KCV Calculator
Calculate Key Check Values for cryptographic key verification
Common test keys with known KCV values for verification.
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What is the KCV Calculator?
The KCV (Key Check Value) Calculator computes key check values for 3DES and AES cryptographic keys. A KCV is a 3-byte value derived by encrypting a block of zeros with the key, used to verify that a key has been correctly entered or loaded into a Hardware Security Module (HSM).
- Select the key type: 3DES or AES.
- Enter your hexadecimal key.
- Click Calculate to generate the Key Check Value.
- Compare the KCV with the expected value to verify key correctness.
What is a Key Check Value (KCV)?
A KCV is a 3-byte (6 hex character) value computed by encrypting a block of binary zeros with the cryptographic key. It is used to verify that a key has been correctly entered, transmitted, or loaded without revealing the key itself.
How is KCV calculated?
For 3DES keys, the KCV is the first 3 bytes of encrypting 8 bytes of zeros (0000000000000000) using the key in ECB mode. For AES keys, it is the first 3 bytes of encrypting 16 bytes of zeros.