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NIST Personal Identity Verification Program NPIVP

Announcements Archive


09/05/2014

The NIST PIV Validation Program (NPIVP) has updated its PIV Middleware and PIV Card Application Validation lists to reflect the FIPS 201-2 implementation schedule. This schedule requires that beginning 09/05/14, new and replacement cards issued by Department and Agencies have to conform to FIPS 201-2 when on-boarding or when replacing PIV Cards as they expire over the next 5 years.

The impact for the NPIVP Validation Program is that some cards with FIPS 201-1 conformant PIV Card Applications have to be removed from the validation list. Only a few cards on the validated list are affected. This is due to the fact that to meet the FIPS 201-2 compliance requirements all that is required is that some of the previously optional PIV Card credentials under FIPS 201-1 must be present in FIPS 201-2 (as they are now mandatory). The Removed Products List (RPL) is now available. The effect on validated PIV Middleware, is broader. PIV Middleware is required to support all functionality (function calls/credentials) of a fully loaded PIV Card. Since SP 800-73-1 and SP 800-73-2 PIV Middleware do NOT support new FIPS 201-2-functionality, they have to be placed on the RPL. The PIV Middleware RPL is also available. Note: The PIV Middleware listed in the SP 800-73-3 PIV Middleware Validation list remains valid and will not be removed. These implementations support the optional credentials/functionality, which now are mandatory under FIPS 201-2.

Finally, the NPIVP validation Authority also removed validated PIV Card Applications that remain in a ‘pending’ state for FIPS 140-2 lasting 3 years or longer. These card applications never received FIPS 140-2 validation, and thus are not allowed to be used by USG.



11/29/2010

As of 11/29/2010, NPIVP hereby authorizes all NPIVP Test Facilities to commence certification of PIV cards for conformance to NIST SP 800-73-3 specifications. However certifications of PIV cards for conformance to NIST SP 800-73-2 that are currently under testing will be accepted till December 31, 2010.Effective January 1, 2011, NPIVP will not be accepting test reports from laboratories for NIST SP 800-73-2 cards. From that date, PIV Card Application products claiming conformance to SP 800-73-3 specifications alone will be accepted for validation and issuance of certificates. NIST will be shortly making an announcement regarding the acceptance of test reports for NIST SP 800-73-3 PIV Middleware. If you need any clarifications please do not hesitate to contact us at npivp@nist.gov. Thanks for your cooperation.



06/23/2009

Effective July 11, 2009, NPIVP will not be accepting test reports from laboratories submitting test evidence for PIV Card Application and PIV Middlware based on SP 800-73-1 specifications. Test Results for PIV Middleware or PIV Card Application products claiming conformance to SP 800-73-2 specifications alone will be accepted for validation and issuance of certificates. If you need any clarifications please do not hesitate to contact us at npivp@nist.gov. Thanks for your cooperation.



12/15/2008

Effective January 1, 2009, NPIVP will not accept test reports from laboratories submitting test evidence for RSA-1024-based DSK and/or  KMK, since these keys do not comply with the cryptographic timelines established in SP 800-78-1, Table 3-1.

11/26/2008

Beginning January 1, 2009, PIV Card Applications implementing the PIV Digital Signature Key (DSK) and/or the PIV Key Management Key (KMK) are required to support cryptographic keys that provide a minimum of 112 bits of security strength.  RSA 1024-based DSK and KMK provide only 80 bit security strength. These keys, as per SP 800-78-1, Table 3-1, are to be discontinued by the end of 2008. As a result, the validation listing on NPIVPs validation web page will be revised to mark RSA 1024-based DSK and KMK that are no longer valid with respect to the scope of the validation, since they do not comply with the cryptographic timelines established in SP 800-78-1, Table 3-1.  
 
Effective January 1, 2009, affected PIV card application validation entry will appears as follows:  
 
Optional PIV Data Object Implemented: 
1) Card Holder Facial Image
2) Card Holder Printed Information
3)  X.509 Certificate for Digital Signature
4)  X.509 Certificate for PIV Key Management
5) X.509 Certificate for Card Authentication 

As of January 1, 2009, PIV card applications implementing the PIV Digital Signature Key (DSK) and/or the PIV Key Management Key (KMK) are required to support cryptographic keys that provide a minimum of 112 bits of security strength.   The private key (corresponding to the X.509 certificate in gray font) provides only 80 bit security strength. This key is no longer valid, since it does not comply with the cryptographic timelines established in SP 800-78-1, Table 3-1 and is therefore out of the scope of the validation.



09/27/2006

All current NPIVP test facilities are now fully accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) to conduct PIV card application and PIV middleware testing.



06/12/2006

As a reminder, NVLAP has announced the addition of the PIV Test Methods to the NVLAP Cryptographic Module Testing LAP (CMT LAP) on 4/26/06.



04/25/2006

Due to numerous inquiries about the READ BINARY command, the NIST would like to clarify its use on the contact and contacless cards chip of the PIV card.



04/21/2006

The NIST has initiated the PIV Biometric Product Testing Resource Center to inform the biometric vendor community of existing product testing procedures.



03/06/2006

Presentations for the NPIVP workshop (March 3, 2006) are available here.



02/28/2006

The Agenda for the NPIVP workshop on March 3, 2006 is now available.



02/10/2006

The NPIVP has extended the deadline for submission of the completed proficiency test report. It is now due by 3/15/2006.



02/2/2006

The NPIVP and the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) will hold a public workshop on 3/03/2006 at the NIST in Gaithersburg, MD.

The purpose of the workshop is the exchange of information among NVLAP, laboratories interested in seeking accreditation for the testing of Personal Identity Verification (PIV) components, vendors interested in having their product NPIVP-certified and federal agency seeking NPIVP certified products. For more details and to register, click here.



1/19/2006

Pre-validation lists for PIV Middleware and for PIV Card Applications are now available on the NPIVP website.



11/16/2005

NPIVP officially authorized NPIVP Test Facilities to commence FIPS 201 Interface Validation of PIV Card Applications and PIV Middleware for conformance to SP 800-73 specification.

Created May 24, 2016, Updated August 04, 2020