1 U-Boot FIT Signature Verification
2 =================================
6 FIT supports hashing of images so that these hashes can be checked on
7 loading. This protects against corruption of the image. However it does not
8 prevent the substitution of one image for another.
10 The signature feature allows the hash to be signed with a private key such
11 that it can be verified using a public key later. Provided that the private
12 key is kept secret and the public key is stored in a non-volatile place,
13 any image can be verified in this way.
15 See verified-boot.txt for more general information on verified boot.
20 Some familiarity with public key cryptography is assumed in this section.
22 The procedure for signing is as follows:
24 - hash an image in the FIT
25 - sign the hash with a private key to produce a signature
26 - store the resulting signature in the FIT
28 The procedure for verification is:
31 - obtain the public key
32 - extract the signature from the FIT
33 - hash the image from the FIT
34 - verify (with the public key) that the extracted signature matches the
37 The signing is generally performed by mkimage, as part of making a firmware
38 image for the device. The verification is normally done in U-Boot on the
44 In principle any suitable algorithm can be used to sign and verify a hash.
45 At present only one class of algorithms is supported: SHA1 hashing with RSA.
46 This works by hashing the image to produce a 20-byte hash.
48 While it is acceptable to bring in large cryptographic libraries such as
49 openssl on the host side (e.g. mkimage), it is not desirable for U-Boot.
50 For the run-time verification side, it is important to keep code and data
51 size as small as possible.
53 For this reason the RSA image verification uses pre-processed public keys
54 which can be used with a very small amount of code - just some extraction
55 of data from the FDT and exponentiation mod n. Code size impact is a little
56 under 5KB on Tegra Seaboard, for example.
58 It is relatively straightforward to add new algorithms if required. If
59 another RSA variant is needed, then it can be added to the table in
60 image-sig.c. If another algorithm is needed (such as DSA) then it can be
61 placed alongside rsa.c, and its functions added to the table in image-sig.c
65 Creating an RSA key pair and certificate
66 ----------------------------------------
67 To create a new public/private key pair, size 2048 bits:
69 $ openssl genpkey -algorithm RSA -out keys/dev.key \
70 -pkeyopt rsa_keygen_bits:2048 -pkeyopt rsa_keygen_pubexp:65537
72 To create a certificate for this containing the public key:
74 $ openssl req -batch -new -x509 -key keys/dev.key -out keys/dev.crt
76 If you like you can look at the public key also:
78 $ openssl rsa -in keys/dev.key -pubout
83 The following properties are required in the FIT's signature node(s) to
84 allow the signer to operate. These should be added to the .its file.
85 Signature nodes sit at the same level as hash nodes and are called
86 signature-1, signature-2, etc.
88 - algo: Algorithm name (e.g. "sha1,rsa2048")
90 - key-name-hint: Name of key to use for signing. The keys will normally be in
91 a single directory (parameter -k to mkimage). For a given key <name>, its
92 private key is stored in <name>.key and the certificate is stored in
95 When the image is signed, the following properties are added (mandatory):
97 - value: The signature data (e.g. 256 bytes for 2048-bit RSA)
99 When the image is signed, the following properties are optional:
101 - timestamp: Time when image was signed (standard Unix time_t format)
103 - signer-name: Name of the signer (e.g. "mkimage")
105 - signer-version: Version string of the signer (e.g. "2013.01")
107 - comment: Additional information about the signer or image
109 - padding: The padding algorithm, it may be pkcs-1.5 or pss,
110 if no value is provided we assume pkcs-1.5
112 For config bindings (see Signed Configurations below), the following
113 additional properties are optional:
115 - sign-images: A list of images to sign, each being a property of the conf
116 node that contains then. The default is "kernel,fdt" which means that these
117 two images will be looked up in the config and signed if present.
119 For config bindings, these properties are added by the signer:
121 - hashed-nodes: A list of nodes which were hashed by the signer. Each is
122 a string - the full path to node. A typical value might be:
124 hashed-nodes = "/", "/configurations/conf-1", "/images/kernel",
125 "/images/kernel/hash-1", "/images/fdt-1",
126 "/images/fdt-1/hash-1";
128 - hashed-strings: The start and size of the string region of the FIT that
131 Example: See sign-images.its for an example image tree source file and
132 sign-configs.its for config signing.
137 In order to verify an image that has been signed with a public key we need to
138 have a trusted public key. This cannot be stored in the signed image, since
139 it would be easy to alter. For this implementation we choose to store the
140 public key in U-Boot's control FDT (using CONFIG_OF_CONTROL).
142 Public keys should be stored as sub-nodes in a /signature node. Required
145 - algo: Algorithm name (e.g. "sha1,rsa2048")
147 Optional properties are:
149 - key-name-hint: Name of key used for signing. This is only a hint since it
150 is possible for the name to be changed. Verification can proceed by checking
151 all available signing keys until one matches.
153 - required: If present this indicates that the key must be verified for the
154 image / configuration to be considered valid. Only required keys are
155 normally verified by the FIT image booting algorithm. Valid values are
156 "image" to force verification of all images, and "conf" to force verification
157 of the selected configuration (which then relies on hashes in the images to
160 Each signing algorithm has its own additional properties.
162 For RSA the following are mandatory:
164 - rsa,num-bits: Number of key bits (e.g. 2048)
165 - rsa,modulus: Modulus (N) as a big-endian multi-word integer
166 - rsa,exponent: Public exponent (E) as a 64 bit unsigned integer
167 - rsa,r-squared: (2^num-bits)^2 as a big-endian multi-word integer
168 - rsa,n0-inverse: -1 / modulus[0] mod 2^32
171 Signed Configurations
172 ---------------------
173 While signing images is useful, it does not provide complete protection
174 against several types of attack. For example, it it possible to create a
175 FIT with the same signed images, but with the configuration changed such
176 that a different one is selected (mix and match attack). It is also possible
177 to substitute a signed image from an older FIT version into a newer FIT
180 As an example, consider this FIT:
185 data = <data for kernel1>
187 algo = "sha1,rsa2048";
188 value = <...kernel signature 1...>
192 data = <data for kernel2>
194 algo = "sha1,rsa2048";
195 value = <...kernel signature 2...>
199 data = <data for fdt1>;
201 algo = "sha1,rsa2048";
202 vaue = <...fdt signature 1...>
206 data = <data for fdt2>;
208 algo = "sha1,rsa2048";
209 vaue = <...fdt signature 2...>
226 Since both kernels are signed it is easy for an attacker to add a new
227 configuration 3 with kernel 1 and fdt 2:
245 With signed images, nothing protects against this. Whether it gains an
246 advantage for the attacker is debatable, but it is not secure.
248 To solve this problem, we support signed configurations. In this case it
249 is the configurations that are signed, not the image. Each image has its
250 own hash, and we include the hash in the configuration signature.
252 So the above example is adjusted to look like this:
257 data = <data for kernel1>
260 value = <...kernel hash 1...>
264 data = <data for kernel2>
267 value = <...kernel hash 2...>
271 data = <data for fdt1>;
274 value = <...fdt hash 1...>
278 data = <data for fdt2>;
281 value = <...fdt hash 2...>
291 algo = "sha1,rsa2048";
292 value = <...conf 1 signature...>;
299 algo = "sha1,rsa2048";
300 value = <...conf 1 signature...>;
307 You can see that we have added hashes for all images (since they are no
308 longer signed), and a signature to each configuration. In the above example,
309 mkimage will sign configurations/conf-1, the kernel and fdt that are
310 pointed to by the configuration (/images/kernel-1, /images/kernel-1/hash-1,
311 /images/fdt-1, /images/fdt-1/hash-1) and the root structure of the image
312 (so that it isn't possible to add or remove root nodes). The signature is
313 written into /configurations/conf-1/signature-1/value. It can easily be
314 verified later even if the FIT has been signed with other keys in the
320 FITs are verified when loaded. After the configuration is selected a list
321 of required images is produced. If there are 'required' public keys, then
322 each image must be verified against those keys. This means that every image
323 that might be used by the target needs to be signed with 'required' keys.
325 This happens automatically as part of a bootm command when FITs are used.
328 Enabling FIT Verification
329 -------------------------
330 In addition to the options to enable FIT itself, the following CONFIGs must
333 CONFIG_FIT_SIGNATURE - enable signing and verification in FITs
334 CONFIG_RSA - enable RSA algorithm for signing
336 WARNING: When relying on signed FIT images with required signature check
337 the legacy image format is default disabled by not defining
338 CONFIG_LEGACY_IMAGE_FORMAT
343 An easy way to test signing and verification is to use the test script
344 provided in test/vboot/vboot_test.sh. This uses sandbox (a special version
345 of U-Boot which runs under Linux) to show the operation of a 'bootm'
346 command loading and verifying images.
348 A sample run is show below:
350 $ make O=sandbox sandbox_config
352 $ O=sandbox ./test/vboot/vboot_test.sh
355 Simple Verified Boot Test
356 =========================
358 Please see doc/uImage.FIT/verified-boot.txt for more information
360 /home/hs/ids/u-boot/sandbox/tools/mkimage -D -I dts -O dtb -p 2000
363 Build FIT with signed images
364 Test Verified Boot Run: unsigned signatures:: OK
366 Test Verified Boot Run: signed images: OK
367 Build FIT with signed configuration
368 Test Verified Boot Run: unsigned config: OK
370 Test Verified Boot Run: signed config: OK
371 check signed config on the host
374 Test Verified Boot Run: signed config: OK
375 Test Verified Boot Run: signed config with bad hash: OK
377 Build FIT with signed images
378 Test Verified Boot Run: unsigned signatures:: OK
380 Test Verified Boot Run: signed images: OK
381 Build FIT with signed configuration
382 Test Verified Boot Run: unsigned config: OK
384 Test Verified Boot Run: signed config: OK
385 check signed config on the host
388 Test Verified Boot Run: signed config: OK
389 Test Verified Boot Run: signed config with bad hash: OK
394 Hardware Signing with PKCS#11 or with HSM
395 -----------------------------------------
397 Securely managing private signing keys can challenging, especially when the
398 keys are stored on the file system of a computer that is connected to the
399 Internet. If an attacker is able to steal the key, they can sign malicious FIT
400 images which will appear genuine to your devices.
402 An alternative solution is to keep your signing key securely stored on hardware
403 device like a smartcard, USB token or Hardware Security Module (HSM) and have
404 them perform the signing. PKCS#11 is standard for interfacing with these crypto
408 Smartcard/USB token/HSM which can work with some openssl engine
411 For pkcs11 engine usage:
412 libp11 (provides pkcs11 engine)
413 p11-kit (recommended to simplify setup)
414 opensc (for smartcards and smartcard like USB devices)
415 gnutls (recommended for key generation, p11tool)
417 For generic HSMs respective openssl engine must be installed and locateable by
418 openssl. This may require setting up LD_LIBRARY_PATH if engine is not installed
419 to openssl's default search paths.
421 PKCS11 engine support forms "key id" based on "keydir" and with
422 "key-name-hint". "key-name-hint" is used as "object" name and "keydir" if
423 defined is used to define (prefix for) which PKCS11 source is being used for
424 lookup up for the key.
426 PKCS11 engine key ids:
427 "pkcs11:<keydir>;object=<key-name-hint>;type=<public|private>"
429 "pkcs11:object=<key-name-hint>;type=<public|private>",
431 Generic HSM engine support forms "key id" based on "keydir" and with
432 "key-name-hint". If "keydir" is specified for mkimage it is used as a prefix in
433 "key id" and is appended with "key-name-hint".
435 Generic engine key ids:
436 "<keydir><key-name-hint>"
440 As mkimage does not at this time support prompting for passwords HSM may need
441 key preloading wrapper to be used when invoking mkimage.
443 The following examples use the Nitrokey Pro using pkcs11 engine. Instructions
444 for other devices may vary.
446 Notes on pkcs11 engine setup:
448 Make sure p11-kit, opensc are installed and that p11-kit is setup to use opensc.
449 /usr/share/p11-kit/modules/opensc.module should be present on your system.
452 Generating Keys On the Nitrokey:
456 Reader ...........: Nitrokey Nitrokey Pro (xxxxxxxx0000000000000000) 00 00
457 Application ID ...: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
458 Version ..........: 2.1
459 Manufacturer .....: ZeitControl
460 Serial number ....: xxxxxxxx
461 Name of cardholder: [not set]
462 Language prefs ...: de
463 Sex ..............: unspecified
464 URL of public key : [not set]
465 Login data .......: [not set]
466 Signature PIN ....: forced
467 Key attributes ...: rsa2048 rsa2048 rsa2048
468 Max. PIN lengths .: 32 32 32
469 PIN retry counter : 3 0 3
470 Signature counter : 0
471 Signature key ....: [none]
472 Encryption key....: [none]
473 Authentication key: [none]
474 General key info..: [none]
477 Make off-card backup of encryption key? (Y/n) n
479 Please note that the factory settings of the PINs are
480 PIN = '123456' Admin PIN = '12345678'
481 You should change them using the command --change-pin
483 What keysize do you want for the Signature key? (2048) 4096
484 The card will now be re-configured to generate a key of 4096 bits
485 Note: There is no guarantee that the card supports the requested size.
486 If the key generation does not succeed, please check the
487 documentation of your card to see what sizes are allowed.
488 What keysize do you want for the Encryption key? (2048) 4096
489 The card will now be re-configured to generate a key of 4096 bits
490 What keysize do you want for the Authentication key? (2048) 4096
491 The card will now be re-configured to generate a key of 4096 bits
492 Please specify how long the key should be valid.
493 0 = key does not expire
494 <n> = key expires in n days
495 <n>w = key expires in n weeks
496 <n>m = key expires in n months
497 <n>y = key expires in n years
498 Key is valid for? (0)
499 Key does not expire at all
500 Is this correct? (y/N) y
502 GnuPG needs to construct a user ID to identify your key.
505 Email address: john.doe@email.com
507 You selected this USER-ID:
508 "John Doe <john.doe@email.com>"
510 Change (N)ame, (C)omment, (E)mail or (O)kay/(Q)uit? o
513 Using p11tool to get the token URL:
515 Depending on system configuration, gpg-agent may need to be killed first.
517 $ p11tool --provider /usr/lib/opensc-pkcs11.so --list-tokens
519 URL: pkcs11:model=PKCS%2315%20emulated;manufacturer=ZeitControl;serial=000xxxxxxxxx;token=OpenPGP%20card%20%28User%20PIN%20%28sig%29%29
520 Label: OpenPGP card (User PIN (sig))
522 Manufacturer: ZeitControl
523 Model: PKCS#15 emulated
529 URL: pkcs11:model=PKCS%2315%20emulated;manufacturer=ZeitControl;serial=000xxxxxxxxx;token=OpenPGP%20card%20%28User%20PIN%29
530 Label: OpenPGP card (User PIN)
532 Manufacturer: ZeitControl
533 Model: PKCS#15 emulated
537 Use the portion of the signature token URL after "pkcs11:" as the keydir argument (-k) to mkimage below.
540 Use the URL of the token to list the private keys:
542 $ p11tool --login --provider /usr/lib/opensc-pkcs11.so --list-privkeys \
543 "pkcs11:model=PKCS%2315%20emulated;manufacturer=ZeitControl;serial=000xxxxxxxxx;token=OpenPGP%20card%20%28User%20PIN%20%28sig%29%29"
544 Token 'OpenPGP card (User PIN (sig))' with URL 'pkcs11:model=PKCS%2315%20emulated;manufacturer=ZeitControl;serial=000xxxxxxxxx;token=OpenPGP%20card%20%28User%20PIN%20%28sig%29%29' requires user PIN
547 URL: pkcs11:model=PKCS%2315%20emulated;manufacturer=ZeitControl;serial=000xxxxxxxxx;token=OpenPGP%20card%20%28User%20PIN%20%28sig%29%29;id=%01;object=Signature%20key;type=private
550 Flags: CKA_PRIVATE; CKA_NEVER_EXTRACTABLE; CKA_SENSITIVE;
553 Use the label, in this case "Signature key" as the key-name-hint in your FIT.
556 $ ./tools/mkimage -f fit-image.its fitImage
559 Sign the fitImage with the hardware key:
561 $ ./tools/mkimage -F -k \
562 "model=PKCS%2315%20emulated;manufacturer=ZeitControl;serial=000xxxxxxxxx;token=OpenPGP%20card%20%28User%20PIN%20%28sig%29%29" \
563 -K u-boot.dtb -N pkcs11 -r fitImage
568 - Roll-back protection using a TPM is done using the tpm command. This can
569 be scripted, but we might consider a default way of doing this, built into
575 - Add support for other RSA/SHA variants, such as rsa4096,sha512.
576 - Other algorithms besides RSA
577 - More sandbox tests for failure modes
578 - Passwords for keys/certificates
579 - Perhaps implement OAEP
580 - Enhance bootm to permit scripted signature verification (so that a script
581 can verify an image but not actually boot it)