User type Requirements Syntax Examples Arguments Related topics

key generate-symmetric aes

The key generate-symmetric aes command generates a symmetric AES key in your AWS CloudHSM cluster.

User type

The following types of users can run this command.

Crypto users (CUs)

Requirements

To run this command, you must be logged in as a CU.

Syntax


aws-cloudhsm > help key generate-symmetric aes
Generate an AES key

Usage: key generate-symmetric aes [OPTIONS] --label <LABEL> --key-length-bytes <KEY_LENGTH_BYTES>

Options:
      --cluster-id <CLUSTER_ID>
          Unique Id to choose which of the clusters in the config file to run the operation against. If not provided, will fall back to the value provided when interactive mode was started, or error
      --label <LABEL>
          Label for the key
      --session
          Creates a session key that exists only in the current session. The key cannot be recovered after the session ends
      --key-length-bytes <KEY_LENGTH_BYTES>
          Key length in bytes
      --attributes [<KEY_ATTRIBUTES>...]
          Space separated list of key attributes to set for the generated AES key in the form of KEY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME=KEY_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE
  -h, --help
          Print help

Examples

These examples show how to use the key generate-symmetric aes command to create an AES key.

Example: Create an AES key


aws-cloudhsm > key generate-symmetric aes \
--label example-aes \
--key-length-bytes 24
{
  "error_code": 0,
  "data": {
    "key": {
      "key-reference": "0x00000000002e06bf",
      "key-info": {
        "key-owners": [
          {
            "username": "cu1",
            "key-coverage": "full"
          }
        ],
        "shared-users": [],
        "cluster-coverage": "session"
      },
      "attributes": {
        "key-type": "aes",
        "label": "example-aes",
        "id": "",
        "check-value": "0x9b94bd",
        "class": "secret-key",
        "encrypt": false,
        "decrypt": false,
        "token": false,
        "always-sensitive": true,
        "derive": false,
        "destroyable": true,
        "extractable": true,
        "local": true,
        "modifiable": true,
        "never-extractable": false,
        "private": true,
        "sensitive": true,
        "sign": true,
        "trusted": false,
        "unwrap": false,
        "verify": true,
        "wrap": false,
        "wrap-with-trusted": false,
        "key-length-bytes": 24
      }
    }
  }
}

Example: Create an AES key with optional attributes


aws-cloudhsm > key generate-symmetric aes \
--label example-aes \
--key-length-bytes 24 \
--attributes decrypt=true encrypt=true
{
  "error_code": 0,
  "data": {
    "key": {
      "key-reference": "0x00000000002e06bf",
      "key-info": {
        "key-owners": [
          {
            "username": "cu1",
            "key-coverage": "full"
          }
        ],
        "shared-users": [],
        "cluster-coverage": "session"
      },
      "attributes": {
        "key-type": "aes",
        "label": "example-aes",
        "id": "",
        "check-value": "0x9b94bd",
        "class": "secret-key",
        "encrypt": true,
        "decrypt": true,
        "token": true,
        "always-sensitive": true,
        "derive": false,
        "destroyable": true,
        "extractable": true,
        "local": true,
        "modifiable": true,
        "never-extractable": false,
        "private": true,
        "sensitive": true,
        "sign": true,
        "trusted": false,
        "unwrap": false,
        "verify": true,
        "wrap": false,
        "wrap-with-trusted": false,
        "key-length-bytes": 24
      }
    }
  }
}

Arguments

<CLUSTER_ID>

The ID of the cluster to run this operation on.

Required: If multiple clusters have been configured.

<KEY_ATTRIBUTES>

Specifies a space separated list of key attributes to set for the generated AES key in the form of KEY_ATTRIBUTE_NAME=KEY_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE (for example, token=true).

For a list of supported key attributes, see Key attributes for CloudHSM CLI.

Required: No

<KEY-LENGTH-BYTES>

Specifies the key length in bytes.

Valid values:

16, 24, and 32

Required: Yes

<LABEL>

Specifies a user defined label for the AES key. The maximum size allowable for label is 127 characters for Client SDK 5.11 and after. Client SDK 5.10 and before has a limit of 126 characters.

Required: Yes

<SESSION>

Creates a key that exists only in the current session. The key cannot be recovered after the session ends.

Use this parameter when you need a key only briefly, such as a wrapping key that encrypts, and then quickly decrypts, another key. Do not use a session key to encrypt data that you might need to decrypt after the session ends.

By default, keys that are generated are persistent (token) keys. Passing in <SESSION> changes this, ensuring a key generated with this argument is a session (ephemeral) key.

Required: No