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OPENSSL-TS(1SSL) OpenSSL OPENSSL-TS(1SSL)
NAME
openssl-ts - Time Stamping Authority command
SYNOPSIS
openssl ts -help
openssl ts -query [-config configfile] [-data file_to_hash] [-digest digest_bytes]
[-digest] [-tspolicy object_id] [-no_nonce] [-cert] [-in request.tsq] [-out request.tsq]
[-text] [-rand files] [-writerand file] [-provider name] [-provider-path path] [-propquery
propq]
openssl ts -reply [-config configfile] [-section tsa_section] [-queryfile request.tsq]
[-passin password_src] [-signer tsa_cert.pem] [-inkey filename|uri] [-digest] [-chain
certs_file.pem] [-tspolicy object_id] [-in response.tsr] [-token_in] [-out response.tsr]
[-token_out] [-text] [-engine id] [-provider name] [-provider-path path] [-propquery
propq]
openssl ts -verify [-data file_to_hash] [-digest digest_bytes] [-queryfile request.tsq]
[-in response.tsr] [-token_in] [-untrusted files|uris] [-CAfile file] [-CApath dir]
[-CAstore uri] [-allow_proxy_certs] [-attime timestamp] [-no_check_time] [-check_ss_sig]
[-crl_check] [-crl_check_all] [-explicit_policy] [-extended_crl] [-ignore_critical]
[-inhibit_any] [-inhibit_map] [-partial_chain] [-policy arg] [-policy_check]
[-policy_print] [-purpose purpose] [-suiteB_128] [-suiteB_128_only] [-suiteB_192]
[-trusted_first] [-no_alt_chains] [-use_deltas] [-auth_level num] [-verify_depth num]
[-verify_email email] [-verify_hostname hostname] [-verify_ip ip] [-verify_name name]
[-x509_strict] [-issuer_checks] [-provider name] [-provider-path path] [-propquery propq]
DESCRIPTION
This command is a basic Time Stamping Authority (TSA) client and server application as
specified in RFC 3161 (Time-Stamp Protocol, TSP). A TSA can be part of a PKI deployment
and its role is to provide long term proof of the existence of a certain datum before a
particular time. Here is a brief description of the protocol:
1. The TSA client computes a one-way hash value for a data file and sends the hash to the
TSA.
2. The TSA attaches the current date and time to the received hash value, signs them and
sends the timestamp token back to the client. By creating this token the TSA certifies
the existence of the original data file at the time of response generation.
3. The TSA client receives the timestamp token and verifies the signature on it. It also
checks if the token contains the same hash value that it had sent to the TSA.
There is one DER encoded protocol data unit defined for transporting a timestamp request
to the TSA and one for sending the timestamp response back to the client. This command has
three main functions: creating a timestamp request based on a data file, creating a
timestamp response based on a request, verifying if a response corresponds to a particular
request or a data file.
There is no support for sending the requests/responses automatically over HTTP or TCP yet
as suggested in RFC 3161. The users must send the requests either by ftp or e-mail.
OPTIONS
-help
Print out a usage message.
-query
Generate a TS query. For details see "Timestamp Request generation".
-reply
Generate a TS reply. For details see "Timestamp Response generation".
-verify
Verify a TS response. For details see "Timestamp Response verification".
Timestamp Request generation
The -query command can be used for creating and printing a timestamp request with the
following options:
-config configfile
The configuration file to use. Optional; for a description of the default value, see
"COMMAND SUMMARY" in openssl(1).
-data file_to_hash
The data file for which the timestamp request needs to be created. stdin is the
default if neither the -data nor the -digest parameter is specified. (Optional)
-digest digest_bytes
It is possible to specify the message imprint explicitly without the data file. The
imprint must be specified in a hexadecimal format, two characters per byte, the bytes
optionally separated by colons (e.g. 1A:F6:01:... or 1AF601...). The number of bytes
must match the message digest algorithm in use. (Optional)
-digest
The message digest to apply to the data file. Any digest supported by the
openssl-dgst(1) command can be used. The default is SHA-256. (Optional)
-tspolicy object_id
The policy that the client expects the TSA to use for creating the timestamp token.
Either the dotted OID notation or OID names defined in the config file can be used. If
no policy is requested the TSA will use its own default policy. (Optional)
-no_nonce
No nonce is specified in the request if this option is given. Otherwise a 64 bit long
pseudo-random none is included in the request. It is recommended to use nonce to
protect against replay-attacks. (Optional)
-cert
The TSA is expected to include its signing certificate in the response. (Optional)
-in request.tsq
This option specifies a previously created timestamp request in DER format that will
be printed into the output file. Useful when you need to examine the content of a
request in human-readable format. (Optional)
-out request.tsq
Name of the output file to which the request will be written. Default is stdout.
(Optional)
-text
If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format instead of DER.
(Optional)
-rand files, -writerand file
See "Random State Options" in openssl(1) for details.
Timestamp Response generation
A timestamp response (TimeStampResp) consists of a response status and the timestamp token
itself (ContentInfo), if the token generation was successful. The -reply command is for
creating a timestamp response or timestamp token based on a request and printing the
response/token in human-readable format. If -token_out is not specified the output is
always a timestamp response (TimeStampResp), otherwise it is a timestamp token
(ContentInfo).
-config configfile
The configuration file to use. Optional; for a description of the default value, see
"COMMAND SUMMARY" in openssl(1). See "CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS" for configurable
variables.
-section tsa_section
The name of the config file section containing the settings for the response
generation. If not specified the default TSA section is used, see "CONFIGURATION FILE
OPTIONS" for details. (Optional)
-queryfile request.tsq
The name of the file containing a DER encoded timestamp request. (Optional)
-passin password_src
Specifies the password source for the private key of the TSA. See description in
openssl(1). (Optional)
-signer tsa_cert.pem
The signer certificate of the TSA in PEM format. The TSA signing certificate must have
exactly one extended key usage assigned to it: timeStamping. The extended key usage
must also be critical, otherwise the certificate is going to be refused. Overrides the
signer_cert variable of the config file. (Optional)
-inkey filename|uri
The signer private key of the TSA in PEM format. Overrides the signer_key config file
option. (Optional)
-digest
Signing digest to use. Overrides the signer_digest config file option. (Mandatory
unless specified in the config file)
-chain certs_file.pem
The collection of certificates in PEM format that will all be included in the response
in addition to the signer certificate if the -cert option was used for the request.
This file is supposed to contain the certificate chain for the signer certificate from
its issuer upwards. The -reply command does not build a certificate chain
automatically. (Optional)
-tspolicy object_id
The default policy to use for the response unless the client explicitly requires a
particular TSA policy. The OID can be specified either in dotted notation or with its
name. Overrides the default_policy config file option. (Optional)
-in response.tsr
Specifies a previously created timestamp response or timestamp token (if -token_in is
also specified) in DER format that will be written to the output file. This option
does not require a request, it is useful e.g. when you need to examine the content of
a response or token or you want to extract the timestamp token from a response. If the
input is a token and the output is a timestamp response a default 'granted' status
info is added to the token. (Optional)
-token_in
This flag can be used together with the -in option and indicates that the input is a
DER encoded timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead of a timestamp response
(TimeStampResp). (Optional)
-out response.tsr
The response is written to this file. The format and content of the file depends on
other options (see -text, -token_out). The default is stdout. (Optional)
-token_out
The output is a timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead of timestamp response
(TimeStampResp). (Optional)
-text
If this option is specified the output is human-readable text format instead of DER.
(Optional)
-engine id
See "Engine Options" in openssl(1). This option is deprecated.
-provider name
-provider-path path
-propquery propq
See "Provider Options" in openssl(1), provider(7), and property(7).
Timestamp Response verification
The -verify command is for verifying if a timestamp response or timestamp token is valid
and matches a particular timestamp request or data file. The -verify command does not use
the configuration file.
-data file_to_hash
The response or token must be verified against file_to_hash. The file is hashed with
the message digest algorithm specified in the token. The -digest and -queryfile
options must not be specified with this one. (Optional)
-digest digest_bytes
The response or token must be verified against the message digest specified with this
option. The number of bytes must match the message digest algorithm specified in the
token. The -data and -queryfile options must not be specified with this one.
(Optional)
-queryfile request.tsq
The original timestamp request in DER format. The -data and -digest options must not
be specified with this one. (Optional)
-in response.tsr
The timestamp response that needs to be verified in DER format. (Mandatory)
-token_in
This flag can be used together with the -in option and indicates that the input is a
DER encoded timestamp token (ContentInfo) instead of a timestamp response
(TimeStampResp). (Optional)
-untrusted files|uris
A set of additional untrusted certificates which may be needed when building the
certificate chain for the TSA's signing certificate. These do not need to contain the
TSA signing certificate and intermediate CA certificates as far as the response
already includes them. (Optional)
Multiple sources may be given, separated by commas and/or whitespace. Each file may
contain multiple certificates.
-CAfile file, -CApath dir, -CAstore uri
See "Trusted Certificate Options" in openssl-verification-options(1) for details. At
least one of -CAfile, -CApath or -CAstore must be specified.
-allow_proxy_certs, -attime, -no_check_time, -check_ss_sig, -crl_check, -crl_check_all,
-explicit_policy, -extended_crl, -ignore_critical, -inhibit_any, -inhibit_map,
-no_alt_chains, -partial_chain, -policy, -policy_check, -policy_print, -purpose,
-suiteB_128, -suiteB_128_only, -suiteB_192, -trusted_first, -use_deltas, -auth_level,
-verify_depth, -verify_email, -verify_hostname, -verify_ip, -verify_name, -x509_strict
-issuer_checks
Set various options of certificate chain verification. See "Verification Options" in
openssl-verification-options(1) for details.
Any verification errors cause the command to exit.
CONFIGURATION FILE OPTIONS
The -query and -reply commands make use of a configuration file. See config(5) for a
general description of the syntax of the config file. The -query command uses only the
symbolic OID names section and it can work without it. However, the -reply command needs
the config file for its operation.
When there is a command line switch equivalent of a variable the switch always overrides
the settings in the config file.
tsa section, default_tsa
This is the main section and it specifies the name of another section that contains
all the options for the -reply command. This default section can be overridden with
the -section command line switch. (Optional)
oid_file
This specifies a file containing additional OBJECT IDENTIFIERS. Each line of the file
should consist of the numerical form of the object identifier followed by whitespace
then the short name followed by whitespace and finally the long name. (Optional)
oid_section
This specifies a section in the configuration file containing extra object
identifiers. Each line should consist of the short name of the object identifier
followed by = and the numerical form. The short and long names are the same when this
option is used. (Optional)
RANDFILE
At startup the specified file is loaded into the random number generator, and at exit
256 bytes will be written to it. (Note: Using a RANDFILE is not necessary anymore, see
the "HISTORY" section.
serial
The name of the file containing the hexadecimal serial number of the last timestamp
response created. This number is incremented by 1 for each response. If the file does
not exist at the time of response generation a new file is created with serial number
1. (Mandatory)
crypto_device
Specifies the OpenSSL engine that will be set as the default for all available
algorithms. The default value is built-in, you can specify any other engines supported
by OpenSSL (e.g. use chil for the NCipher HSM). (Optional)
signer_cert
TSA signing certificate in PEM format. The same as the -signer command line option.
(Optional)
certs
A file containing a set of PEM encoded certificates that need to be included in the
response. The same as the -chain command line option. (Optional)
signer_key
The private key of the TSA in PEM format. The same as the -inkey command line option.
(Optional)
signer_digest
Signing digest to use. The same as the -digest command line option. (Mandatory unless
specified on the command line)
default_policy
The default policy to use when the request does not mandate any policy. The same as
the -tspolicy command line option. (Optional)
other_policies
Comma separated list of policies that are also acceptable by the TSA and used only if
the request explicitly specifies one of them. (Optional)
digests
The list of message digest algorithms that the TSA accepts. At least one algorithm
must be specified. (Mandatory)
accuracy
The accuracy of the time source of the TSA in seconds, milliseconds and microseconds.
E.g. secs:1, millisecs:500, microsecs:100. If any of the components is missing zero is
assumed for that field. (Optional)
clock_precision_digits
Specifies the maximum number of digits, which represent the fraction of seconds, that
need to be included in the time field. The trailing zeros must be removed from the
time, so there might actually be fewer digits, or no fraction of seconds at all.
Supported only on UNIX platforms. The maximum value is 6, default is 0. (Optional)
ordering
If this option is yes the responses generated by this TSA can always be ordered, even
if the time difference between two responses is less than the sum of their accuracies.
Default is no. (Optional)
tsa_name
Set this option to yes if the subject name of the TSA must be included in the TSA name
field of the response. Default is no. (Optional)
ess_cert_id_chain
The SignedData objects created by the TSA always contain the certificate identifier of
the signing certificate in a signed attribute (see RFC 2634, Enhanced Security
Services). If this variable is set to no, only this signing certificate identifier is
included in the SigningCertificate signed attribute. If this variable is set to yes
and the certs variable or the -chain option is specified then the certificate
identifiers of the chain will also be included, where the -chain option overrides the
certs variable. Default is no. (Optional)
ess_cert_id_alg
This option specifies the hash function to be used to calculate the TSA's public key
certificate identifier. Default is sha256. (Optional)
EXAMPLES
All the examples below presume that OPENSSL_CONF is set to a proper configuration file,
e.g. the example configuration file openssl/apps/openssl.cnf will do.
Timestamp Request
To create a timestamp request for design1.txt with SHA-256 digest, without nonce and
policy, and without requirement for a certificate in the response:
openssl ts -query -data design1.txt -no_nonce \
-out design1.tsq
To create a similar timestamp request with specifying the message imprint explicitly:
openssl ts -query -digest b7e5d3f93198b38379852f2c04e78d73abdd0f4b \
-no_nonce -out design1.tsq
To print the content of the previous request in human readable format:
openssl ts -query -in design1.tsq -text
To create a timestamp request which includes the SHA-512 digest of design2.txt, requests
the signer certificate and nonce, and specifies a policy id (assuming the tsa_policy1 name
is defined in the OID section of the config file):
openssl ts -query -data design2.txt -sha512 \
-tspolicy tsa_policy1 -cert -out design2.tsq
Timestamp Response
Before generating a response a signing certificate must be created for the TSA that
contains the timeStamping critical extended key usage extension without any other key
usage extensions. You can add this line to the user certificate section of the config file
to generate a proper certificate;
extendedKeyUsage = critical,timeStamping
See openssl-req(1), openssl-ca(1), and openssl-x509(1) for instructions. The examples
below assume that cacert.pem contains the certificate of the CA, tsacert.pem is the
signing certificate issued by cacert.pem and tsakey.pem is the private key of the TSA.
To create a timestamp response for a request:
openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -inkey tsakey.pem \
-signer tsacert.pem -out design1.tsr
If you want to use the settings in the config file you could just write:
openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -out design1.tsr
To print a timestamp reply to stdout in human readable format:
openssl ts -reply -in design1.tsr -text
To create a timestamp token instead of timestamp response:
openssl ts -reply -queryfile design1.tsq -out design1_token.der -token_out
To print a timestamp token to stdout in human readable format:
openssl ts -reply -in design1_token.der -token_in -text -token_out
To extract the timestamp token from a response:
openssl ts -reply -in design1.tsr -out design1_token.der -token_out
To add 'granted' status info to a timestamp token thereby creating a valid response:
openssl ts -reply -in design1_token.der -token_in -out design1.tsr
Timestamp Verification
To verify a timestamp reply against a request:
openssl ts -verify -queryfile design1.tsq -in design1.tsr \
-CAfile cacert.pem -untrusted tsacert.pem
To verify a timestamp reply that includes the certificate chain:
openssl ts -verify -queryfile design2.tsq -in design2.tsr \
-CAfile cacert.pem
To verify a timestamp token against the original data file:
openssl ts -verify -data design2.txt -in design2.tsr \
-CAfile cacert.pem
To verify a timestamp token against a message imprint:
openssl ts -verify -digest b7e5d3f93198b38379852f2c04e78d73abdd0f4b \
-in design2.tsr -CAfile cacert.pem
You could also look at the 'test' directory for more examples.
BUGS
o No support for timestamps over SMTP, though it is quite easy to implement an automatic
e-mail based TSA with procmail(1) and perl(1). HTTP server support is provided in the
form of a separate apache module. HTTP client support is provided by tsget(1). Pure
TCP/IP protocol is not supported.
o The file containing the last serial number of the TSA is not locked when being read or
written. This is a problem if more than one instance of openssl(1) is trying to create a
timestamp response at the same time. This is not an issue when using the apache server
module, it does proper locking.
o Look for the FIXME word in the source files.
o The source code should really be reviewed by somebody else, too.
o More testing is needed, I have done only some basic tests (see test/testtsa).
HISTORY
OpenSSL 1.1.1 introduced a new random generator (CSPRNG) with an improved seeding
mechanism. The new seeding mechanism makes it unnecessary to define a RANDFILE for saving
and restoring randomness. This option is retained mainly for compatibility reasons.
The -engine option was deprecated in OpenSSL 3.0.
SEE ALSO
openssl(1), tsget(1), openssl-req(1), openssl-x509(1), openssl-ca(1), openssl-genrsa(1),
config(5), ossl_store-file(7)
COPYRIGHT
Copyright 2006-2021 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved.
Licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (the "License"). You may not use this file except
in compliance with the License. You can obtain a copy in the file LICENSE in the source
distribution or at <https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html>.
3.0.2 2025-09-18 OPENSSL-TS(1SSL)
Generated by $Id: phpMan.php,v 4.55 2007/09/05 04:42:51 chedong Exp $ Author: Che Dong
On Apache
Under GNU General Public License
2026-01-10 00:50 @216.73.216.127 CrawledBy Mozilla/5.0 AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko; compatible; ClaudeBot/1.0; +claudebot@anthropic.com)