---
layout: docs
page_title: KMIP - Secrets Engines
description: |-
  The KMIP secrets engine allows Vault to act as a KMIP server provider and
  handle the lifecycle of its KMIP managed objects.
---

# KMIP Secrets Engine

-> **Note**: This secret engine requires [Vault Enterprise](https://www.hashicorp.com/products/vault/)
with the Advanced Data Protection Module.

The KMIP secrets engine allows Vault to act as a [Key Management
Interoperability Protocol][kmip-spec] (KMIP) server provider and handle
the lifecycle of its KMIP managed objects. KMIP is a standardized protocol that allows
services and applications to perform cryptographic operations without having to
manage cryptographic material, otherwise known as managed objects, by delegating
its storage and lifecycle to a key management server.

Vault's KMIP secrets engine listens on a separate port from the standard Vault listener. Each Vault server in a Vault cluster configured with a KMIP secrets engine uses the same listener configuration. The KMIP listener defaults to port 5696 and is configurable to alternative ports, for example, if there are multiple KMIP secrets engine mounts configured.  KMIP clients connect and authenticate to this KMIP secrets engine listener port using generated TLS certificates. KMIP clients may connect directly to any of the Vault servers on the configured KMIP port. A layer 4 tcp load balancer may be used in front of the Vault server's KMIP ports. The load balancer should support long-lived connections and it may use a round robin routing algorithm as Vault servers will forward to the primary Vault server, if necessary.

## KMIP Conformance

Vault implements version 1.4 of the following Key Management Interoperability Protocol Profiles:

  * [Baseline Server][baseline-server]
    * Supports all profile attributes except for *Key Value Location*.
    * Supports all profile operations except for *Check*.
    * Operation *Locate* supports all profile attributes except for *Key Value Location*.

  * [Symmetric Key Lifecycle Server][lifecycle-server]
    * Supports cryptographic algorithm *AES* (*3DES* is not supported).
    * Only the *Transparent Symmetric Key* key format type is supported.

  * [Basic Cryptographic Server][basic-cryptographic-server]
    * Supports block cipher modes *CBC*, *CFB*, *CTR*, *ECB*, *GCM*, and *OFB*.
    * On multi-part (streaming) operations, block cipher mode *GCM* is not supported.
    * The supported padding methods are *None* and *PKCS5*.

Refer to [KMIP - Profiles Support](/docs/secrets/kmip-profiles) page for more details.

[baseline-server]: http://docs.oasis-open.org/kmip/profiles/v1.4/os/kmip-profiles-v1.4-os.html#_Toc491431430
[lifecycle-server]: http://docs.oasis-open.org/kmip/profiles/v1.4/os/kmip-profiles-v1.4-os.html#_Toc491431487
[basic-cryptographic-server]: http://docs.oasis-open.org/kmip/profiles/v1.4/os/kmip-profiles-v1.4-os.html#_Toc491431527

## Setup

The KMIP secrets engine must be configured before it can start accepting KMIP
requests.

1.  Enable the KMIP secrets engine

    ```text
    $ vault secrets enable kmip
    Success! Enabled the kmip secrets engine at: kmip/
    ```

1.  Configure the secrets engine with the desired listener addresses to use and
    TLS parameters, or leave unwritten to use default values

    ```text
    $ vault write kmip/config listen_addrs=0.0.0.0:5696
    ```

## Usage

### Scopes and Roles

The KMIP secrets engine uses the concept of scopes to partition KMIP managed
object storage into multiple named buckets. Within a scope, roles can be created
which dictate the set of allowed operations that the particular role can perform.
TLS client certificates can be generated for a role, which services and applications
can then use when sending KMIP requests against Vault's KMIP secret engine.

In order to generate client certificates for KMIP clients to interact with Vault's
KMIP server, we must first create a scope and role and specify the desired set of
allowed operations for it.

1.  Create a scope:

    ```text
    $ vault write -f kmip/scope/my-service
    Success! Data written to: kmip/scope/my-service
    ```

1.  Create a role within the scope, specifying the set of operations to allow or
    deny.

    ```text
    $ vault write kmip/scope/my-service/role/admin operation_all=true
      Success! Data written to: kmip/scope/my-service/role/admin
    ```

### Supported KMIP Operations

The KMIP secrets engine currently supports the following set of operations:

```text
operation_activate
operation_add_attribute
operation_create
operation_decrypt
operation_delete_attribute
operation_destroy
operation_discover_versions
operation_encrypt
operation_get
operation_get_attribute_list
operation_get_attributes
operation_import
operation_locate
operation_modify_attribute
operation_query
operation_register
operation_rekey
operation_revoke
```

Additionally, there are two pseudo-operations that can be used to allow or deny
all operation capabilities to a role. These operations are mutually exclusive to
all other operations. That is, if it's provided during role creation or update,
no other operations can be provided. Similarly, if an existing role contains a
pseudo-operation, and it is then updated with a set supported operation, it will
be overwritten with the newly set of provided operations.

Pseudo-operations:

```text
operation_all
operation_none
```

### Client Certificate Generation

Once a scope and role has been created, client certificates can be generated for
that role. The client certificate can then be provided to applications and
services that support KMIP to establish communication with Vault's KMIP server.
Scope and role identifiers are embedded in the certificate,
which will be used when evaluating permissions during a KMIP request.

1.  Generate a client certificate. This returns the CA Chain, the certificate,
    and the private key.

    ```text
    $ vault write -f kmip/scope/my-service/role/admin/credential/generate
      Key              Value
      ---              -----
      ca_chain         [-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
      MIICNTCCAZigAwIBAgIUKqNFb3Zy+8ypIhTDs/2/8f/xEI8wCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIw
      HTEbMBkGA1UEAxMSdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0MB4XDTE5MDYyNDE4MjQyN1oX
      DTI5MDYyMTE4MjQ1N1owKjEoMCYGA1UEAxMfdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0LWlu
      dGVybWVkaWF0ZTCBmzAQBgcqhkjOPQIBBgUrgQQAIwOBhgAEAbniGNXHOiPvSb0I
      fbc1B9QkOmdT2Ecx2WaQPLISplmO0Jm0u0z11CGuf3Igby7unnCNvCuCXrKJFCsQ
      8JGhwknNAG3eesSZxG4tklA6FMZjE9ETUtYfjH7Z4vuJSw/fxOeey7fhrqAzhV3P
      GRkvA9EQUHJOeV4rEpiINP/fneHNfsn1o2YwZDAOBgNVHQ8BAf8EBAMCAQYwEgYD
      VR0TAQH/BAgwBgEB/wIBCTAdBgNVHQ4EFgQUR0o0v4rPiBU9RwQfEUucx3JwbPAw
      HwYDVR0jBBgwFoAUMhORultSN+ABogxQdkt7KChD0wQwCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIDgYoA
      MIGGAkF1IvkIaXNkVfe+q0V78CnX0XIJuvmPpgjN8AQzqLci8txikd9gF1zt8fFQ
      gIKERm2QPrshSV9srHDB0YnThRKuiQJBNcDjCfYOzqKlBHifT4WT4OX1U6nP/Y2b
      imGaLJK9VIwfcJOpVCFGp7Xi8QGV6rJIFiQAqzqCy69vcU6nVMsvens=
      -----END CERTIFICATE----- -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
      MIICKjCCAYugAwIBAgIUerDfApmkq0VYychkhlxEnBlIDUcwCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIw
      HTEbMBkGA1UEAxMSdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0MB4XDTE5MDYyNDE4MjQyNloX
      DTI5MDYyMTE4MjQ1NlowHTEbMBkGA1UEAxMSdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0MIGb
      MBAGByqGSM49AgEGBSuBBAAjA4GGAAQBA466Axrrz+HWanNe35gPVvB7OE7TWZcc
      QZw1QSMQ+QIQMu5NcdfvZfh68exhe1FiJezKB+zeoJWp1Q/kqhyh7fsAFUuIcJDO
      okZYPTmjPh3h5IZLPg5r7Pw1j99rLHhc/EXF9wYVy2UeH/2IqGJ+cncmVgqczlG8
      m36g9OXd6hkofhCjZjBkMA4GA1UdDwEB/wQEAwIBBjASBgNVHRMBAf8ECDAGAQH/
      AgEKMB0GA1UdDgQWBBQyE5G6W1I34AGiDFB2S3soKEPTBDAfBgNVHSMEGDAWgBQy
      E5G6W1I34AGiDFB2S3soKEPTBDAKBggqhkjOPQQDAgOBjAAwgYgCQgGtPVCtgDc1
      0SrTsVpEtUMYQKbOWnTKNHZ9h5jSna8n9aY+70Ai3U57q3FL95iIhZRW79PRpp65
      d6tWqY51o2hHpwJCAK+eE7xpdnqh5H8TqAXKVuSoC0WEsovYCD03c8Ih3jWcZn6N
      kbz2kXPcAk+dE6ncnwhwqNQgsJQGgQzJroH+Zzvb
      -----END CERTIFICATE-----]
      certificate      -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
      MIICOzCCAZygAwIBAgIUN5V7bLAGu8QIUFxlIugg8fBb+eYwCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIw
      KjEoMCYGA1UEAxMfdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0LWludGVybWVkaWF0ZTAeFw0x
      OTA2MjQxODQ3MTdaFw0xOTA2MjUxODQ3NDdaMCAxDjAMBgNVBAsTBWNqVVNJMQ4w
      DAYDVQQDEwVkdjRZbTCBmzAQBgcqhkjOPQIBBgUrgQQAIwOBhgAEANVsHV8CHYpW
      CBKbYVEx/sLphk67SdWxbII4Sc9Rj1KymApD4gPmS+rw0FDMZGFbn1sAfpqMBqMj
      ylv72o9izbYSALHnYT+AaE0NFn4eGWZ2G0p56cVmfXm3ZI959E+3gvZK6X5Jnzm4
      FKXTDKGA4pocYec/rnYJ5X8sbAJKHvk1OeO+o2cwZTAOBgNVHQ8BAf8EBAMCA6gw
      EwYDVR0lBAwwCgYIKwYBBQUHAwIwHQYDVR0OBBYEFBEIsBo3HiBIg2l2psaQoYkT
      D1RNMB8GA1UdIwQYMBaAFEdKNL+Kz4gVPUcEHxFLnMdycGzwMAoGCCqGSM49BAMC
      A4GMADCBiAJCAc8DV23DJsHV4fdmbmssu0eDIgNH+PrRKdYgqiHptbuVjF2qbILp
      Z34dJRVN+R9B+RprZXkYiv7gJ/47KSUKzRZpAkIByMjZqLtcypamJM/t+/O1BSst
      CWcblb45FIxAmO4hE00Q5wnwXNxNnDHXWiuGdSNmIBjpb9nM5wehQlbkx7HzvPk=
      -----END CERTIFICATE-----
      private_key      -----BEGIN EC PRIVATE KEY-----
      MIHcAgEBBEIB9Nn7M28VUVW6g5IlOTS3bHIZYM/zqVy+PvYQxn2lFbg1YrQzfd7h
      sdtCjet0lc7pvtoOwd1dFiATOGg98OVN7MegBwYFK4EEACOhgYkDgYYABADVbB1f
      Ah2KVggSm2FRMf7C6YZOu0nVsWyCOEnPUY9SspgKQ+ID5kvq8NBQzGRhW59bAH6a
      jAajI8pb+9qPYs22EgCx52E/gGhNDRZ+HhlmdhtKeenFZn15t2SPefRPt4L2Sul+
      SZ85uBSl0wyhgOKaHGHnP652CeV/LGwCSh75NTnjvg==
      -----END EC PRIVATE KEY-----
      serial_number    317328055225536560033788492808123425026102524390
    ```

### Client Certificate Signing

As an alternative to the above section on generating client certificates,
the KMIP secrets engine supports signing of Certificate Signing Requests
(CSRs). Normally the above generation process is simpler, but some KMIP
clients prefer (or only support) retaining the private key associated
with their client certificate.

1. In this workflow the first step is KMIP-client dependent: use the KMIP
   client's UI or CLI to create a client certificate CSR in PEM format.

2. Sign the client certificate. This returns the CA Chain and the certificate,
   but not the private key, which never leaves the KMIP client.

   ```text
   $ vault write kmip/scope/my-service/role/admin/credential/sign csr="$(cat my-csr.pem)"
     Key              Value
     ---              -----
     ca_chain         [-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
     MIICNTCCAZigAwIBAgIUKqNFb3Zy+8ypIhTDs/2/8f/xEI8wCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIw
     HTEbMBkGA1UEAxMSdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0MB4XDTE5MDYyNDE4MjQyN1oX
     DTI5MDYyMTE4MjQ1N1owKjEoMCYGA1UEAxMfdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0LWlu
     dGVybWVkaWF0ZTCBmzAQBgcqhkjOPQIBBgUrgQQAIwOBhgAEAbniGNXHOiPvSb0I
     fbc1B9QkOmdT2Ecx2WaQPLISplmO0Jm0u0z11CGuf3Igby7unnCNvCuCXrKJFCsQ
     8JGhwknNAG3eesSZxG4tklA6FMZjE9ETUtYfjH7Z4vuJSw/fxOeey7fhrqAzhV3P
     GRkvA9EQUHJOeV4rEpiINP/fneHNfsn1o2YwZDAOBgNVHQ8BAf8EBAMCAQYwEgYD
     VR0TAQH/BAgwBgEB/wIBCTAdBgNVHQ4EFgQUR0o0v4rPiBU9RwQfEUucx3JwbPAw
     HwYDVR0jBBgwFoAUMhORultSN+ABogxQdkt7KChD0wQwCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIDgYoA
     MIGGAkF1IvkIaXNkVfe+q0V78CnX0XIJuvmPpgjN8AQzqLci8txikd9gF1zt8fFQ
     gIKERm2QPrshSV9srHDB0YnThRKuiQJBNcDjCfYOzqKlBHifT4WT4OX1U6nP/Y2b
     imGaLJK9VIwfcJOpVCFGp7Xi8QGV6rJIFiQAqzqCy69vcU6nVMsvens=
     -----END CERTIFICATE----- -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
     MIICKjCCAYugAwIBAgIUerDfApmkq0VYychkhlxEnBlIDUcwCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIw
     HTEbMBkGA1UEAxMSdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0MB4XDTE5MDYyNDE4MjQyNloX
     DTI5MDYyMTE4MjQ1NlowHTEbMBkGA1UEAxMSdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0MIGb
     MBAGByqGSM49AgEGBSuBBAAjA4GGAAQBA466Axrrz+HWanNe35gPVvB7OE7TWZcc
     QZw1QSMQ+QIQMu5NcdfvZfh68exhe1FiJezKB+zeoJWp1Q/kqhyh7fsAFUuIcJDO
     okZYPTmjPh3h5IZLPg5r7Pw1j99rLHhc/EXF9wYVy2UeH/2IqGJ+cncmVgqczlG8
     m36g9OXd6hkofhCjZjBkMA4GA1UdDwEB/wQEAwIBBjASBgNVHRMBAf8ECDAGAQH/
     AgEKMB0GA1UdDgQWBBQyE5G6W1I34AGiDFB2S3soKEPTBDAfBgNVHSMEGDAWgBQy
     E5G6W1I34AGiDFB2S3soKEPTBDAKBggqhkjOPQQDAgOBjAAwgYgCQgGtPVCtgDc1
     0SrTsVpEtUMYQKbOWnTKNHZ9h5jSna8n9aY+70Ai3U57q3FL95iIhZRW79PRpp65
     d6tWqY51o2hHpwJCAK+eE7xpdnqh5H8TqAXKVuSoC0WEsovYCD03c8Ih3jWcZn6N
     kbz2kXPcAk+dE6ncnwhwqNQgsJQGgQzJroH+Zzvb
     -----END CERTIFICATE-----]
     certificate      -----BEGIN CERTIFICATE-----
     MIICOzCCAZygAwIBAgIUN5V7bLAGu8QIUFxlIugg8fBb+eYwCgYIKoZIzj0EAwIw
     KjEoMCYGA1UEAxMfdmF1bHQta21pcC1kZWZhdWx0LWludGVybWVkaWF0ZTAeFw0x
     OTA2MjQxODQ3MTdaFw0xOTA2MjUxODQ3NDdaMCAxDjAMBgNVBAsTBWNqVVNJMQ4w
     DAYDVQQDEwVkdjRZbTCBmzAQBgcqhkjOPQIBBgUrgQQAIwOBhgAEANVsHV8CHYpW
     CBKbYVEx/sLphk67SdWxbII4Sc9Rj1KymApD4gPmS+rw0FDMZGFbn1sAfpqMBqMj
     ylv72o9izbYSALHnYT+AaE0NFn4eGWZ2G0p56cVmfXm3ZI959E+3gvZK6X5Jnzm4
     FKXTDKGA4pocYec/rnYJ5X8sbAJKHvk1OeO+o2cwZTAOBgNVHQ8BAf8EBAMCA6gw
     EwYDVR0lBAwwCgYIKwYBBQUHAwIwHQYDVR0OBBYEFBEIsBo3HiBIg2l2psaQoYkT
     D1RNMB8GA1UdIwQYMBaAFEdKNL+Kz4gVPUcEHxFLnMdycGzwMAoGCCqGSM49BAMC
     A4GMADCBiAJCAc8DV23DJsHV4fdmbmssu0eDIgNH+PrRKdYgqiHptbuVjF2qbILp
     Z34dJRVN+R9B+RprZXkYiv7gJ/47KSUKzRZpAkIByMjZqLtcypamJM/t+/O1BSst
     CWcblb45FIxAmO4hE00Q5wnwXNxNnDHXWiuGdSNmIBjpb9nM5wehQlbkx7HzvPk=
     -----END CERTIFICATE-----
     serial_number    317328055225536560033788492808123425026102524390
   ```

## Tutorial

Refer to the [KMIP Secrets Engine](https://learn.hashicorp.com/vault/secrets-management/kmip-engine)
guide for a step-by-step tutorial.

[kmip-spec]: http://docs.oasis-open.org/kmip/spec/v1.4/kmip-spec-v1.4.html
[kmip-ops]: http://docs.oasis-open.org/kmip/spec/v1.4/os/kmip-spec-v1.4-os.html#_Toc490660840