Symmetric key

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CYB-004166",
  "term": "Symmetric key",
  "field": "Cybersecurity",
  "definition": "1. A cryptographic key that is used to perform both the cryptographic operation and its inverse (e.g., to encrypt, decrypt, create a message authentication code, or verify a message authentication code).\n\n2. A single cryptographic key that is used with a symmetric-key cryptographic algorithm, is uniquely associated with one or more entities, and is not made public (i.e., the key is kept secret). A symmetric key is often called a secret key.\nThe use of the term \"secret\" in this context does not imply a classification level, but rather implies the need to protect the key from disclosure.\n\n3. A cryptographic key used by one or more (authorized) entities in a symmetric-key cryptographic algorithm; the key is not made public.\n\n4. See Secret key.\n\n5. A cryptographic key used by a secret-key (symmetric) cryptographic algorithm and that is not made public.\n\n6. A cryptographic key that is shared between two or more entities and used with a cryptographic application to process information.\n\n7. A single cryptographic key that is used by one or more entities with a symmetric key algorithm.\n\n8. A single cryptographic key that is used with a symmetric (secret key) cryptographic algorithm and is not made public (i.e., the key is kept secret). A secret key is also called a symmetric key.\n\n9. The use of the term “secret” in this context does not imply a classification level, but rather implies the need to protect the key from disclosure.\n\n10. Compare with a private key, which is used with a public-key (asymmetric-key) algorithm.\n\n11. A single cryptographic key that is used with a symmetric (secret key) algorithm, is uniquely associated with one or more entities, and is not made public (i.e., the key is kept secret); a symmetric key is often called a secret key.\n\n12. A single cryptographic key that is used with a symmetric-key cryptographic algorithm, is uniquely associated with one or more entities and is not made public (i.e., the key is kept secret). A secret key is also called a Symmetric key. The use of the term “secret” in this context does not imply a classification level but rather implies the need to protect the key from disclosure.\n\n13. A single cryptographic key that is used with a symmetric-key cryptographic algorithm, is uniquely associated with one or more entities, and is not made public (i.e., the key is kept secret). A symmetric key is often called a secret key. See Secret key.\n\n14. A single cryptographic key that is used with a symmetric-key algorithm; also called a secret key. A symmetric-key algorithm is a cryptographic algorithm that uses the same secret key for an operation and its complement (e.g., encryption and decryption).\n\n15. A cryptographic key used to perform both the cryptographic operation and its inverse (e.g., to encrypt and decrypt or to create a message authentication code and verify the code).",
  "synonyms": [
    "Secret key"
  ],
  "references": [
    "FIPS 201-3",
    "CNSSI 4009-2022 from NIST SP 800-57 Part 1 Rev. 5 (adapted)",
    "NIST SP 800-133 Rev. 2",
    "NIST SP 800-133 Rev. 2; NIST SP 800-152",
    "NIST SP 800-152",
    "NIST SP 800-56B Rev. 2",
    "NIST SP 800-57 Part 2 Rev.1",
    "NIST SP 800-175B Rev. 1",
    "NIST SP 800-57 Part 1 Rev. 5",
    "NIST SP 800-56C Rev. 2",
    "NIST SP 800-63-4",
    "NIST CSRC Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/cybersecurity/symmetric-key/"
}