encoded printable ASCII format preceded and followed by MIME content identifier lines.
The format of the symmetric keys file is somewhat different than the other files in the interest of
backward compatibility. Since DES-CBC is deprecated in NTPv4, the only key format of interest is MD5
alphanumeric strings. Following the herd the keys are entered one per line in the format
keyno type key
where keyno is a positive integer in the range 1-65,535, type is the string MD5 defining the key format
and key is the key itself, which is a printable ASCII string 16 characters or less in length. Each
character is chosen from the 93 printable characters in the range 0x21 through 0x7f excluding space and
the '#' character.
Note that the keys used by the ntpq and ntpdc programs are checked against passwords requested by the
programs and entered by hand, so it is generally appropriate to specify these keys in human readable
ASCII format.
The ntp-keygen program generates a MD5 symmetric keys file ntpkey_MD5key_hostname.filestamp. Since the
file contains private shared keys, it should be visible only to root and distributed by secure means to
other subnet hosts. The NTP daemon loads the file ntp.keys, so ntp-keygen installs a soft link from
this name to the generated file. Subsequently, similar soft links must be installed by manual or auto-mated automated
mated means on the other subnet hosts. While this file is not used with the Autokey Version 2 protocol,
it is needed to authenticate some remote configuration commands used by the ntpq and ntpdc utilities.
SEE ALSO
ntpdc(8), ntpq(8)
BUGS
It can take quite a while to generate the RSA public/private key pair and Diffie-Hellman parameters,
from a few seconds on a modern workstation to several minutes on older machines.
BSD October 13, 2003 BSD
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