RFC 3217 (rfc3217) - Page 1 of 9

Triple-DES and RC2 Key Wrapping

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Network Working Group                                         R. Housley
Request for Comments: 3217                              RSA Laboratories
Category: Informational                                    December 2001


                    Triple-DES and RC2 Key Wrapping

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  It does
   not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of this
   memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2001).  All Rights Reserved.

Abstract

   This document specifies the algorithm for wrapping one Triple-DES key
   with another Triple-DES key and the algorithm for wrapping one RC2
   key with another RC2 key.  These key wrap algorithms were originally
   published in section 12.6 of RFC 2630.  They are republished since
   these key wrap algorithms have been found to be useful in contexts
   beyond those supported by RFC 2630.

1  Introduction

   Management of symmetric cryptographic keys often leads to situations
   where one symmetric key is used to encrypt (or wrap) another.  Key
   wrap algorithms are commonly used in two situations.  First, key
   agreement algorithms (such as Diffie-Hellman [DH-X9.42]) generate a
   pairwise key-encryption key, and a key wrap algorithm is used to
   encrypt the content-encryption key or a multicast key with the
   pairwise key-encryption key.  Second, a key wrap algorithm is used to
   encrypt the content-encryption key, multicast key, or session key in
   a locally generated storage key-encryption key or a key-encryption
   key that was distributed out-of-band.

   This document specifies the algorithm for wrapping one Triple-DES key
   with another Triple-DES key [3DES], and it specifies the algorithm
   for wrapping one RC2 key with another RC2 key [RC2].  Encryption of a
   Triple-DES key with another Triple-DES key uses the algorithm
   specified in section 3.  Encryption of a RC2 key with another RC2 key
   uses the algorithm specified in section 4.  Both of these algorithms
   rely on the key checksum algorithm specified in section 2.  Triple-
   DES and RC2 content-encryption keys are encrypted in Cipher Block
   Chaining (CBC) mode [MODES].



Housley                      Informational
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