openpgp-notes/book/source/04-certificates.md

(certificates_chapter)=
# Certificates

OpenPGP fundamentally hinges on the concept of "OpenPGP certificates," often referred to as "OpenPGP keys." These certificates are complex data structures essential for identity verification, data encryption, and digital signatures. Understanding their structure and functionality is pivotal for effective application of the OpenPGP standard.

## Terminology: Understanding "keys"

The term "(cryptographic) keys" is central to grasping the concept of OpenPGP certificates. However, it can refer to different entities, making it a potentially confusing term. Let's clarify those differences.

### Public vs. private keys

The term "key," without additional context, can refer to either public or private asymmetric key material. Additionally, symmetric keys may be used in OpenPGP to encrypt private key material, adding a layer of security and complexity.

### Layers of keys in OpenPGP

In OpenPGP, the term "key" may refer to three distinct layers, each serving a unique purpose:

1. A (bare) ["cryptographic key"](asymmetric_key_pair) comprises the private and/or public parameters forming a key. For instance, in the case of an RSA private key, the key consists of the exponent `d` along with the prime numbers `p` and `q`.
2. An OpenPGP *component key* includes either an "OpenPGP primary key" or an "OpenPGP subkey." It is a building block of an OpenPGP certificate, consisting of a cryptographic keypair coupled with some invariant metadata, such as key creation time.
3. An "OpenPGP certificate" (or "OpenPGP key") consists of several component keys, identity components, and other elements. These certificates are dynamic, evolving over time as components are added, expire, or are marked as invalid.

The following section will delve into the OpenPGP-specific layers (2 and 3) to provide a clearer understanding of their roles within OpenPGP certificates.

For detailed insights on structure and handling, refer to our chapters on OpenPGP [certificates](certificates_chapter) and [private keys](private_key_chapter). Additionally, managing certificates, and understanding their authentication and trust models are vital topics. While this document briefly touches upon these aspects, they are integral to working proficiently with OpenPGP.

## Structure of OpenPGP certificates

An OpenPGP certificate (or "OpenPGP key") is a collection of an arbitrary number of elements[^packets]:

[^packets]: In technical terms, the elements of an OpenPGP certificate are a collection "packets". Each component key and identity component is internally represented as one packet. The other common type of element is "signature" packets, which link the components of a certificate together.

- Component OpenPGP keys,
- Identity components,
- Other metadata (this includes connections between the certificate's components).

We sometimes collectively refer to component keys and identity information as "the components of a certificate."

```{figure} diag/OpenPGP_Certificate.png

Typical components in an OpenPGP certificate
```

All elements in an OpenPGP certificate are structured around one central component: the *OpenPGP primary key*. The primary key acts as a personal CA for the certificate's owner: It can make cryptographic statements about subkeys, identities, expiration, revocation, ...

```{note}
OpenPGP certificates are typically long-lived and may be changed (typically by their owner), over time. Components can be added and invalidated, over the lifetime of a certificate
```

### OpenPGP component keys

An OpenPGP certificate usually contains multiple OpenPGP component keys.

OpenPGP component keys consist of an [asymmetric cryptographic keypair](asymmetric_key_pair) and a creation timestamp. These attributes of a component key cannot be changed after creation (in the case of ECDH keys, two additional parameters are part of a component key's constituting data[^ecdh-paramters]).

[^ecdh-paramters]: For [ECDH](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-algorithm-specific-part-for-ecd) component keys, two additional algorithm parameters are part of the component key's constituting and immutable properties. Those parameters define a hash function and a symmetric encryption algorithm.

```{figure} diag/Component_Key.svg

An OpenPGP component key
```

Component key representations that include private key material also contain metadata that specifies the password protection scheme for the private key material.

For each OpenPGP component key, an *OpenPGP fingerprint* can be derived from the combination of the public key material and creation timestamp (and ECDH parameters, if applicable).

```{figure} diag/Fingerprint.png

Every OpenPGP component key can be named by a fingerprint
```

The fingerprint of our example component OpenPGP key is `AAA1 8CBB 2546 85C5 8358 3205 63FD 37B6  7F33 00F9 FB0E C457 378C D29F 1026 98B3` [^keyid].

[^keyid]: In OpenPGP version 4, the rightmost 64 bit were sometimes used as a shorter identifier, called "Key ID".
E.g., an OpenPGP version 4 certificate with the fingerprint `B3D2 7B09 FBA4 1235 2B41  8972 C8B8 6AC4 2455 4239` might be referred to by the 64 bit Key ID `C8B8 6AC4 2455 4239` or styled as `0xC8B86AC424554239`.  
Historically, even shorter 32 bit identifiers have sometimes been used, like this: `2455 4239`, or `0x24554239`. You may still see such identifiers in very old documents about PGP. However, 32 bit identifiers have [been unfit for purpose for a long time](https://evil32.com/). At some point, 32 bit identifiers were called "short Key ID", while 64 bit identifiers were called "long Key ID".

Component keys are used in one of two roles: either as "OpenPGP primary key," or as an "OpenPGP subkey".

#### Primary key

The "OpenPGP primary key" is a component key that serves a central role in an OpenPGP certificate:

- Its fingerprint is used as the unique identifier for the full OpenPGP certificate.
- It is used for lifecycle operations, such as adding or invalidating subkeys or identities in a certificate.

```{admonition} Terminology
:class: note

In the RFC, the OpenPGP primary key is also sometimes referred to as "top-level key." It has also sometimes informally been called "master key."
```

#### Subkeys

In addition to the primary key, modern OpenPGP certificates usually contain a number of "subkeys" (however, it's not technically necessary for a certificate to contain subkeys).

Subkeys have the same structure as the primary key, but they are used in a different role. Subkeys are cryptographically linked with the primary key (more on this below).

```{figure} diag/Subkeys.png
:name: Certificate with Subkeys
:alt: Three component keys. The primary key is shown at the top. It can be used for certification. Below it, linked with arrows, are two more component keys, used as subkeys. They are marked as "for encryption" and "for signing", respectively.

OpenPGP certificates can contain a number of subkeys
```

#### Key flags: defining which operations a component key can perform

Each component key has a set of ["Key Flags"](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#key-flags) that specify which operations that key can perform.

The commonly used key flags are:

- **C**ertification (issuing third-party certifications)
- **S**igning (signing data)
- **E**ncryption (encrypting data)
- **A**uthentication (commonly used for OpenPGP authentication)

By convention, only the primary key is allowed to perform "certification" operations. All other operations can be configured on either the primary key or a subkey.

```{note}

It is considered good practice to have separate component keys for each type of operation: to allow only *Certification* operations with the primary key, and to use separate *Signing*, *Encryption* and *Authentication* subkeys (independently: with most algorithms, encryption can't be shared with the other capabilities[^key-flag-sharing]).
```

[^key-flag-sharing]: With ECC algorithms, it's actually not possible to share encryption functionality with the signing-based functionalities, e.g.: ed25519 used for signing; cv25519 used for encryption.


### Identity components

#### User IDs

An OpenPGP certificate can contain any number of [User IDs](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-user-id-packet-tag-13). Each User ID associates the certificate with an identity.

Often, identities in a User ID consist of a string that is composed of a name and an email address (this string must be UTF-8 encoded).

```{figure} diag/user_id.png

OpenPGP certificates can contain any number of User IDs
```

#### Primary User ID and its implications

One User ID in a certificate has the special property of being the [Primary User ID](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-primary-user-id).

User IDs are associated with preference settings (such as preferred encryption algorithms, more on this below). The preferences associated with the Primary User ID are used by default.


#### User attributes

[User attributes](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-user-attribute-packet-tag-1) are similar to User IDs, but less commonly used.

The OpenPGP standard currently only defines one format to store in User Attributes: an [image](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-the-image-attribute-subpack), "presumably (but not required to be) that of the key owner".

### Linking the components of an OpenPGP certificate

So far we've looked at the components in an OpenPGP certificate, but certificates actually contain another set of elements, which bind the components together, and add metadata to them.

Internally, an OpenPGP certificate consists of a sequence of OpenPGP packets. These packets are just stringed together, one after the other. When a certificate is stored in a file[^tpk], it's easy to remove some of these packets, or add new ones.

[^tpk]: When stored in a file, OpenPGP certificates are in a format called [transferable public key](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-transferable-public-keys).

However, the owner of a certificate doesn't want a third party to add subkeys (or add identity claims) to their certificate, pretending that the certificate owner put those components there.

To prevent malicious addition of components, OpenPGP uses cryptographic signatures. These signatures show that components have been added by the owner of the OpenPGP certificate (these linking signatures are issued by the primary key of the certificate).

So while anyone can still unilaterally store unrelated subkeys and identity claims in an OpenPGP certificate dataset, OpenPGP implementations that read this file should discard components that don't have a valid cryptographic connection with the certificate.

(Conversely, it's easy for a third party to leave out packets when passing on an OpenPGP certificate. An attacker can, for example, choose to omit revocation packets. The recipient of such a partial copy has no way to notice the omission, without access to a different source for the certificate that contains the revocation packet.)

Note, though, that there are some cases where third parties legitimately add "unbound" packets to certificates (that is: packets that are not signed by the certificate's owner):

- [Third-party certifications](third_party_cert) are traditionally added to the certificate that they make a statement about (this can cause problems in systems that unconditionally accept and include such certifications[^flooding]),
- OpenPGP software may add [unbound identity data](unbound_user_ids), locally.

[^flooding]: Storing third-party identity certifications in the target OpenPGP certificate is convenient for consumers: it is easy to find all relevant certifications in one central location. However, when third parties can unilaterally add certifications, this opens an avenue for denial-of-service attacks by flooding. The SKS network of OpenPGP key servers [allowed and experienced this problem](https://dkg.fifthhorseman.net/blog/openpgp-certificate-flooding.html).

#### Binding subkeys to an OpenPGP certificate

Linking a subkey to an OpenPGP certificate is done with a ["Subkey Binding Signature"](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#sigtype-subkey-binding). Such a signature signals that the "primary key wants to be associated with the subkey".

The subkey binding signature also adds metadata.

```{figure} diag/subkey_binding.png

Linking an OpenPGP subkey to the primary key with a binding signature
```

The [Signature packet](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-signature-packet-tag-2) that binds the subkey to the primary key has the signature type [SubkeyBinding](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-subkey-binding-signature-si).

##### Binding signing subkeys to an OpenPGP certificate

Binding subkeys with the "signing" key flag is a special case:

When binding a signing subkey to a primary key, it is not sufficient that the "primary key wants to be associated with the subkey." In addition, the subkey must signal that it "wants to be associated with that primary key."

Otherwise, Alice could "adopt" Bob's signing subkey and convincingly claim that she made signatures that were in fact issued by Bob.

```{figure} diag/subkey_binding_backsig.png

Linking an OpenPGP signing subkey to the primary key with a binding signature, and an embedded primary key binding signature
```

This additional "Primary Key Binding" Signature is informally called a "back signature" (because the subkey uses the signature to point "back" to the primary key).


#### Binding identities with certifying self-signatures

"User ID" identity components are bound to an OpenPGP certificate by issuing a self-signature ("User Attributes" work analogously).

For example, the User ID `Alice Adams <alice@example.org>` may be associated with Alice's certificate `AAA1 8CBB 2546 85C5 8358 3205 63FD 37B6  7F33 00F9 FB0E C457 378C D29F 1026 98B3`.

Alice can link a User ID to her OpenPGP certificate with a cryptographic signature. To link a User ID, a self-signature is created (usually with the signature type [PositiveCertification](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#sigtype-positive-cert)). This signature is issued by the primary key.

```{figure} diag/user_id_certification.png
---
---
Linking a User ID to an OpenPGP certificate
```

(third_party_cert)=
## Third party (identity) certifications

```{admonition} TODO
:class: warning

This section needs writing
```

## Revocations

```{admonition} TODO
:class: warning

This section only contains notes and still needs to be written
```

Note: certification signatures [can be made irrevocable](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-revocable). 

### Hard vs. soft revocations


## Advanced topics

```{admonition} TODO
:class: warning

This section only contains notes and still needs to be written
```

### Certificate management / Evolution of a certificate over time

Minimized versions, merging, effective "append only" semantics, ...

### Merging

- How to merge two copies of the same certificate?
- Canonicalization

### How to generate "minimized" certificate?

### When are certificates valid?

- Full certificate: Primary revoked/key expired/binding signature expired,
- Subkey: Revoked/key expired/binding signature expired
- User ID: revoked, binding expired, ...

### Best practices regarding Key Freshness

```{admonition} TODO
:class: warning

- Expiry
- Subkey rotation

Wiktor suggests to check: https://blogs.gentoo.org/mgorny/2018/08/13/openpgp-key-expiration-is-not-a-security-measure/ for important material
```

### Metadata leak of Social Graph

(unbound_user_ids)=
### Adding unbound User IDs to a certificate

Some OpenPGP subsystems may add User IDs to a certificate, which are not bound to the primary key by the certificate's owner. This can be useful to store local identity information (e.g., Sequoia's public store attaches "pet-names" to certificates, in this way).

## Zooming in: Packet structure

Now that we've established the concepts of the components that OpenPGP certificates consist of, let's look at the internal details of our example certificate.

### A very minimal OpenPGP transferable secret key

We'll start with a very minimal version of [](alice_priv), stored as a *transferable secret key* ([RFC 10.2.](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#transferable-secret-keys)) (that is, including private key material).

In this section, we use the Sequoia-PGP tool `sq` to handle and transform our example OpenPGP key, and to inspect internal OpenPGP packet data.

One way to produce this minimal version of Alice's key is:

```text
$ sq packet split alice.priv
```

With this command, `sq` generates a set of files, one for each packet in `alice.priv`:

```text
alice.priv-0--SecretKey
alice.priv-1--Signature
alice.priv-2--UserID
alice.priv-3--Signature
alice.priv-4--SecretSubkey
alice.priv-5--Signature
alice.priv-6--SecretSubkey
alice.priv-7--Signature
alice.priv-8--SecretSubkey
alice.priv-9--Signature
```

For our first step, we'll use just the first two of these packets, and join them together as a private key:

```text
$ sq packet join alice.priv-0--SecretKey alice.priv-1--Signature --output alice_minimal.priv
```

This version of Alice's key contains just two packets:

- The [*Secret-Key packet*](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-secret-key-packet-formats) for the primary key, and
- A [*Direct Key Signature*](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#sigtype-direct-key) (a self-signature that binds metadata to the primary key).

In the real world, you won't usually encounter an OpenPGP key that is quite this minimal. However, this is technically a valid OpenPGP key (and we'll add more components to it, later in this section).

In ASCII-armored representation, this very minimal key looks like this:

```text
-----BEGIN PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----
Comment: AAA1 8CBB 2546 85C5 8358 3205 63FD 37B6  7F33 00F9 FB0E C457 378C D29F 1026 98B3

xUsGZRbqphsAAAAgUyTpQ6+rFfdu1bUSmHlpzRtdEGXr50Liq0f0hrOuZT4A7+GZ
tV8R+6qT6CadO7ItciB9/71C3UvpozaBO6XMz/vCtgYfGwoAAAA9BYJlFuqmBYkF
pI+9AwsJBwMVCggCmwECHgEiIQaqoYy7JUaFxYNYMgVj/Te2fzMA+fsOxFc3jNKf
ECaYswAAAAoJEKqhjLslRoXFZ0cgouNjgeNr0E9W18g4gAIl6FM5SWuQxg12j0S0
7ExCOI5NPRDCrSnAV85mAXOzeIGeiVLPQ40oEal3CX/L+BXIoY2sIEQrLd4TAEEy
0BA8aQZTPEmMdiOCM1QB+V+BQZAO
=f0GN
-----END PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----
```

We'll now decode this OpenPGP data, and inspect the two packets in detail.

To inspect the internal structure of the OpenPGP data, we run the Sequoia-PGP tool `sq`, using the `packet dump` subcommand. The output of `sq` is one block of text, but to discuss the content of each packet we'll break the output up into sections here:

```text
$ sq packet dump --hex alice_minimal.priv
```

#### Secret-Key Packet

The output starts with the (primary) [Secret-Key packet](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-secret-key-packet-formats) (the file `alice.priv-0--SecretKey` contains this packet):

```text
Secret-Key Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 75 bytes
    Version: 6
    Creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Pk size: 256 bits
    Fingerprint: AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3
    KeyID: AAA18CBB254685C5

    Secret Key:

        Unencrypted

    00000000  c5                                                 CTB
    00000001     4b                                              length
    00000002        06                                           version
    00000003           65 16 ea a6                               creation_time
    00000007                       1b                            pk_algo
    00000008                           00 00 00 20               public_len
    0000000c                                       53 24 e9 43   ed25519_public
    00000010  af ab 15 f7 6e d5 b5 12  98 79 69 cd 1b 5d 10 65
    00000020  eb e7 42 e2 ab 47 f4 86  b3 ae 65 3e
    0000002c                                       00            s2k_usage
    0000002d                                          ef e1 99   ed25519_secret
    00000030  b5 5f 11 fb aa 93 e8 26  9d 3b b2 2d 72 20 7d ff
    00000040  bd 42 dd 4b e9 a3 36 81  3b a5 cc cf fb
```

The Secret-Key packet consists in large part of the actual cryptographic key data. Let's look at the packet field by field:

- `CTB: 0xc5`[^CTB]: The [Packet Tag](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-packet-headers) for this packet. The binary representation of the value `0xc5` is `11000101`. Bits 7 and 6 show that the packet is in *OpenPGP packet format* (as opposed to in *Legacy packet format*). The remaining 6 bits encode the Tag's value: "5". This is the value for a Secret-Key packet, as shown in the list of [Packet Tags](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-packet-tags).
- `length: 0x4b`: The remaining length of this packet.

The packet tag defines the semantics of the remaining data in the packet. We're looking at a Secret-Key packet, which is a kind of [Key Material Packet](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-key-material-packets).

- `version: 0x06`: The key material is in version 6 format

This means that the next part of the packet follows the structure of [Version 6 Public Keys](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-version-6-public-keys)

- `creation_time: 0x6516eaa6`: "The time that the key was created" (also see [Time Fields](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-time-fields))
- `pk_algo: 0x1b`: "The public-key algorithm of this key" (decimal value 27, see the list of [Public-Key Algorithms](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-public-key-algorithms))
- `public_len: 0x00000020`: "Octet count for the following public key material" (in this case, the length of the following `ed25519_public` field)
- `ed25519_public`: [Algorithm-specific representation](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-algorithm-specific-part-for-ed2) of the public key material (the format is based on the value of `pk_algo`), in this case 32 bytes of Ed25519 public key

This concludes the Public Key section of the packet. The remaining data follows the [Secret-Key packet format](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-secret-key-packet-formats):

- `s2k_usage: 0x00`: This [*S2K usage* value](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-secret-key-encryption-s2k-u) specifies that the secret-key data is not encrypted
- `ed25519_secret`: [Algorithm-specific representation](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-algorithm-specific-part-for-ed2) of the secret key data (the format is based on the value of `pk_algo`)

[^CTB]: Sequoia uses the term CTB (Cipher Type Byte) to refer to the RFC's [Packet Tag](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-packet-headers)

```{tip}

The overall structure of OpenPGP packets is described in the [Packet Syntax](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-packet-syntax) chapter of the RFC.
```

Note that the *Secret-Key packet* contains both the private and the public part of the key.

#### Direct Key Signature

The next packet is a [*Direct Key Signature*](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#sigtype-direct-key), which is bound to the primary key (the file `alice.priv-1--Signature` contains this packet).

This packet "binds the information in the signature subpackets to the key". Each entry under "Signature Packet -> Hashed area" is one signature subpacket, for example, including information about algorithm preferences (*symmetric algorithm preference* and *hash algorithm preferences*).

```text
Signature Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 182 bytes
    Version: 6
    Type: DirectKey
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Hash algo: SHA512
    Hashed area:
      Signature creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC (critical)
      Key expiration time: P1095DT62781S (critical)
      Symmetric algo preferences: AES256, AES128
      Hash preferences: SHA512, SHA256
      Key flags: C (critical)
      Features: MDC
      Issuer Fingerprint: AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3
    Unhashed area:
      Issuer: AAA18CBB254685C5
    Digest prefix: 6747
    Level: 0 (signature over data)

    00000000  c2                                                 CTB
    00000001     b6                                              length
    00000002        06                                           version
    00000003           1f                                        type
    00000004              1b                                     pk_algo
    00000005                 0a                                  hash_algo
    00000006                    00 00  00 3d                     hashed_area_len
    0000000a                                 05                  subpacket length
    0000000b                                    82               subpacket tag
    0000000c                                       65 16 ea a6   sig creation time
    00000010  05                                                 subpacket length
    00000011     89                                              subpacket tag
    00000012        05 a4 8f bd                                  key expiry time
    00000016                    03                               subpacket length
    00000017                       0b                            subpacket tag
    00000018                           09 07                     pref sym algos
    0000001a                                 03                  subpacket length
    0000001b                                    15               subpacket tag
    0000001c                                       0a 08         pref hash algos
    0000001e                                             02      subpacket length
    0000001f                                                9b   subpacket tag
    00000020  01                                                 key flags
    00000021     02                                              subpacket length
    00000022        1e                                           subpacket tag
    00000023           01                                        features
    00000024              22                                     subpacket length
    00000025                 21                                  subpacket tag
    00000026                    06                               version
    00000027                       aa  a1 8c bb 25 46 85 c5 83   issuer fp
    00000030  58 32 05 63 fd 37 b6 7f  33 00 f9 fb 0e c4 57 37
    00000040  8c d2 9f 10 26 98 b3
    00000047                       00  00 00 0a                  unhashed_area_len
    0000004b                                    09               subpacket length
    0000004c                                       10            subpacket tag
    0000004d                                          aa a1 8c   issuer
    00000050  bb 25 46 85 c5
    00000055                 67                                  digest_prefix1
    00000056                    47                               digest_prefix2
    00000057                       20                            salt_len
    00000058                           a2 e3 63 81 e3 6b d0 4f   salt
    00000060  56 d7 c8 38 80 02 25 e8  53 39 49 6b 90 c6 0d 76
    00000070  8f 44 b4 ec 4c 42 38 8e
    00000078                           4d 3d 10 c2 ad 29 c0 57   ed25519_sig
    00000080  ce 66 01 73 b3 78 81 9e  89 52 cf 43 8d 28 11 a9
    00000090  77 09 7f cb f8 15 c8 a1  8d ac 20 44 2b 2d de 13
    000000a0  00 41 32 d0 10 3c 69 06  53 3c 49 8c 76 23 82 33
    000000b0  54 01 f9 5f 81 41 90 0e
```

Let’s look at the packet field by field:

- `CTB: 0xc2`: The Packet Tag for this packet. Bits 7 and 6 show that the packet is in “OpenPGP packet format” (as opposed to in “Legacy packet format”). The remaining 6 bits encode the Tag’s value: “2.” This is the value for a Signature packet.
- `length: 0xb6`: The remaining length of this packet.

The packet tag defines the semantics of the remaining data in the packet. We're looking at a [Signature packet](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#signature-packet), so the following data is interpreted accordingly.

- `version: 0x06`: This is a version 6 signature (some of the following packet format is specific to this signature version).
- `type: 0x1f`: The [Signature Type](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-signature-types)
- `pk_algo: 0x1b`: Public-key algorithm (decimal 27, corresponds to [Ed25519](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-public-key-algorithms))
- `hash_algo: 0x0a`: Hash algorithm (decimal 10, corresponds to [SHA2-512](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-hash-algorithms))
- `hashed_area_len: 0x0000003d`: Length of the following hashed subpacket data

The next part of this packet contains hashed subpacket data. A subpacket data set in an OpenPGP Signature contains a list of zero or more Signature subpackets.

There are two sets of subpacket data in a Signature: hashed, and unhashed. The difference is that the hashed subpackets are protected by the digital signature of this packet, while the unhashed subpackets are not.

The following subpacket data consists of sets of "subpacket length, subpacket tag, data." We'll show the information for each subpacket as one line, starting with the [subpacket type description](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-signature-subpacket-specifi) (based on the subpacket tag). Note that bit 7 of the subpacket tag signals if that subpacket is ["critical"](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#section-5.2.3.7-10)[^critical].

[^critical]: Critical here means: the receiver must be able to interpret the subpacket and is expected to fail, otherwise. Non-critical subpackets may be ignored by the receiver

- [Signature creation time](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#signature-creation-subpacket) (subpacket type 2) *critical*: `0x6516eaa6` (also see [Time Fields](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-time-fields))
- [Key expiration time](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#key-expiration-subpacket) (subpacket type 9) *critical*: `0x05a48fbd` (also see [Time Fields](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-time-fields))
- [Preferred symmetric ciphers for v1 SEIPD](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#preferred-v1-seipd) (type 11): `0x09 0x07`. (These values [correspond to](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#symmetric-algos): *AES with 256-bit key* and *AES with 128-bit key*)
- [Preferred hash algorithms](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#preferred-hashes-subpacket) (subpacket type 21): `0x0a 0x08`. (These values [correspond to](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-hash-algorithms): *SHA2-512* and *SHA2-256*)
- [Key flags](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#key-flags) (subpacket type 27) *critical*: `0x01`. (This value [corresponds](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-key-flags) to the *certifications* key flag)
- [Features](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#features-subpacket) (subpacket type 30): `0x01`. (This value [corresponds](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-features) to: *Symmetrically Encrypted Integrity Protected Data packet version 1*)
- [Issuer fingerprint](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#issuer-fingerprint-subpacket) (subpacket type 33): `aaa18cbb254685c58358320563fd37b67f3300f9fb0ec457378cd29f102698b3` (this is the fingerprint of the component key that issued the signature in this packet. Not that here, the value is the primary key fingerprint of the certificate we're looking at.)

The next part of this packet contains "unhashed subpacket data":

- `unhashed_area_len: 0x0000000a`: Length of the following unhashed subpacket data (value: 10 bytes).

As above, the following subpacket data consists of sets of "subpacket length, subpacket tag, data." In this case, only subpacket follows:

- [Issuer Key ID](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#issuer-keyid-subpacket) (subpacket type 16): `aaa18cbb254685c5` (this is the shortened version 6 *Key ID* of the fingerprint of this certificate's primary key)

This concludes the unhashed subpacket data.

- `digest_prefix: 0x6747`: "The left 16 bits of the signed hash value"
- `salt_len, salt`: A random [salt value](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-advantages-of-salted-signat) (the size must be [matching for the hash algorithm](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#hash-algorithms-registry))
- `ed25519_sig`: [Algorithm-specific](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-algorithm-specific-fields-for-ed2) representation of the signature (in this case: 64 bytes of Ed25519 signature)

The signature is calculated over a hash. The hash, in this case, is calculated over the following data (for details, see [Computing Signatures](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-11.html#name-computing-signatures) in the RFC):

- The signature's salt
- A serialized form of the primary key's public data
- A serialized form of this direct key signature packet (up to, but excluding the unhashed area)

```{figure} diag/key-minimal.png
:width: 40%

A minimal OpenPGP key, visualized
```

### Seen as a very minimal OpenPGP certificate

Let's now look at a "public key" view of the (very minimal) OpenPGP key above. That is, the same data, but without the private key material parts. An OpenPGP user might give such a certificate to a communication partner, or upload it to a key server:

```text
$ sq key extract-cert alice_minimal.priv
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Comment: AAA1 8CBB 2546 85C5 8358 3205 63FD 37B6  7F33 00F9 FB0E C457 378C D29F 1026 98B3

xioGZRbqphsAAAAgUyTpQ6+rFfdu1bUSmHlpzRtdEGXr50Liq0f0hrOuZT7CtgYf
GwoAAAA9BYJlFuqmBYkFpI+9AwsJBwMVCggCmwECHgEiIQaqoYy7JUaFxYNYMgVj
/Te2fzMA+fsOxFc3jNKfECaYswAAAAoJEKqhjLslRoXFZ0cgouNjgeNr0E9W18g4
gAIl6FM5SWuQxg12j0S07ExCOI5NPRDCrSnAV85mAXOzeIGeiVLPQ40oEal3CX/L
+BXIoY2sIEQrLd4TAEEy0BA8aQZTPEmMdiOCM1QB+V+BQZAO
=5nyq
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
``` 

```text
$ sq packet dump --hex alice_minimal.pub
```

The output now starts with a (primary) [Public-Key packet](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-public-key-packet-formats):

```text
Public-Key Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 42 bytes
    Version: 6
    Creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Pk size: 256 bits
    Fingerprint: AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3
    KeyID: AAA18CBB254685C5

    00000000  c6                                                 CTB
    00000001     2a                                              length
    00000002        06                                           version
    00000003           65 16 ea a6                               creation_time
    00000007                       1b                            pk_algo
    00000008                           00 00 00 20               public_len
    0000000c                                       53 24 e9 43   ed25519_public
    00000010  af ab 15 f7 6e d5 b5 12  98 79 69 cd 1b 5d 10 65
    00000020  eb e7 42 e2 ab 47 f4 86  b3 ae 65 3e
```

Note that the packet is almost identical to the Secret-Key packet seen above.

The packet tag (called `CTB` in the output) shows the packet type is now [*Public-Key packet*](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-public-key-packet-tag-6), instead of *Secret-Key packet*, above. Besides this change, this *Public-Key packet* only leaves out the last section, which contained the private-key related fields `s2k_usage` and `ed25519_secret`.

The following, second packet in the certificate (the Direct Key Signature) is bit-for-bit identical as in the previous section. So we omit showing it again, here.

```{figure} diag/pubcert-minimal.png
:width: 40%

A minimal OpenPGP public certificate, visualized
```

In the following examples, we will only look at OpenPGP keys that include the private key material. The corresponding "certificate" variants, which only contain the public key material, are easy to imagine: like here, their packet type is changed from a Secret-Key to a Public-Key variant, and they leave out the private key material.

### Encryption subkey

Now we'll look at a subkey in Alice's key. An OpenPGP subkey, when it is linked to an OpenPGP certificate, effectively consists of two elements:

- a key packet that contains the component key itself, and
- a signature packet that links this component key to the primary key (and thus implicitly to the full OpenPGP certificate).

In this section, we'll use the files that contain individual packets of Alice's key, which we generated above. In this split representation of Alice's key, the encryption subkey happens to be stored in `alice.priv-4--SecretSubkey`, and the associated binding self-signature for the subkey in `alice.priv-5--Signature`.

If we were looking at a regular (not split apart) OpenPGP key, we would look at the output of something like `$ sq packet dump --hex alice.priv`, and would be shown a longer series of packets. That series would contain the two packets we'll now look at, with the exact same content. They would just be slightly harder to locate, in the larger context of a full OpenPGP key.

#### Secret-Subkey packet

First, we'll look at the *Secret-Subkey packet* that contains the component key data of this subkey:

```text
$ sq packet dump --hex alice.priv-4--SecretSubkey
Secret-Subkey Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 75 bytes
    Version: 6
    Creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC
    Pk algo: X25519
    Pk size: 256 bits
    Fingerprint: C0A58384A438E5A14F73712426A4D45DBAEEF4A39E6B30B09D5513F978ACCA94
    KeyID: C0A58384A438E5A1

    Secret Key:

        Unencrypted

  00000000  c7                                                 CTB
  00000001     4b                                              length
  00000002        06                                           version
  00000003           65 16 ea a6                               creation_time
  00000007                       19                            pk_algo
  00000008                           00 00 00 20               public_len
  0000000c                                       d1 ae 87 d7   x25519_public
  00000010  cc 42 af 99 34 c5 c2 5c  ca fa b7 4a c8 43 fc 86
  00000020  35 2a 46 01 f3 cc 00 f5  4a 09 3e 3f
  0000002c                                       00            s2k_usage
  0000002d                                          28 7d cd   x25519_secret
  00000030  da 26 16 37 8d ea 24 c7  ce e7 70 c7 9b e5 6f 0a
  00000040  c9 77 fb bd 23 41 73 c9  57 5a bf 7c 4c
```

Notice that the structure of this *Secret-Subkey packet* is the same as the *Secret-Key Packet* of the primary key, above. Only the content of the two packets differs in some points:

- The packet tag (`CTB`) in this packet shows type 7 ([*Secret-Subkey packet*](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-secret-subkey-packet-tag-7)).
- The `pk_algo` value is set to `0x19` (decimal 25), which [corresponds to](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-public-key-algorithms) X25519. Note that even though both the primary key and this subkey use a cryptographic mechanism based on Curve25519, this encryption key uses Curve 25519 in a different way (X25519 is a Diffie–Hellman function built out of Curve25519).
- Accordingly, both parts of the cryptographic key pair are labeled with the corresponding names `x25519_public` and `x25519_secret` (however, note that this difference only reflects the semantics of the fields, which are implied by the value of `pk_algo`. The actual data in both fields consists of just 32 bytes of cryptographic key material, without any type information.)

#### Subkey binding signature

The subkey packet above by itself is disconnected from the OpenPGP certificate that it is a part of. The link between the subkey and the full OpenPGP key is made with a cryptographic signature, which is issued by the OpenPGP key's primary key.

The type of signature that is used for this is called a *subkey binding signature*, because it "binds" (as in "connects") the subkey to the rest of the key.

In addition to its core purpose of making the connection, this signature also contains additional metadata about the subkey. One reason why this metadata is in a binding signature (and not in the subkey packet) is that it may change over time. The subkey packet itself may not change over time. So metadata about the subkey that can change is stored in self-signatures: if the key holder wants to change some metadata (for example, the key's expiration time), they can issue a newer version of the same kind of signature. Receiving OpenPGP software will then understand that the newer self-signature supercedes the older signature, and that the metadata in the newer signature reflects the most current intent of the key holder.

Note that this subkey binding signature packet is quite similar to the Direct Key Signature we discussed packet above. Both signatures perform the same function in terms of adding metadata to a component key. In particular, the hashed subpacket data contains many of the same pieces of metadata.

```text
$ sq packet dump --hex alice.priv-5--Signature
Signature Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 171 bytes
    Version: 6
    Type: SubkeyBinding
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Hash algo: SHA512
    Hashed area:
      Signature creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC (critical)
      Key expiration time: P1095DT62781S (critical)
      Key flags: EtEr (critical)
      Issuer Fingerprint: AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3
    Unhashed area:
      Issuer: AAA18CBB254685C5
    Digest prefix: 2289
    Level: 0 (signature over data)

    00000000  c2                                                 CTB
    00000001     ab                                              length
    00000002        06                                           version
    00000003           18                                        type
    00000004              1b                                     pk_algo
    00000005                 0a                                  hash_algo
    00000006                    00 00  00 32                     hashed_area_len
    0000000a                                 05                  subpacket length
    0000000b                                    82               subpacket tag
    0000000c                                       65 16 ea a6   sig creation time
    00000010  05                                                 subpacket length
    00000011     89                                              subpacket tag
    00000012        05 a4 8f bd                                  key expiry time
    00000016                    02                               subpacket length
    00000017                       9b                            subpacket tag
    00000018                           0c                        key flags
    00000019                              22                     subpacket length
    0000001a                                 21                  subpacket tag
    0000001b                                    06               version
    0000001c                                       aa a1 8c bb   issuer fp
    00000020  25 46 85 c5 83 58 32 05  63 fd 37 b6 7f 33 00 f9
    00000030  fb 0e c4 57 37 8c d2 9f  10 26 98 b3
    0000003c                                       00 00 00 0a   unhashed_area_len
    00000040  09                                                 subpacket length
    00000041     10                                              subpacket tag
    00000042        aa a1 8c bb 25 46  85 c5                     issuer
    0000004a                                 22                  digest_prefix1
    0000004b                                    89               digest_prefix2
    0000004c                                       20            salt_len
    0000004d                                          0b 0c 89   salt
    00000050  b5 ab 15 e3 7f e4 4d b9  a7 ef 71 48 14 3b ab 26
    00000060  5f 34 7f 6d 48 2e 9f 78  48 58 6d 9a fb
    0000006d                                          6d b2 db   ed25519_sig
    00000070  2f 97 8e c8 12 fc 57 7f  85 aa d1 59 bc 80 40 0b
    00000080  be 2e f0 e1 23 2d bf 4b  71 7e d0 e4 c0 36 e4 d2
    00000090  cf b2 9f b4 a8 4f 3e 2a  21 89 74 c2 33 55 af ac
    000000a0  41 36 1b 2b 60 09 f2 d9  19 f4 41 12 0b
```

We'll go over this packet dump in less detail, since its structure mirrors the *Direct Key Signature* (described above) very closely.

The first difference is in the `type` field, showing that this signature is of type `0x18` ([Subkey Binding Signature](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#name-subkey-binding-signature-si)).

The `pk_algo` of this signature is informed by the algorithm of the primary key (`0x1b`, corresponding to Ed25519). The signature in this packet is issued by the primary key, so by definition it uses the signing algorithm of the primary key (that is: the algorithm used to produce the cryptographic signature in this packet is entire independent of the `pk_algo` of the key material of this subkey itself, which uses the X25519 mechanism).

As shown in the header of this packet dump, the hashed subpacket data contains four pieces of information:

- Signature creation time: `2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC` (**critical**)
- Key expiration time: `P1095DT62781S` (**critical**)
- Key flags: `EtEr` (**critical**) (encryption for communication, encryption for storage)
- Issuer Fingerprint: `AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3`

The remainder of the packet has the same content as the *Direct Key Signature* above:
- A 16 bit digest prefix
- A salt value
- The cryptographic signature itself

The signature is calculated over a hash. The hash, in this case, is calculated over the following data (for details, see [Computing Signatures](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-11.html#name-computing-signatures) in the RFC):

- The signature's salt
- A serialized form of the primary key's public data
- A serialized form of the subkey's public data
- A serialized form of this subkey binding signature packet (up to, but excluding the unhashed area)

### Signing subkey

```text
$ sq packet dump --hex alice.priv-6--SecretSubkey
Secret-Subkey Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 75 bytes
    Version: 6
    Creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Pk size: 256 bits
    Fingerprint: D07B24EC91A14DD240AC2D53E6C8A9E054949A41222EA738576ED19CAEA3DC99
    KeyID: D07B24EC91A14DD2

    Secret Key:

        Unencrypted

    00000000  c7                                                 CTB
    00000001     4b                                              length
    00000002        06                                           version
    00000003           65 16 ea a6                               creation_time
    00000007                       1b                            pk_algo
    00000008                           00 00 00 20               public_len
    0000000c                                       33 8c d4 f5   ed25519_public
    00000010  1a 73 39 ef ce d6 0f 21  8d a0 58 a2 3c 3d 44 a8
    00000020  59 e9 13 1f 12 9c 6f 19  d0 3d 40 a0
    0000002c                                       00            s2k_usage
    0000002d                                          0e cb d1   ed25519_secret
    00000030  c9 bc 81 82 aa 77 1f a8  12 a6 2a 74 a4 20 c1 74
    00000040  76 f3 86 24 fb a8 25 a5  62 dd d6 a2 91
```

```text
$ sq packet dump --hex alice.priv-7--Signature
Signature Packet, new CTB, 3 header bytes + 325 bytes
    Version: 6
    Type: SubkeyBinding
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Hash algo: SHA512
    Hashed area:
      Signature creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC (critical)
      Key expiration time: P1095DT62781S (critical)
      Key flags: S (critical)
      Embedded signature:  (critical)
        Signature Packet
          Version: 6
          Type: PrimaryKeyBinding
          Pk algo: Ed25519
          Hash algo: SHA512
          Hashed area:
            Signature creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC (critical)
            Issuer Fingerprint: D07B24EC91A14DD240AC2D53E6C8A9E054949A41222EA738576ED19CAEA3DC99
          Digest prefix: 5365
          Level: 0 (signature over data)

      Issuer Fingerprint: AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3
    Unhashed area:
      Issuer: AAA18CBB254685C5
    Digest prefix: 841C
    Level: 0 (signature over data)

    00000000  c2                                                 CTB
    00000001     c0 85                                           length
    00000003           06                                        version
    00000004              18                                     type
    00000005                 1b                                  pk_algo
    00000006                    0a                               hash_algo
    00000007                       00  00 00 cc                  hashed_area_len
    0000000b                                    05               subpacket length
    0000000c                                       82            subpacket tag
    0000000d                                          65 16 ea   sig creation time
    00000010  a6
    00000011     05                                              subpacket length
    00000012        89                                           subpacket tag
    00000013           05 a4 8f bd                               key expiry time
    00000017                       02                            subpacket length
    00000018                           9b                        subpacket tag
    00000019                              02                     key flags
    0000001a                                 99                  subpacket length
    0000001b                                    a0               subpacket tag
    0000001c                                       06 19 1b 0a   embedded sig
    00000020  00 00 00 29 05 82 65 16  ea a6 22 21 06 d0 7b 24
    00000030  ec 91 a1 4d d2 40 ac 2d  53 e6 c8 a9 e0 54 94 9a
    00000040  41 22 2e a7 38 57 6e d1  9c ae a3 dc 99 00 00 00
    00000050  00 53 65 20 42 03 ad 0c  db fc b5 9a 98 a6 15 27
    00000060  e4 11 5e f5 f2 a0 3d bc  ed 8d 94 27 41 09 f6 3c
    00000070  4b f8 8a e5 af 73 e1 7d  54 07 40 3f f3 29 34 c2
    00000080  e7 60 56 a5 e1 43 cb 08  ba 66 fe 8b 26 ce e7 cb
    00000090  a5 3a 46 bb a5 c8 5d e4  6a de ae 49 e1 3e 07 bf
    000000a0  c4 9e 98 14 2f 3e c5 f7  01 3e 3e 4f f6 18 2a ac
    000000b0  bd ed 52 0c
    000000b4              22                                     subpacket length
    000000b5                 21                                  subpacket tag
    000000b6                    06                               version
    000000b7                       aa  a1 8c bb 25 46 85 c5 83   issuer fp
    000000c0  58 32 05 63 fd 37 b6 7f  33 00 f9 fb 0e c4 57 37
    000000d0  8c d2 9f 10 26 98 b3
    000000d7                       00  00 00 0a                  unhashed_area_len
    000000db                                    09               subpacket length
    000000dc                                       10            subpacket tag
    000000dd                                          aa a1 8c   issuer
    000000e0  bb 25 46 85 c5
    000000e5                 84                                  digest_prefix1
    000000e6                    1c                               digest_prefix2
    000000e7                       20                            salt_len
    000000e8                           23 3d b2 49 f3 02 4b 08   salt
    000000f0  93 af ba 08 89 f0 e0 91  0f ab 22 26 aa b3 56 57
    00000100  30 ea 95 29 06 60 6f 00
    00000108                           be 44 a1 95 38 a9 6b 3a   ed25519_sig
    00000110  3e 51 f0 55 09 b1 e2 91  a9 17 86 fa f5 1e 3f d0
    00000120  28 46 3c ce 6e 88 14 37  32 ec 3d fa c6 01 ca e5
    00000130  a9 4b b7 63 94 c3 0d 92  ab dc fa 23 50 71 60 31
    00000140  a6 73 c8 33 5a 9c d9 0a
```

### User ID

User IDs are a mechanism for attaching *identities* to an OpenPGP certificate. Traditionally, User IDs contain a string that combines a name and an email address.

To look into these, we'll make a certificate that has one [User ID](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#uid). User IDs are *"intended to represent the name and email address of the key holder"*. A certificate can have multiple User IDs associated with it.

Let's look into the details of this key:

```text
-----BEGIN PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----
Comment: AAA1 8CBB 2546 85C5 8358 3205 63FD 37B6  7F33 00F9 FB0E C457 378C D29F 1026 98B3
Comment: <alice@example.org>
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=bgQM
-----END PGP PRIVATE KEY BLOCK-----
```

```text
$ sq packet dump --hex alice_userid.priv
Secret-Key Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 75 bytes
    Version: 6
    Creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Pk size: 256 bits
    Fingerprint: AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3
    KeyID: AAA18CBB254685C5

    Secret Key:

        Unencrypted

    00000000  c5                                                 CTB
    00000001     4b                                              length
    00000002        06                                           version
    00000003           65 16 ea a6                               creation_time
    00000007                       1b                            pk_algo
    00000008                           00 00 00 20               public_len
    0000000c                                       53 24 e9 43   ed25519_public
    00000010  af ab 15 f7 6e d5 b5 12  98 79 69 cd 1b 5d 10 65
    00000020  eb e7 42 e2 ab 47 f4 86  b3 ae 65 3e
    0000002c                                       00            s2k_usage
    0000002d                                          ef e1 99   ed25519_secret
    00000030  b5 5f 11 fb aa 93 e8 26  9d 3b b2 2d 72 20 7d ff
    00000040  bd 42 dd 4b e9 a3 36 81  3b a5 cc cf fb

Signature Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 182 bytes
    Version: 6
    Type: DirectKey
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Hash algo: SHA512
    Hashed area:
      Signature creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC (critical)
      Key expiration time: P1095DT62781S (critical)
      Symmetric algo preferences: AES256, AES128
      Hash preferences: SHA512, SHA256
      Key flags: C (critical)
      Features: MDC
      Issuer Fingerprint: AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3
    Unhashed area:
      Issuer: AAA18CBB254685C5
    Digest prefix: 6747
    Level: 0 (signature over data)

    00000000  c2                                                 CTB
    00000001     b6                                              length
    00000002        06                                           version
    00000003           1f                                        type
    00000004              1b                                     pk_algo
    00000005                 0a                                  hash_algo
    00000006                    00 00  00 3d                     hashed_area_len
    0000000a                                 05                  subpacket length
    0000000b                                    82               subpacket tag
    0000000c                                       65 16 ea a6   sig creation time
    00000010  05                                                 subpacket length
    00000011     89                                              subpacket tag
    00000012        05 a4 8f bd                                  key expiry time
    00000016                    03                               subpacket length
    00000017                       0b                            subpacket tag
    00000018                           09 07                     pref sym algos
    0000001a                                 03                  subpacket length
    0000001b                                    15               subpacket tag
    0000001c                                       0a 08         pref hash algos
    0000001e                                             02      subpacket length
    0000001f                                                9b   subpacket tag
    00000020  01                                                 key flags
    00000021     02                                              subpacket length
    00000022        1e                                           subpacket tag
    00000023           01                                        features
    00000024              22                                     subpacket length
    00000025                 21                                  subpacket tag
    00000026                    06                               version
    00000027                       aa  a1 8c bb 25 46 85 c5 83   issuer fp
    00000030  58 32 05 63 fd 37 b6 7f  33 00 f9 fb 0e c4 57 37
    00000040  8c d2 9f 10 26 98 b3
    00000047                       00  00 00 0a                  unhashed_area_len
    0000004b                                    09               subpacket length
    0000004c                                       10            subpacket tag
    0000004d                                          aa a1 8c   issuer
    00000050  bb 25 46 85 c5
    00000055                 67                                  digest_prefix1
    00000056                    47                               digest_prefix2
    00000057                       20                            salt_len
    00000058                           a2 e3 63 81 e3 6b d0 4f   salt
    00000060  56 d7 c8 38 80 02 25 e8  53 39 49 6b 90 c6 0d 76
    00000070  8f 44 b4 ec 4c 42 38 8e
    00000078                           4d 3d 10 c2 ad 29 c0 57   ed25519_sig
    00000080  ce 66 01 73 b3 78 81 9e  89 52 cf 43 8d 28 11 a9
    00000090  77 09 7f cb f8 15 c8 a1  8d ac 20 44 2b 2d de 13
    000000a0  00 41 32 d0 10 3c 69 06  53 3c 49 8c 76 23 82 33
    000000b0  54 01 f9 5f 81 41 90 0e

User ID Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 19 bytes
    Value: <alice@example.org>

    00000000  cd                                                 CTB
    00000001     13                                              length
    00000002        3c 61 6c 69 63 65  40 65 78 61 6d 70 6c 65   value
    00000010  2e 6f 72 67 3e

Signature Packet, new CTB, 2 header bytes + 185 bytes
    Version: 6
    Type: PositiveCertification
    Pk algo: Ed25519
    Hash algo: SHA512
    Hashed area:
      Signature creation time: 2023-09-29 15:17:58 UTC (critical)
      Key expiration time: P1095DT62781S (critical)
      Symmetric algo preferences: AES256, AES128
      Hash preferences: SHA512, SHA256
      Primary User ID: true (critical)
      Key flags: C (critical)
      Features: MDC
      Issuer Fingerprint: AAA18CBB254685C58358320563FD37B67F3300F9FB0EC457378CD29F102698B3
    Unhashed area:
      Issuer: AAA18CBB254685C5
    Digest prefix: DBB8
    Level: 0 (signature over data)

    00000000  c2                                                 CTB
    00000001     b9                                              length
    00000002        06                                           version
    00000003           13                                        type
    00000004              1b                                     pk_algo
    00000005                 0a                                  hash_algo
    00000006                    00 00  00 40                     hashed_area_len
    0000000a                                 05                  subpacket length
    0000000b                                    82               subpacket tag
    0000000c                                       65 16 ea a6   sig creation time
    00000010  05                                                 subpacket length
    00000011     89                                              subpacket tag
    00000012        05 a4 8f bd                                  key expiry time
    00000016                    03                               subpacket length
    00000017                       0b                            subpacket tag
    00000018                           09 07                     pref sym algos
    0000001a                                 03                  subpacket length
    0000001b                                    15               subpacket tag
    0000001c                                       0a 08         pref hash algos
    0000001e                                             02      subpacket length
    0000001f                                                99   subpacket tag
    00000020  01                                                 primary user id
    00000021     02                                              subpacket length
    00000022        9b                                           subpacket tag
    00000023           01                                        key flags
    00000024              02                                     subpacket length
    00000025                 1e                                  subpacket tag
    00000026                    01                               features
    00000027                       22                            subpacket length
    00000028                           21                        subpacket tag
    00000029                              06                     version
    0000002a                                 aa a1 8c bb 25 46   issuer fp
    00000030  85 c5 83 58 32 05 63 fd  37 b6 7f 33 00 f9 fb 0e
    00000040  c4 57 37 8c d2 9f 10 26  98 b3
    0000004a                                 00 00 00 0a         unhashed_area_len
    0000004e                                             09      subpacket length
    0000004f                                                10   subpacket tag
    00000050  aa a1 8c bb 25 46 85 c5                            issuer
    00000058                           db                        digest_prefix1
    00000059                              b8                     digest_prefix2
    0000005a                                 20                  salt_len
    0000005b                                    8a 2d 6f da 67   salt
    00000060  35 bc 5d 04 77 b4 9d 67  a8 6e c5 d6 88 53 5f e2
    00000070  ef f9 66 08 bf c2 e0 db  c0 56 0d
    0000007b                                    eb d4 2c a5 19   ed25519_sig
    00000080  01 0f ba 26 d0 82 a2 cf  5c eb 7a a9 72 d9 f3 b2
    00000090  66 07 8b b2 ba 3d b7 89  e4 76 04 6e 35 24 2b 27
    000000a0  29 83 be 91 9c 78 6a cc  b4 d5 69 47 76 2c 29 d6
    000000b0  54 bf 43 19 04 ff 53 98  c0 d5 0b 
```

Instead of two packets, as before, we see four packets in this certificate:

* First, a "Secret-Key Packet,"
* then a "Signature Packet" (these two packets are the same as above).
* Third, a [*"User ID Packet"*](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#uid), which contains the name and email address we used
* Finally, a [*"Positive Certification Signature"*](https://www.ietf.org/archive/id/draft-ietf-openpgp-crypto-refresh-10.html#sigtype-positive-cert) (type 0x13), *"Positive certification of a User ID and Public-Key packet"*. This is a cryptographic artifact that "binds the User ID packet and the Key packet together", i.e. it certifies that the owner of the key wants this User ID associated with their key. (Only the person who controls the private part of this key can create this signature packet. The signature serves as proof that the owner of the key has added this User ID to the certificate)


### Certifications (Third Party Signatures)

### Revocations