Verify Virtual Machine Images on Linux
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Instructions for OpenPGP and Signify Verification of Kicksecure ISO, VirtualBox and KVM on the Command Line
Introduction[edit]
- Optional: Digital signatures are optional. If you've never used them before, it might be overwhelming to look into them at this stage. You may want to explore this topic later, after becoming more familiar with advanced computer security concepts.
- Digital signatures: A tool enhancing download security. Commonly used across the internet.
- No worries: New to digital software signatures? It's okay, no need to worry.
- Not a requirement: Not mandatory for using Kicksecure, but an extra security measure for advanced users.
- Learn more: Curious? Learn more about digital software signatures.
OpenPGP
In order to verify the Kicksecure image, GnuPG must be installed. GnuPG is the common OpenPGP implementation for Linux: it is installed by default in Debian, Ubuntu, Kicksecure and many other distributions.
1. Choose your platform.
Kicksecure ISO
NOTE: The Kicksecure ISO is at time of writing available for testers-only. Any updates to this status would be added to the ISO wiki page.
2. Import the signing key.
Refer to the more secure, detailed Kicksecure Signing Key instructions.
3. Download the cryptographic (OpenPGP) signature corresponding to the image you want to verify.
4. Save the signature in the same folder as the image.
VirtualBox
Refer to the more secure, detailed Kicksecure Signing Key instructions.
3. Download the cryptographic (OpenPGP) signature corresponding to the image you want to verify.
4. Save the signature in the same folder as the image.
KVM
Refer to the more secure, detailed Kicksecure Signing Key instructions.
3. Download the cryptographic (OpenPGP) signature corresponding to the image you want to verify.
4. Save the signature in the same folder as the image.
5. Change directory.
cd [the directory in which you downloaded the image and the signature]
6. Start the cryptographic verification.
This process can take several minutes.
7. Check the output of the verification step.
If the file is verified successfully, the output will include Good signature
, which is the most important thing to check.
This output might be followed by a warning as follows.
gpg: WARNING: This key is not certified with a trusted signature! gpg: There is no indication that the signature belongs to the owner.
This message does not alter the validity of the signature related to the downloaded key. Rather, this warning refers to the level of trust placed in the Kicksecure signing key and the web of trust. To remove this warning, the Kicksecure signing key must be personally signed with your own key.
Example of signature creation timestamp; see below.
gpg: Signature made Mon 19 Jan 2023 11:45:41 PM CET using RSA key ID ...
The file@name
OpenPGP notation in Kicksecure release signatures describes the file name. This helps to confirm that the file name has not been tampered with; see the example below.
If the digital software signature verification failed, the output will inform that the signature is bad:
gpg: BAD signature
8. Done.
Digital software signature verification using OpenPGP has been completed.
Troubleshooting[edit]
When a GPG error is encountered, first try a web search for the relevant error. The security stackexchange website can also help to resolve GPG problems. Describe the problem thoroughly, but be sure it is GPG-related and not specific to Kicksecure.
More help resources are available on the Support page.
Signify
1. Choose your platform.
3. Install signify-openbsd
.
Install package(s) signify-openbsd
. Follow steps A to E.
A. Platform specific notice.
- Kicksecure: No special notice.
- Kicksecure-Qubes: In Template.
B.
Update the package lists and upgrade the system
.
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
C. Install the signify-openbsd
package(s).
Using apt
command line
--no-install-recommends
option
is in most cases optional.
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends signify-openbsd
D. Platform specific notice.
- Kicksecure: No special notice.
- Kicksecure-Qubes: Shut down Template and restart App Qubes based on it as per
Qubes Template Modification
.
E. Done.
The procedure of installing package(s) signify-openbsd
is complete.
4. Note.
It is impossible to signify
sign images (.ova
/ libvirt.tar.xz
) directly. You can only verify the
.sha512sums
hash sum file using signify-openbsd
and then verify the image against the sha512
sum.
5. Download the .sha512sums
and .sha512sums.sig
files.
6. Verify the .sha512sums
file with signify-openbsd
.
signify-openbsd -Vp derivative.pub -m Kicksecure-*.sha512sums
If the signature is valid, it will output:
Signature Verified
If the signature is invalid, it will output an error.
7. Compare the hash of the image file with the hash in the .sha512sums
file.
sha512sum --strict --check Kicksecure-*.sha512sums
If the hash is correct, it will output:
8. Done.
Digital signature verification using signify has been completed.
If you are using signify for software signature verification, please consider making a report in the signify-openbsd forum thread. This will help developers decide whether to continue supporting this method or deprecate it.
Forum discussion: signify-openbsd.
Footnotes[edit]
- ↑ As defined by TUF: Attacks and Weaknesses:
- ↑
https://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-users/2015-January/052185.html
License[edit]
Kicksecure Verify the images using Linux wiki page Copyright (C) Amnesia <amnesia at boum dot org>
Kicksecure Verify the images using Linux wiki page Copyright (C) 2012 - 2024 ENCRYPTED SUPPORT LP <adrelanos(at)kicksecure.com
(Replace(at)
with@
.)Please DO NOT use e-mail for one of the following reasons: Private Contact: Please avoid e-mail whenever possible. (Private Communications Policy) Leaks Submissions: No. (No Leaks Policy) Sponsored posts: No. Paid links: No. SEO reviews: No. >This program comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY; for details see the wiki source code.
This is free software, and you are welcome to redistribute it under certain conditions; see the wiki source code for details.
Unfinished: This wiki is a work in progress. Please do not report broken links until this notice is removed, use Search Engines First and contribute improving this wiki.
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