xref: /freebsd/crypto/openssl/doc/man1/openssl-smime.pod.in (revision 5ca8e32633c4ffbbcd6762e5888b6a4ba0708c6c)
1=pod
2{- OpenSSL::safe::output_do_not_edit_headers(); -}
3
4=head1 NAME
5
6openssl-smime - S/MIME command
7
8=head1 SYNOPSIS
9
10B<openssl> B<smime>
11[B<-help>]
12[B<-encrypt>]
13[B<-decrypt>]
14[B<-sign>]
15[B<-resign>]
16[B<-verify>]
17[B<-pk7out>]
18[B<-binary>]
19[B<-crlfeol>]
20[B<-I<cipher>>]
21[B<-in> I<file>]
22[B<-certfile> I<file>]
23[B<-signer> I<file>]
24[B<-nointern>]
25[B<-noverify>]
26[B<-nochain>]
27[B<-nosigs>]
28[B<-nocerts>]
29[B<-noattr>]
30[B<-nodetach>]
31[B<-nosmimecap>]
32[B<-recip> I< file>]
33[B<-inform> B<DER>|B<PEM>|B<SMIME>]
34[B<-outform> B<DER>|B<PEM>|B<SMIME>]
35[B<-keyform> B<DER>|B<PEM>|B<P12>|B<ENGINE>]
36[B<-passin> I<arg>]
37[B<-inkey> I<filename>|I<uri>]
38[B<-out> I<file>]
39[B<-content> I<file>]
40[B<-to> I<addr>]
41[B<-from> I<ad>]
42[B<-subject> I<s>]
43[B<-text>]
44[B<-indef>]
45[B<-noindef>]
46[B<-stream>]
47[B<-md> I<digest>]
48{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_trust_synopsis -}
49{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_engine_synopsis -}{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_r_synopsis -}
50{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_v_synopsis -}
51{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_provider_synopsis -}
52{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_config_synopsis -}
53I<recipcert> ...
54
55=head1 DESCRIPTION
56
57This command handles S/MIME mail. It can encrypt, decrypt, sign
58and verify S/MIME messages.
59
60=head1 OPTIONS
61
62There are six operation options that set the type of operation to be performed.
63The meaning of the other options varies according to the operation type.
64
65=over 4
66
67=item B<-help>
68
69Print out a usage message.
70
71=item B<-encrypt>
72
73Encrypt mail for the given recipient certificates. Input file is the message
74to be encrypted. The output file is the encrypted mail in MIME format.
75
76Note that no revocation check is done for the recipient cert, so if that
77key has been compromised, others may be able to decrypt the text.
78
79=item B<-decrypt>
80
81Decrypt mail using the supplied certificate and private key. Expects an
82encrypted mail message in MIME format for the input file. The decrypted mail
83is written to the output file.
84
85=item B<-sign>
86
87Sign mail using the supplied certificate and private key. Input file is
88the message to be signed. The signed message in MIME format is written
89to the output file.
90
91=item B<-verify>
92
93Verify signed mail. Expects a signed mail message on input and outputs
94the signed data. Both clear text and opaque signing is supported.
95
96=item B<-pk7out>
97
98Takes an input message and writes out a PEM encoded PKCS#7 structure.
99
100=item B<-resign>
101
102Resign a message: take an existing message and one or more new signers.
103
104=item B<-in> I<filename>
105
106The input message to be encrypted or signed or the MIME message to
107be decrypted or verified.
108
109=item B<-out> I<filename>
110
111The message text that has been decrypted or verified or the output MIME
112format message that has been signed or verified.
113
114=item B<-inform> B<DER>|B<PEM>|B<SMIME>
115
116The input format of the PKCS#7 (S/MIME) structure (if one is being read);
117the default is B<SMIME>.
118See L<openssl-format-options(1)> for details.
119
120=item B<-outform> B<DER>|B<PEM>|B<SMIME>
121
122The output format of the PKCS#7 (S/MIME) structure (if one is being written);
123the default is B<SMIME>.
124See L<openssl-format-options(1)> for details.
125
126=item B<-keyform> B<DER>|B<PEM>|B<P12>|B<ENGINE>
127
128The key format; unspecified by default.
129See L<openssl-format-options(1)> for details.
130
131=item B<-stream>, B<-indef>, B<-noindef>
132
133The B<-stream> and B<-indef> options are equivalent and enable streaming I/O
134for encoding operations. This permits single pass processing of data without
135the need to hold the entire contents in memory, potentially supporting very
136large files. Streaming is automatically set for S/MIME signing with detached
137data if the output format is B<SMIME> it is currently off by default for all
138other operations.
139
140=item B<-noindef>
141
142Disable streaming I/O where it would produce and indefinite length constructed
143encoding. This option currently has no effect. In future streaming will be
144enabled by default on all relevant operations and this option will disable it.
145
146=item B<-content> I<filename>
147
148This specifies a file containing the detached content, this is only
149useful with the B<-verify> command. This is only usable if the PKCS#7
150structure is using the detached signature form where the content is
151not included. This option will override any content if the input format
152is S/MIME and it uses the multipart/signed MIME content type.
153
154=item B<-text>
155
156This option adds plain text (text/plain) MIME headers to the supplied
157message if encrypting or signing. If decrypting or verifying it strips
158off text headers: if the decrypted or verified message is not of MIME
159type text/plain then an error occurs.
160
161=item B<-md> I<digest>
162
163Digest algorithm to use when signing or resigning. If not present then the
164default digest algorithm for the signing key will be used (usually SHA1).
165
166=item B<-I<cipher>>
167
168The encryption algorithm to use. For example DES  (56 bits) - B<-des>,
169triple DES (168 bits) - B<-des3>,
170EVP_get_cipherbyname() function) can also be used preceded by a dash, for
171example B<-aes-128-cbc>. See L<openssl-enc(1)> for list of ciphers
172supported by your version of OpenSSL.
173
174If not specified triple DES is used. Only used with B<-encrypt>.
175
176=item B<-nointern>
177
178When verifying a message normally certificates (if any) included in
179the message are searched for the signing certificate. With this option
180only the certificates specified in the B<-certfile> option are used.
181The supplied certificates can still be used as untrusted CAs however.
182
183=item B<-noverify>
184
185Do not verify the signers certificate of a signed message.
186
187=item B<-nochain>
188
189Do not do chain verification of signers certificates; that is, do not
190use the certificates in the signed message as untrusted CAs.
191
192=item B<-nosigs>
193
194Don't try to verify the signatures on the message.
195
196=item B<-nocerts>
197
198When signing a message the signer's certificate is normally included
199with this option it is excluded. This will reduce the size of the
200signed message but the verifier must have a copy of the signers certificate
201available locally (passed using the B<-certfile> option for example).
202
203=item B<-noattr>
204
205Normally when a message is signed a set of attributes are included which
206include the signing time and supported symmetric algorithms. With this
207option they are not included.
208
209=item B<-nodetach>
210
211When signing a message use opaque signing. This form is more resistant
212to translation by mail relays but it cannot be read by mail agents that
213do not support S/MIME.  Without this option cleartext signing with
214the MIME type multipart/signed is used.
215
216=item B<-nosmimecap>
217
218When signing a message, do not include the B<SMIMECapabilities> attribute.
219
220=item B<-binary>
221
222Normally the input message is converted to "canonical" format which is
223effectively using CR and LF as end of line: as required by the S/MIME
224specification. When this option is present no translation occurs. This
225is useful when handling binary data which may not be in MIME format.
226
227=item B<-crlfeol>
228
229Normally the output file uses a single B<LF> as end of line. When this
230option is present B<CRLF> is used instead.
231
232=item B<-certfile> I<file>
233
234Allows additional certificates to be specified. When signing these will
235be included with the message. When verifying these will be searched for
236the signers certificates.
237The input can be in PEM, DER, or PKCS#12 format.
238
239=item B<-signer> I<file>
240
241A signing certificate when signing or resigning a message, this option can be
242used multiple times if more than one signer is required. If a message is being
243verified then the signers certificates will be written to this file if the
244verification was successful.
245
246=item B<-nocerts>
247
248Don't include signers certificate when signing.
249
250=item B<-noattr>
251
252Don't include any signed attributes when signing.
253
254=item B<-recip> I<file>
255
256The recipients certificate when decrypting a message. This certificate
257must match one of the recipients of the message or an error occurs.
258
259=item B<-inkey> I<filename>|I<uri>
260
261The private key to use when signing or decrypting. This must match the
262corresponding certificate. If this option is not specified then the
263private key must be included in the certificate file specified with
264the B<-recip> or B<-signer> file. When signing this option can be used
265multiple times to specify successive keys.
266
267=item B<-passin> I<arg>
268
269The private key password source. For more information about the format of I<arg>
270see L<openssl-passphrase-options(1)>.
271
272=item B<-to>, B<-from>, B<-subject>
273
274The relevant mail headers. These are included outside the signed
275portion of a message so they may be included manually. If signing
276then many S/MIME mail clients check the signers certificate's email
277address matches that specified in the From: address.
278
279{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_v_item -}
280
281Any verification errors cause the command to exit.
282
283{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_trust_item -}
284
285{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_engine_item -}
286
287{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_r_item -}
288
289{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_provider_item -}
290
291{- $OpenSSL::safe::opt_config_item -}
292
293=item I<recipcert> ...
294
295One or more certificates of message recipients, used when encrypting
296a message.
297
298=back
299
300=head1 NOTES
301
302The MIME message must be sent without any blank lines between the
303headers and the output. Some mail programs will automatically add
304a blank line. Piping the mail directly to sendmail is one way to
305achieve the correct format.
306
307The supplied message to be signed or encrypted must include the
308necessary MIME headers or many S/MIME clients won't display it
309properly (if at all). You can use the B<-text> option to automatically
310add plain text headers.
311
312A "signed and encrypted" message is one where a signed message is
313then encrypted. This can be produced by encrypting an already signed
314message: see the examples section.
315
316This version of the program only allows one signer per message but it
317will verify multiple signers on received messages. Some S/MIME clients
318choke if a message contains multiple signers. It is possible to sign
319messages "in parallel" by signing an already signed message.
320
321The options B<-encrypt> and B<-decrypt> reflect common usage in S/MIME
322clients. Strictly speaking these process PKCS#7 enveloped data: PKCS#7
323encrypted data is used for other purposes.
324
325The B<-resign> option uses an existing message digest when adding a new
326signer. This means that attributes must be present in at least one existing
327signer using the same message digest or this operation will fail.
328
329The B<-stream> and B<-indef> options enable streaming I/O support.
330As a result the encoding is BER using indefinite length constructed encoding
331and no longer DER. Streaming is supported for the B<-encrypt> operation and the
332B<-sign> operation if the content is not detached.
333
334Streaming is always used for the B<-sign> operation with detached data but
335since the content is no longer part of the PKCS#7 structure the encoding
336remains DER.
337
338=head1 EXIT CODES
339
340=over 4
341
342=item Z<>0
343
344The operation was completely successfully.
345
346=item Z<>1
347
348An error occurred parsing the command options.
349
350=item Z<>2
351
352One of the input files could not be read.
353
354=item Z<>3
355
356An error occurred creating the PKCS#7 file or when reading the MIME
357message.
358
359=item Z<>4
360
361An error occurred decrypting or verifying the message.
362
363=item Z<>5
364
365The message was verified correctly but an error occurred writing out
366the signers certificates.
367
368=back
369
370=head1 EXAMPLES
371
372Create a cleartext signed message:
373
374 openssl smime -sign -in message.txt -text -out mail.msg \
375        -signer mycert.pem
376
377Create an opaque signed message:
378
379 openssl smime -sign -in message.txt -text -out mail.msg -nodetach \
380        -signer mycert.pem
381
382Create a signed message, include some additional certificates and
383read the private key from another file:
384
385 openssl smime -sign -in in.txt -text -out mail.msg \
386        -signer mycert.pem -inkey mykey.pem -certfile mycerts.pem
387
388Create a signed message with two signers:
389
390 openssl smime -sign -in message.txt -text -out mail.msg \
391        -signer mycert.pem -signer othercert.pem
392
393Send a signed message under Unix directly to sendmail, including headers:
394
395 openssl smime -sign -in in.txt -text -signer mycert.pem \
396        -from steve@openssl.org -to someone@somewhere \
397        -subject "Signed message" | sendmail someone@somewhere
398
399Verify a message and extract the signer's certificate if successful:
400
401 openssl smime -verify -in mail.msg -signer user.pem -out signedtext.txt
402
403Send encrypted mail using triple DES:
404
405 openssl smime -encrypt -in in.txt -from steve@openssl.org \
406        -to someone@somewhere -subject "Encrypted message" \
407        -des3 user.pem -out mail.msg
408
409Sign and encrypt mail:
410
411 openssl smime -sign -in ml.txt -signer my.pem -text \
412        | openssl smime -encrypt -out mail.msg \
413        -from steve@openssl.org -to someone@somewhere \
414        -subject "Signed and Encrypted message" -des3 user.pem
415
416Note: the encryption command does not include the B<-text> option because the
417message being encrypted already has MIME headers.
418
419Decrypt mail:
420
421 openssl smime -decrypt -in mail.msg -recip mycert.pem -inkey key.pem
422
423The output from Netscape form signing is a PKCS#7 structure with the
424detached signature format. You can use this program to verify the
425signature by line wrapping the base64 encoded structure and surrounding
426it with:
427
428 -----BEGIN PKCS7-----
429 -----END PKCS7-----
430
431and using the command:
432
433 openssl smime -verify -inform PEM -in signature.pem -content content.txt
434
435Alternatively you can base64 decode the signature and use:
436
437 openssl smime -verify -inform DER -in signature.der -content content.txt
438
439Create an encrypted message using 128 bit Camellia:
440
441 openssl smime -encrypt -in plain.txt -camellia128 -out mail.msg cert.pem
442
443Add a signer to an existing message:
444
445 openssl smime -resign -in mail.msg -signer newsign.pem -out mail2.msg
446
447=head1 BUGS
448
449The MIME parser isn't very clever: it seems to handle most messages that I've
450thrown at it but it may choke on others.
451
452The code currently will only write out the signer's certificate to a file: if
453the signer has a separate encryption certificate this must be manually
454extracted. There should be some heuristic that determines the correct
455encryption certificate.
456
457Ideally a database should be maintained of a certificates for each email
458address.
459
460The code doesn't currently take note of the permitted symmetric encryption
461algorithms as supplied in the SMIMECapabilities signed attribute. This means the
462user has to manually include the correct encryption algorithm. It should store
463the list of permitted ciphers in a database and only use those.
464
465No revocation checking is done on the signer's certificate.
466
467The current code can only handle S/MIME v2 messages, the more complex S/MIME v3
468structures may cause parsing errors.
469
470=head1 SEE ALSO
471
472L<ossl_store-file(7)>
473
474=head1 HISTORY
475
476The use of multiple B<-signer> options and the B<-resign> command were first
477added in OpenSSL 1.0.0
478
479The -no_alt_chains option was added in OpenSSL 1.1.0.
480
481The B<-engine> option was deprecated in OpenSSL 3.0.
482
483=head1 COPYRIGHT
484
485Copyright 2000-2021 The OpenSSL Project Authors. All Rights Reserved.
486
487Licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (the "License").  You may not use
488this file except in compliance with the License.  You can obtain a copy
489in the file LICENSE in the source distribution or at
490L<https://www.openssl.org/source/license.html>.
491
492=cut
493