Summary
|
| Name |
PKCS #7 Cryptographic Message File |
| Version |
|
| Other names |
|
| Identifiers |
MIME:
application/pkcs7-mime
MIME:
application/pkcs7-signature
PUID:
fmt/670
|
| Family |
|
| Classification |
Text (Structured) |
| Disclosure |
|
| Description |
PKCS #7 Cryptographic Message File is a form of electronic signature used to secure messages that can only be read by the intended recipient. PKCS #7 describes a general syntax for data that may have cryptography applied to it, such as digital signatures and digital envelopes. PKCS #7 is one of the family of standards called Public-Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS) devised and published by RSA Security Inc, starting in the early 1990s; storing signed and/or encrypted data, usually attached to an email message that includes an S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) digital signature. The extension .p7s usually refers to PKCS #7 Signature Files; .p7m usually refers to PKCS #7 MIME Files; and .p7b usually refers to PKCS #7 Certificate Files. The research of this format is still ongoing, please contact the PRONOM team if you how any more information regarding this format. |
| Orientation |
|
| Byte order |
|
| Related file formats |
Has lower priority than ZFO (Message) File
Has lower priority than ZFO (Sent Message) File
Has lower priority than ZFO (Proof of Delivery) File
Has priority over Extensible Markup Language (1.0)
|
| Technical Environment |
|
| Released |
|
| Supported until |
|
| Format Risk |
|
| Developed by |
None.
|
| Supported by |
None.
|
| Source |
 Digital Preservation Department / The National Archives
|
| Source date |
23 Sep 2014 |
| Source description |
11/2023 (v.116)- Priority over fmt/101 added. Internally researched. |
| Last updated |
16 Nov 2023 |
| Note |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PKCS_7
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PKCS
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S/MIME
https://www.cryptomathic.com/news-events/blog/introduction-to-digital-signatures-and-pkcs-7
https://comodosslstore.com/resources/what-is-an-smime-p7s-file-attachment-and-how-do-i-open-it/ |
Details: File format summary
: detailed report on file format 
Top of page