8.1. PSA status codes

8.1.1. Status type

psa_status_t (type)

Function return status.

typedef int32_t psa_status_t;

This is either PSA_SUCCESS, which is zero, indicating success; or a small negative value indicating that an error occurred. Errors are encoded as one of the PSA_ERROR_xxx values defined here.

8.1.2. Success codes

PSA_SUCCESS (macro)

The action was completed successfully.

#define PSA_SUCCESS ((psa_status_t)0)

8.1.3. Error codes

PSA_ERROR_GENERIC_ERROR (macro)

An error occurred that does not correspond to any defined failure cause.

#define PSA_ERROR_GENERIC_ERROR ((psa_status_t)-132)

Implementations can use this error code if none of the other standard error codes are applicable.

PSA_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED (macro)

The requested operation or a parameter is not supported by this implementation.

#define PSA_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED ((psa_status_t)-134)

It is recommended that implementations return this error code when an enumeration parameter such as a key type, algorithm, etc. is not recognized. If a combination of parameters is recognized and identified as not valid, return PSA_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT instead.

PSA_ERROR_NOT_PERMITTED (macro)

The requested action is denied by a policy.

#define PSA_ERROR_NOT_PERMITTED ((psa_status_t)-133)

It is recommended that implementations return this error code when the parameters are recognized as valid and supported, and a policy explicitly denies the requested operation.

If a subset of the parameters of a function call identify a forbidden operation, and another subset of the parameters are not valid or not supported, it is unspecified whether the function returns PSA_ERROR_NOT_PERMITTED, PSA_ERROR_NOT_SUPPORTED or PSA_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT.

PSA_ERROR_BUFFER_TOO_SMALL (macro)

An output buffer is too small.

#define PSA_ERROR_BUFFER_TOO_SMALL ((psa_status_t)-138)

Applications can call the PSA_xxx_SIZE macro listed in the function description to determine a sufficient buffer size.

It is recommended that implementations only return this error code in cases when performing the operation with a larger output buffer would succeed. However, implementations can also return this error if a function has invalid or unsupported parameters in addition to an insufficient output buffer size.

PSA_ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS (macro)

Asking for an item that already exists.

#define PSA_ERROR_ALREADY_EXISTS ((psa_status_t)-139)

It is recommended that implementations return this error code when attempting to write to a location where a key is already present.

PSA_ERROR_DOES_NOT_EXIST (macro)

Asking for an item that doesn’t exist.

#define PSA_ERROR_DOES_NOT_EXIST ((psa_status_t)-140)

Implementations must not return this error code to indicate that a key identifier is invalid, but must return PSA_ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE instead.

PSA_ERROR_BAD_STATE (macro)

The requested action cannot be performed in the current state.

#define PSA_ERROR_BAD_STATE ((psa_status_t)-137)

Multi-part operations return this error when one of the functions is called out of sequence. Refer to the function descriptions for permitted sequencing of functions.

Implementations must not return this error code to indicate that a key identifier is invalid, but must return PSA_ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE instead.

PSA_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT (macro)

The parameters passed to the function are invalid.

#define PSA_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT ((psa_status_t)-135)

Implementations can return this error any time a parameter or combination of parameters are recognized as invalid.

Implementations must not return this error code to indicate that a key identifier is invalid, but must return PSA_ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE instead.

PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY (macro)

There is not enough runtime memory.

#define PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_MEMORY ((psa_status_t)-141)

If the action is carried out across multiple security realms, this error can refer to available memory in any of the security realms.

PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE (macro)

There is not enough persistent storage.

#define PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE ((psa_status_t)-142)

Functions that modify the key storage return this error code if there is insufficient storage space on the host media. In addition, many functions that do not otherwise access storage might return this error code if the implementation requires a mandatory log entry for the requested action and the log storage space is full.

PSA_ERROR_COMMUNICATION_FAILURE (macro)

There was a communication failure inside the implementation.

#define PSA_ERROR_COMMUNICATION_FAILURE ((psa_status_t)-145)

This can indicate a communication failure between the application and an external cryptoprocessor or between the cryptoprocessor and an external volatile or persistent memory. A communication failure can be transient or permanent depending on the cause.

Warning

If a function returns this error, it is undetermined whether the requested action has completed. Returning PSA_SUCCESS is recommended on successful completion whenever possible, however functions can return PSA_ERROR_COMMUNICATION_FAILURE if the requested action was completed successfully in an external cryptoprocessor but there was a breakdown of communication before the cryptoprocessor could report the status to the application.

PSA_ERROR_STORAGE_FAILURE (macro)

There was a storage failure that might have led to data loss.

#define PSA_ERROR_STORAGE_FAILURE ((psa_status_t)-146)

This error indicates that some persistent storage could not be read or written by the implementation. It does not indicate the following situations, which have specific error codes:

A storage failure does not indicate that any data that was previously read is invalid. However this previously read data might no longer be readable from storage.

When a storage failure occurs, it is no longer possible to ensure the global integrity of the keystore. Depending on the global integrity guarantees offered by the implementation, access to other data might fail even if the data is still readable but its integrity cannot be guaranteed.

It is recommended to only use this error code to report a permanent storage corruption. However application writers must keep in mind that transient errors while reading the storage might be reported using this error code.

PSA_ERROR_DATA_CORRUPT (macro)

Stored data has been corrupted.

#define PSA_ERROR_DATA_CORRUPT ((psa_status_t)-152)

This error indicates that some persistent storage has suffered corruption. It does not indicate the following situations, which have specific error codes:

Note that a storage corruption does not indicate that any data that was previously read is invalid. However this previously read data might no longer be readable from storage.

When a storage failure occurs, it is no longer possible to ensure the global integrity of the keystore. Depending on the global integrity guarantees offered by the implementation, access to other data might fail even if the data is still readable but its integrity cannot be guaranteed.

It is recommended to only use this error code to report when a storage component indicates that the stored data is corrupt, or fails an integrity check. For example, in situations that the PSA Storage API [PSA-ITS] reports PSA_ERROR_DATA_CORRUPT or PSA_ERROR_INVALID_SIGNATURE.

PSA_ERROR_DATA_INVALID (macro)

Data read from storage is not valid for the implementation.

#define PSA_ERROR_DATA_INVALID ((psa_status_t)-153)

This error indicates that some data read from storage does not have a valid format. It does not indicate the following situations, which have specific error codes:

This error is typically a result of an integration failure, where the implementation reading the data is not compatible with the implementation that stored the data.

It is recommended to only use this error code to report when data that is successfully read from storage is invalid.

PSA_ERROR_HARDWARE_FAILURE (macro)

A hardware failure was detected.

#define PSA_ERROR_HARDWARE_FAILURE ((psa_status_t)-147)

A hardware failure can be transient or permanent depending on the cause.

PSA_ERROR_CORRUPTION_DETECTED (macro)

A tampering attempt was detected.

#define PSA_ERROR_CORRUPTION_DETECTED ((psa_status_t)-151)

If an application receives this error code, there is no guarantee that previously accessed or computed data was correct and remains confidential. In this situation, it is recommended that applications perform no further security functions and enter a safe failure state.

Implementations can return this error code if they detect an invalid state that cannot happen during normal operation and that indicates that the implementation’s security guarantees no longer hold. Depending on the implementation architecture and on its security and safety goals, the implementation might forcibly terminate the application.

This error code is intended as a last resort when a security breach is detected and it is unsure whether the keystore data is still protected. Implementations must only return this error code to report an alarm from a tampering detector, to indicate that the confidentiality of stored data can no longer be guaranteed, or to indicate that the integrity of previously returned data is now considered compromised. Implementations must not use this error code to indicate a hardware failure that merely makes it impossible to perform the requested operation, instead use PSA_ERROR_COMMUNICATION_FAILURE, PSA_ERROR_STORAGE_FAILURE, PSA_ERROR_HARDWARE_FAILURE, PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_ENTROPY or other applicable error code.

This error indicates an attack against the application. Implementations must not return this error code as a consequence of the behavior of the application itself.

PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_ENTROPY (macro)

There is not enough entropy to generate random data needed for the requested action.

#define PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_ENTROPY ((psa_status_t)-148)

This error indicates a failure of a hardware random generator. Application writers must note that this error can be returned not only by functions whose purpose is to generate random data, such as key, IV or nonce generation, but also by functions that execute an algorithm with a randomized result, as well as functions that use randomization of intermediate computations as a countermeasure to certain attacks.

It is recommended that implementations do not return this error after psa_crypto_init() has succeeded. This can be achieved if the implementation generates sufficient entropy during initialization and subsequently a cryptographically secure pseudorandom generator (PRNG) is used. However, implementations might return this error at any time, for example, if a policy requires the PRNG to be reseeded during normal operation.

PSA_ERROR_INVALID_SIGNATURE (macro)

The signature, MAC or hash is incorrect.

#define PSA_ERROR_INVALID_SIGNATURE ((psa_status_t)-149)

Verification functions return this error if the verification calculations completed successfully, and the value to be verified was determined to be incorrect.

If the value to verify has an invalid size, implementations can return either PSA_ERROR_INVALID_ARGUMENT or PSA_ERROR_INVALID_SIGNATURE.

PSA_ERROR_INVALID_PADDING (macro)

The decrypted padding is incorrect.

#define PSA_ERROR_INVALID_PADDING ((psa_status_t)-150)

Warning

In some protocols, when decrypting data, it is essential that the behavior of the application does not depend on whether the padding is correct, down to precise timing. Protocols that use authenticated encryption are recommended for use by applications, rather than plain encryption. If the application must perform a decryption of unauthenticated data, the application writer must take care not to reveal whether the padding is invalid.

Implementations must handle padding carefully, aiming to make it impossible for an external observer to distinguish between valid and invalid padding. In particular, it is recommended that the timing of a decryption operation does not depend on the validity of the padding.

PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_DATA (macro)

Return this error when there’s insufficient data when attempting to read from a resource.

#define PSA_ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_DATA ((psa_status_t)-143)

PSA_ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE (macro)

The key identifier is not valid.

#define PSA_ERROR_INVALID_HANDLE ((psa_status_t)-136)

See also Key identifiers.