Setting KDF-DO#

(Nitrokey Start - macOS)

Introduction#

KDF-DO stands for Key Derived Function - Data Object. With this data object the card can inform clients that it supports derived keys. (For details see section 4.3.2 of the OpenPGP Smart Card 3.4 specification) The benefit of using derived keys is, that instead of transmitting passwords in clear text only hashes are transmitted to the card and therefore only hashes are stored on the card. Since a derived key will be longer than the original password it will also be harder to successfully run a brute force attack.

Note

At the moment it is only possible to set the KDF-DO, when the Nitrokey Start is empty (just after a factory reset).

Steps to Configure KDF-DO#

  1. Run factory reset

  2. Set up KDF-DO using GnuPG

  3. Change Admin PIN (optional; without keys only Admin PIN change is possible)

  4. Import / generate keys

  5. Change User and Admin PIN

Setting KDF-DO using GnuPG#

  1. Run gpg2 --card-edit

  2. $ admin

  3. $ kdf-setup

  4. Enter Admin PIN

  5. Verify current state state by looking at the card details (gpg2 --card-status), where KDF setting ......: on should be visible, e.g.:

Max. PIN lengths .: 127 127 127
PIN retry counter : 3 3 3
Signature counter : 0
KDF setting ......: on
Signature key ....: [none]

Tested with#

  • gpg (GnuPG) 2.2.20 / 2.2.25

  • Nitrokey Start RTM.10

  • Curve 25519 keys