U.S. flag   An unofficial archive of your favorite United States government website

Computer Security Resource Center

Computer Security Resource Center

This is an archive
(replace .gov by .rip)
    Glossary
A  |  B  |  C  |  D  |  E  |  F  |  G  |  H  |  I  |  J  |  K  |  L  |  M  |  N  |  O  |  P  |  Q  |  R  |  S  |  T  |  U  |  V  |  W  |  X  |  Y  |  Z

Ephemeral key pair

Abbreviation(s) and Synonym(s):

None

Definition(s):

  A key pair, consisting of a public key (i.e., an ephemeral public key) and a private key (i.e., an ephemeral private key) that is intended for a very short period of use. The key pair is ordinarily used in exactly one transaction of a cryptographic scheme; an exception to this is when the ephemeral key pair is used in multiple transactions for a key-transport broadcast. Contrast with a static key pair.
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-56A Rev. 2 [Superseded]

  A short-term key pair used with a public-key (asymmetric-key) algorithm that is generated when needed; the public key of an ephemeral key pair is not provided in a public key certificate, unlike static public keys which are often included in a certificate.
Source(s):
NIST SP 800-175B Rev. 1