Provided by: tpm2-tools_4.1.1-1ubuntu0.20.04.1_amd64 
NAME
tpm2_sign(1) - Sign a hash using the TPM.
SYNOPSIS
tpm2_sign [OPTIONS] [ARGUMENT]
DESCRIPTION
tpm2_sign(1) - Signs an externally provided message or hash with the specified symmetric or asymmetric
signing key.
If the signing key is a restricted signing key, then validation can be provided via the -t output. The
ticket indicates that the TPM performed the hash of the message.
OPTIONS
• -c, --key-context=OBJECT:
Context object pointing to the the key used for signing. Either a file or a handle number. See
section “Context Object Format”.
• -p, --auth_AUTH_:
Optional authorization value to use the key specified by -c. Authorization values should follow the
“authorization formatting standards”, see section “Authorization Formatting”.
• -g, --hash-algorithm=ALGORITHM:
The hash algorithm used to digest the message. Algorithms should follow the “formatting standards”,
see section “Algorithm Specifiers”. Also, see section “Supported Hash Algorithms” for a list of
supported hash algorithms.
• -s, --scheme=ALGORITHM:
The signing scheme used to sign the message. Optional. Signing schemes should follow the “formatting
standards”, see section “Algorithm Specifiers”. Also, see section “Supported Signing Schemes” for a
list of supported signature schemes. If specified, the signature scheme must match the key type. If
left unspecified, a default signature scheme for the key type will be used.
• -d, --digest:
Indicate that FILE is a file containing the digest of the message. When this option and -t is
specified, a warning is generated and the validation ticket (-t) is ignored. You cannot use this
option to sign a digest against a restricted signing key.
• -t, --ticket=FILE:
The ticket file, containing the validation structure, optional.
• -o, --signature=FILE:
The signature file, records the signature structure.
• -f, --format=FORMAT:
Format selection for the signature output file. See section “Signature Format Specifiers”.
• ARGUMENT the command line argument specifies the file data for sign.
References
Context Object Format
The type of a context object, whether it is a handle or file name, is determined according to the
following logic in-order:
• If the argument is a file path, then the file is loaded as a restored TPM transient object.
• If the argument is a prefix match on one of:
• owner: the owner hierarchy
• platform: the platform hierarchy
• endorsement: the endorsement hierarchy
• lockout: the lockout control persistent object
• If the argument argument can be loaded as a number it will be treat as a handle, e.g. 0x81010013 and
used directly._OBJECT_.
Authorization Formatting
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
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.
String
A string password, specified by prefix “str:” or it’s absence (raw string without prefix) is not
interpreted, and is directly used for authorization.
Examples
foobar
str:foobar
Hex-string
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.
Example
hex:0x1122334455667788
File
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.
Examples
# 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
Sessions
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.
Examples
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
PCR Authorizations
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 the output of the raw PCR contents as returned by tpm2_pcrread(1).
PCR bank specifiers (common/pcr.md)
Examples
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.
Algorithm Specifiers
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.
Simple specifiers
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”.
Asymmetric
• rsa
• ecc
Symmetric
• aes
• camellia
Hashing Algorithms
• sha1
• sha256
• sha384
• sha512
• sm3_256
• sha3_256
• sha3_384
• sha3_512
Keyed Hash
• hmac
• xor
Signing Schemes
• rsassa
• rsapss
• ecdsa
• ecdaa
• ecschnorr
Asymmetric Encryption Schemes
• oaep
• rsaes
• ecdh
Modes
• ctr
• ofb
• cbc
• cfb
• ecb
Misc
• null
Complex Specifiers
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>
Type Specifiers
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.
• aes - Default AES: aes128
• aes128<mode> - 128 bit AES with optional mode (ctr|ofb|cbc|cfb|ecb). If mode is not specified,
defaults to null.
• aes192<mode> - Same as aes128<mode>, except for a 192 bit key size.
• aes256<mode> - Same as aes128<mode>, except for a 256 bit key size.
• ecc - Elliptical Curve, defaults to ecc256.
• ecc192 - 192 bit ECC
• ecc224 - 224 bit ECC
• ecc256 - 256 bit ECC
• ecc384 - 384 bit ECC
• ecc521 - 521 bit ECC
• rsa - Default RSA: rsa2048
• rsa1024 - RSA with 1024 bit keysize.
• rsa2048 - RSA with 2048 bit keysize.
• rsa4096 - RSA with 4096 bit keysize.
Scheme Specifiers
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.
Hash Optional Scheme Specifiers
These scheme specifiers are followed by a dash and a valid hash algorithm, For example: oaep-sha256.
• oaep
• ecdh
• rsassa
• rsapss
• ecdsa
• ecschnorr
Multiple Option Scheme Specifiers
This scheme specifier is followed by a count (max size UINT16) then folloed by a dash(-) and a valid hash
algorithm. * ecdaa For example, ecdaa4-sha256. If no count is specified, it defaults to 4.
No Option Scheme Specifiers
This scheme specifier takes NO arguments. * rsaes
Symmetric Details Specifiers
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.
Examples
Create an rsa2048 key with an rsaes asymmetric encryption scheme
tpm2_create -C parent.ctx -G rsa2048:rsaes -u key.pub -r key.priv
Create an ecc256 key with an ecdaa signing scheme with a count of 4 and sha384 hash
/tpm2_create -C parent.ctx -G ecc256:ecdaa4-sha384 -u key.pub -r key.priv cryptographic algorithms
ALGORITHM.
COMMON OPTIONS
This collection of options are common to many programs and provide information that many users may
expect.
• -h, --help=[man|no-man]: Display the tools manpage. By default, it attempts to invoke the manpager for
the tool, however, on failure will output a short tool summary. This is the same behavior if the “man”
option argument is specified, however if explicit “man” is requested, the tool will provide errors from
man on stderr. If the “no-man” option if specified, or the manpager fails, the short options will be
output to stdout.
To successfully use the manpages feature requires the manpages to be installed or on MANPATH, See
man(1) for more details.
• -v, --version: Display version information for this tool, supported tctis and exit.
• -V, --verbose: Increase the information that the tool prints to the console during its execution. When
using this option the file and line number are printed.
• -Q, --quiet: Silence normal tool output to stdout.
• -Z, --enable-errata: Enable the application of errata fixups. Useful if an errata fixup needs to be
applied to commands sent to the TPM. Defining the environment TPM2TOOLS_ENABLE_ERRATA is equivalent.
information many users may expect.
TCTI Configuration
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:
1. The command line option -T or --tcti
2. The environment variable: TPM2TOOLS_TCTI.
Note: The command line option always overrides the environment variable.
The current known TCTIs are:
• tabrmd - The resource manager, called tabrmd (https://github.com/tpm2-software/tpm2-abrmd). Note that
tabrmd and abrmd as a tcti name are synonymous.
• mssim - Typically used for communicating to the TPM software simulator.
• device - Used when talking directly to a TPM device file.
• none - Do not initalize a connection with the TPM. Some tools allow for off-tpm options and thus
support not using a TCTI. Tools that do not support it will error when attempted to be used without a
TCTI connection. Does not support ANY options and MUST BE presented as the exact text of “none”.
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.
TCTI Defaults
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.
Custom TCTIs
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.
TCTI OPTIONS
This collection of options are used to configure the various known TCTI modules available:
• device: For the device TCTI, the TPM character device file for use by the device TCTI can be specified.
The default is /dev/tpm0.
Example: -T device:/dev/tpm0 or export TPM2TOOLS_TCTI=“device:/dev/tpm0”
• mssim: For the mssim TCTI, the domain name or IP address and port number used by the simulator can be
specified. The default are 127.0.0.1 and 2321.
Example: -T mssim:host=localhost,port=2321 or export TPM2TOOLS_TCTI=“mssim:host=localhost,port=2321”
• abrmd: For the abrmd TCTI, the configuration string format is a series of simple key value pairs
separated by a `,' character. Each key and value string are separated by a `=' character.
• TCTI abrmd supports two keys:
1. `bus_name' : The name of the tabrmd service on the bus (a string).
2. `bus_type' : The type of the dbus instance (a string) limited to `session' and `system'.
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. # Signature Format Specifiers
Format selection for the signature output file. tss (the default) will output a binary blob according to
the TPM 2.0 specification and any potential compiler padding. The option plain will output the plain
signature data as defined by the used cryptographic algorithm.
EXAMPLES
Sign and verify with the TPM using the endorsement hierarchy
tpm2_createprimary -C e -c primary.ctx
tpm2_create -G rsa -u rsa.pub -r rsa.priv -C primary.ctx
tpm2_load -C primary.ctx -u rsa.pub -r rsa.priv -c rsa.ctx
echo "my message" > message.dat
tpm2_sign -c rsa.ctx -g sha256 -o sig.rssa message.dat
tpm2_verifysignature -c rsa.ctx -g sha256 -s sig.rssa -m message.dat
Sign with the TPM and verify with OSSL
openssl ecparam -name prime256v1 -genkey -noout -out private.ecc.pem
openssl ec -in private.ecc.pem -out public.ecc.pem -pubout
# Generate a hash to sign
echo "data to sign" > data.in.raw
sha256sum data.in.raw | awk '{ print "000000 " $1 }' | \
xxd -r -c 32 > data.in.digest
# Load the private key for signing
tpm2_loadexternal -Q -G ecc -r private.ecc.pem -c key.ctx
# Sign in the TPM and verify with OSSL
tpm2_sign -Q -c key.ctx -g sha256 -d -f plain -o data.out.signed data.in.digest
openssl dgst -verify public.ecc.pem -keyform pem -sha256 \
-signature data.out.signed data.in.raw
Returns
Tools can return any of the following codes:
• 0 - Success.
• 1 - General non-specific error.
• 2 - Options handling error.
• 3 - Authentication error.
• 4 - TCTI related error.
• 5 - Non supported scheme. Applicable to tpm2_testparams.
BUGS
Github Issues (https://github.com/tpm2-software/tpm2-tools/issues)
HELP
See the Mailing List (https://lists.01.org/mailman/listinfo/tpm2)