OpenSSL Conference

OpenSSL Conference

Symmetric keys: beyond the raw bytes
2025-10-07 , Prague/ Technical Deep Dive & Innovation

Before OpenSSL 3.5 we implied that symmetric keys are always represented as an array of bytes. Unfortunately, that's not enough for non-extractable symmetric keys.

Since 3.5 we are closing this deficiency.


The presentation describes the newly-introduced EVP_SKEY objects and corresponding API and infrastructure.

TL,DR: Stockholm syndrome with OpenSSL.

I have been working with OpenSSL code since late 2004. Working on implementing national cryptography for OpenSSL, I got familiar with many parts of the library.

Since 2020 I apply my knowledge of OpenSSL for Red Hat, currently I'm most busy with post-quantum transition of Red Hat and OpenSSL

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