Glossary · Nouns · C
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TermTypeDefinitionClassificationsUpdated
Cryptidnounan organism whose existence has been speculated, but has not been discovered by the scientific communityverified
Crypto OfficernounMWEAn operator or process (subject), acting on behalf of the operator, performing cryptographic initialization or management functions.RoleRegulated
Cryptobiosisnouna state in which an animal's metabolic activities come to a reversible standstillverified
Cryptococcosisnouna fungal infection characterized by nodular lesions--first in the lungs and spreading to the nervous systemverified
Cryptogamnounformerly recognized taxonomic group including all flowerless and seedless plants that reproduce by means of spores: ferns, mosses, algae, fungiverified
Cryptographic AlarmnounMWECircuit or device that detects failures or aberrations in the logic or operation of crypto-equipment. Crypto-alarm may inhibit transmission or may provide a visible and/or audible alarm.EventRegulatedCUI
cryptographic algorithmnounMWEA well-defined computational procedure that takes variable inputs, including a cryptographic key, and produces an output.Control
Cryptographic Algorithm or HashnounMWEAn algorithm that employs the science of cryptography, including encryption algorithms, cryptographic hash algorithms, digital signature algorithms, and key agreement algorithms.Control
Cryptographic Ancillary EquipmentnounMWEEquipment designed specifically to facilitate efficient or reliable operation of cryptographic equipment, without performing cryptographic functions itself.PhysicalRegulatedCUI
Cryptographic BindingnounMWEAssociating two or more related elements of information using cryptographic techniques.Control
Cryptographic BoundarynounMWEAn explicitly defined continuous perimeter that establishes the physical bounds of a cryptographic module and contains all the hardware, software, and/or firmware components of a cryptographic module.ControlRegulated
Cryptographic ComponentnounMWEHardware or firmware embodiment of the cryptographic logic. A cryptographic component may be a modular assembly, a printed wiring assembly, a microcircuit, or a combination of these items.PhysicalRegulatedCUI
Cryptographic Hash FunctionnounMWEA function that maps a bit string of arbitrary length to a fixed length bit string. Approved hash functions satisfy the following properties: 1) (One-way) It is computationally infeasible to find any input which maps to any pre-specified output, and 2) (Collision resistant) It is computationally infeasible to find any two distinct inputs that map to the same output.Capability
Cryptographic Ignition KeynounMWEDevice or electronic key used to unlock the secure mode of crypto-equipment.CredentialRegulatedCUI
Cryptographic InitializationnounMWEFunction used to set the state of a cryptographic logic prior to key generation, encryption, or other operating mode.Process
Cryptographic KeynounMWEA parameter used in conjunction with a cryptographic algorithm that determines - the transformation of plaintext data into ciphertext data, - the transformation of ciphertext data into plaintext data, - a digital signature computed from data, - the verification of a digital signature computed from data, - an authentication code computed from data, or - an exchange agreement of a shared secret.Credential
Cryptographic LogicnounMWEThe embodiment of one (or more) cryptographic algorithm(s) along with alarms, checks, and other processes essential to effective and secure performance of the cryptographic process(es).CapabilityRegulated
Cryptographic MaterialnounMWECOMSEC material used to secure or authenticate information.CredentialRegulatedCUI
Cryptographic ModulenounMWEThe set of hardware, software, firmware, or some combination thereof that implements cryptographic logic or processes, including cryptographic algorithms, and is contained within the cryptographic boundary of the module.SystemRegulated
Cryptographic Module Security PolicynounMWEA precise specification of the security rules under which a cryptographic module will operate, including the rules derived from the requirements of this standard (FIPS 140-2) and additional rules imposed by the vendor.Requirement
Cryptographic Module Validation ProgramnounMWEValidates cryptographic modules to Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 and other cryptography-based standards. The CMVP is a joint effort between National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Communications Security Establishment (CSE) of the government of Canada. Products validated as conforming to FIPS 140-2 are accepted by the federal agencies of both countries for the protection of sensitive information (United States) or Designated Information (Canada). The goal of the CMVP is to promote the use of validated cryptographic modules and provide federal agencies with a security metric to use in procuring equipment containing validated cryptographic modules.CapabilityRegulatedCUI
Cryptographic ProductnounMWEA cryptographic key (public, private, or shared) or public key certificate, used for encryption, decryption, digital signature, or signature verification; and other items, such as compromised key lists (CKL) and certificate revocation lists (CRL), obtained by trusted means from the same source which validate the authenticity of keys or certificates. Protected software which generates or regenerates keys or certificates may also be considered a cryptographic product.CredentialRestrictedCUI
Cryptographic RandomizationnounMWEFunction that randomly determines the transmit state of a cryptographic logic.Capability
Cryptographic SecuritynounMWEComponent of COMSEC resulting from the provision of technically sound cryptographic systems and their proper use.CapabilityRegulatedCUI
Cryptographic StrengthnounMWEA measure of the expected number of operations required to defeat a cryptographic mechanism.Metric
Cryptographic SynchronizationnounMWEProcess by which a receiving decrypting cryptographic logic attains the same internal state as the transmitting encrypting logic.ProcessRegulated
Cryptographic SystemnounMWEAssociated information assurance items interacting to provide a single means of encryption or decryption.SystemRegulated
Cryptographic System AnalysisnounMWEProcess of establishing the exploitability of a cryptographic system, normally by reviewing transmitted traffic protected or secured by the system under study.ProcessRegulatedCUI
Cryptographic System EvaluationnounMWEProcess of determining vulnerabilities of a cryptographic system and recommending countermeasures.ProcessRegulated
Cryptographic System ReviewnounMWEExamination of a cryptographic system by the controlling authority ensuring its adequacy of design and content, continued need, and proper distribution.ProcessRegulatedCUI
Cryptographic System SurveynounMWEManagement technique in which actual holders of a cryptographic system express opinions on the system's suitability and provide usage information for technical evaluations.ProcessInternal
Cryptographic TokennounMWEA portable, user-controlled physical device (e.g., smart card or PCMCIA card) used to store cryptographic information and possibly also perform cryptographic functions.Credential
CryptographynounIs categorized as either secret key or public key. Secret key cryptography is based on the use of a single cryptographic key shared between two parties. The same key is used to encrypt and decrypt data. This key is kept secret by the two parties. Public key cryptography is a form of cryptography which makes use of two keys: a public key and a private key. The two keys are related but have the property that, given the public key, it is computationally infeasible to derive the private key [FIPS 140-1]. In a public key cryptosystem, each party has its own public/private key pair. The public key can be known by anyone; the private key is kept secret.Capability
cryptologynounThe science that deals with hidden, disguised, or encrypted communications. It includes communications security and communications intelligence.Capability
Cryptorchidismnounfailure of one or both testes to move into the scrotum as the male fetus developsverified
Cryptorchidynounfailure of one or both testes to move into the scrotum as the male fetus developsverified
Cryptorchismnounfailure of one or both testes to move into the scrotum as the male fetus developsverified
CryptosystemnounA pair of algorithms that take a key and convert plaintext to ciphertext and backCapability
Crystalnouna solid formed by the solidification of a chemical and having a highly regular atomic structureverified
Crystal DetectornounMWEa detector consisting of a fine wire in contact with a galena crystalverified
Crystal GazingnounMWEstaring into a crystal ball to arouse visions of future or distant eventsverified
Crystal LatticenounMWEa 3-dimensional geometric arrangement of the atoms or molecules or ions composing a crystalverified
Crystal MicrophonenounMWEa microphone in which sound waves vibrate a piezoelectric crystal that generates a varying voltageverified
Crystal OscillatornounMWEan oscillator that produces electrical oscillations at a frequency determined by the physical characteristics of a piezoelectric quartz crystalverified
Crystal PickupnounMWEa cartridge in which an output voltage is produced by the vibration of a piezoelectric crystalverified
Crystal TeanounMWEevergreen shrub of eastern North America having white or creamy bell-shaped flowers and dark green hairy leaves used for tea during American Revolutionverified
Crystal VioletnounMWEa green crystal (violet in water) used as a dye or stain or bactericide or fungicide or anthelmintic or burn treatmentverified
Crystallitenounany of numerous minute rudimentary crystalline bodies of unknown composition found in glassy igneous rockverified
Crystallizationnouna mental synthesis that becomes fixed or concrete by a process resembling crystal formationverified
Crystallographynounthe branch of science that studies the formation and structure of crystalsverified
Ctenophorenounbiradially symmetrical hermaphroditic solitary marine animals resembling jellyfishes having for locomotion eight rows of cilia arranged like teeth in a combverified
Cubic DecimeternounMWEa metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditionsverified
Cubic DecimetrenounMWEa metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditionsverified
Cubic KilometernounMWEa unit of capacity equal to the volume of a cube one kilometer on each edgeverified
Cubic KilometrenounMWEa unit of capacity equal to the volume of a cube one kilometer on each edgeverified
Cubic MillimeternounMWEa metric measure of volume or capacity equal to a cube 1 millimeter on each edgeverified
Cubic MillimetrenounMWEa metric measure of volume or capacity equal to a cube 1 millimeter on each edgeverified