This document describes the compile-time configuration option `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` from a user's perspective. This option makes the X.509 and TLS library use PSA for cryptographic operations, and enables new APIs for using keys handled by PSA Crypto. General considerations ---------------------- **Application code:** when this option is enabled, you need to call `psa_crypto_init()` before calling any function from the SSL/TLS, X.509 or PK module. **Scope:** `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` has no effect on the parts of the code that are specific to TLS 1.3; those parts always use PSA Crypto. The parts of the TLS 1.3 code that are common with TLS 1.2, however, follow this option; currently this is the record protection code, computation of the running handshake hash, and X.509. You need to enable `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` if you want TLS 1.3 to use PSA everywhere. New APIs / API extensions ------------------------- ### PSA-held (opaque) keys in the PK layer **New API function:** `mbedtls_pk_setup_opaque()` - can be used to wrap a PSA key pair into a PK context. The key can be used for private-key operations and its public part can be exported. **Benefits:** isolation of long-term secrets, use of PSA Crypto drivers. **Limitations:** can only wrap a key pair, can only use it for private key operations. (That is, signature generation, and for RSA decryption too.) Note: for ECDSA, currently this uses randomized ECDSA while Mbed TLS uses deterministic ECDSA by default. The following operations are not supported with a context set this way, while they would be available with a normal context: `mbedtls_pk_check_pair()`, `mbedtls_pk_debug()`, all public key operations. **Use in X.509 and TLS:** opt-in. The application needs to construct the PK context using the new API in order to get the benefits; it can then pass the resulting context to the following existing APIs: - `mbedtls_ssl_conf_own_cert()` or `mbedtls_ssl_set_hs_own_cert()` to use the key together with a certificate for certificate-based key exchanges; - `mbedtls_x509write_csr_set_key()` to generate a CSR (certificate signature request); - `mbedtls_x509write_crt_set_issuer_key()` to generate a certificate. ### PSA-held (opaque) keys for TLS pre-shared keys (PSK) **New API functions:** `mbedtls_ssl_conf_psk_opaque()` and `mbedtls_ssl_set_hs_psk_opaque()`. Call one of these from an application to register a PSA key for use with a PSK key exchange. **Benefits:** isolation of long-term secrets. **Limitations:** none. **Use in TLS:** opt-in. The application needs to register the key using one of the new APIs to get the benefits. ### PSA-based operations in the Cipher layer There is a new API function `mbedtls_cipher_setup_psa()` to set up a context that will call PSA to store the key and perform the operations. This function only worked for a small number of ciphers. It is now deprecated and it is recommended to use `psa_cipher_xxx()` or `psa_aead_xxx()` functions directly instead. **Warning:** This function will be removed in a future version of Mbed TLS. If you are using it and would like us to keep it, please let us know about your use case. Internal changes ---------------- All of these internal changes are active as soon as `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` is enabled, no change required on the application side. ### TLS: most crypto operations based on PSA Current exceptions: - Finite-field (non-EC) Diffie-Hellman (used in key exchanges: DHE-RSA, DHE-PSK). - Restartable operations when `MBEDTLS_ECP_RESTARTABLE` is also enabled (see the documentation of that option). Other than the above exceptions, all crypto operations are based on PSA when `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` is enabled. ### X.509: most crypto operations based on PSA Current exceptions: - Restartable operations when `MBEDTLS_ECP_RESTARTABLE` is also enabled (see the documentation of that option). Other than the above exception, all crypto operations are based on PSA when `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` is enabled. ### PK layer: most crypto operations based on PSA Current exceptions: - Verification of RSA-PSS signatures with an MGF hash that's different from the message hash. - Restartable operations when `MBEDTLS_ECP_RESTARTABLE` is also enabled (see the documentation of that option). Other than the above exceptions, all crypto operations are based on PSA when `MBEDTLS_USE_PSA_CRYPTO` is enabled.