CryptoTokenKit

Use CryptoTokenKit for token driver extensions, smart-card communication, token sessions, token-backed keychain integration, and certificate-based authentication in Swift 6.3 apps.

Platform availability: CryptoTokenKit classes are available across Apple platforms, but capability depends on extension point, entitlement, hardware, and OS version. The smart-card app extension flow for login/keychain unlock is macOS. TKSmartCardSlotManager.default is optional and returns nil unless smart-card access is enabled. iOS/iPadOS 26+ add NFC smart-card slots and registration.

Contents

• Architecture Overview
• Token Extensions
• Token Sessions
• Smart Card Communication
• Keychain Integration
• Certificate Authentication
• Token Watching
• Error Handling
• Common Mistakes
• Review Checklist
• References

Architecture Overview

CryptoTokenKit bridges hardware security tokens (smart cards, USB tokens) with authentication and keychain services. The framework has three main usage modes:

Smart-card token extensions -- macOS app extensions that make a hardware token's cryptographic items available to system login and keychain unlock. The driver handles token lifecycle, session management, and cryptographic operations.

Client-side token access -- Apps query the keychain for items backed by tokens. CryptoTokenKit exposes token items as standard keychain entries when a token is present.

NFC smart-card access -- iOS/iPadOS 26+ apps create a temporary NFC smart card slot and communicate with the presented contactless card through TKSmartCard.

Boundary routing: Own token/smart-card sessions, token-backed keychain items, and certificate-based smart-card auth. Route passkeys/WebAuthn and account sign-in to authentication; route Secure Enclave, CryptoKit primitives, keychain architecture, certificate pinning, and trust policy to swift-security.

Key Types

Type	Role	Platform
TKTokenDriver / TKToken / TKTokenSession	Token driver, token, and session primitives	iOS 10+, macOS 10.12+
TKSmartCardTokenDriver	Entry point for smart card token extensions	iOS 10+, macOS 10.12+; macOS extension flow
TKSmartCard / TKSmartCardSlotManager	Low-level APDU communication and slot discovery	iOS 9+, macOS 10.10+; default is optional
TKTokenWatcher	Observes token insertion and removal	iOS 10+, macOS 10.12+
TKSmartCardSlotNFCSession	NFC-backed smart card slot session	iOS/iPadOS 26+
TKSmartCardTokenRegistrationManager	Registers NFC smart cards for later keychain use	iOS/iPadOS 26+

Token Extensions

For system login and keychain unlock on macOS, a token driver is an app extension that makes a hardware token's cryptographic capabilities available to the system. The host app exists only as a delivery mechanism for the extension.

A smart card token extension has three core classes:

1. TokenDriver (subclass of TKSmartCardTokenDriver) -- entry point
2. Token (subclass of TKSmartCardToken) -- represents the token
3. TokenSession (subclass of TKSmartCardTokenSession) -- handles operations

Driver Class

import CryptoTokenKit

final class TokenDriver: TKSmartCardTokenDriver, TKSmartCardTokenDriverDelegate {
    func tokenDriver(
        _ driver: TKSmartCardTokenDriver,
        createTokenFor smartCard: TKSmartCard,
        aid: Data?
    ) throws -> TKSmartCardToken {
        return try Token(
            smartCard: smartCard,
            aid: aid,
            instanceID: "com.example.token:\(smartCard.slot.name)",
            tokenDriver: driver
        )
    }
}

Token Class

The token reads certificates and keys from hardware and populates its keychain contents:

final class Token: TKSmartCardToken, TKTokenDelegate {
    init(
        smartCard: TKSmartCard, aid: Data?,
        instanceID: String, tokenDriver: TKSmartCardTokenDriver
    ) throws {
        try super.init(
            smartCard: smartCard, aid: aid,
            instanceID: instanceID, tokenDriver: tokenDriver
        )
        self.delegate = self

        let certData = try readCertificate(from: smartCard)
        guard let cert = SecCertificateCreateWithData(nil, certData as CFData) else {
            throw TKError(.corruptedData)
        }

        let certItem = TKTokenKeychainCertificate(certificate: cert, objectID: "cert-auth")
        let keyItem = TKTokenKeychainKey(certificate: cert, objectID: "key-auth")
        keyItem?.canSign = true
        keyItem?.canDecrypt = false
        keyItem?.isSuitableForLogin = true

        self.keychainContents?.fill(with: [certItem!, keyItem!])
    }

    func createSession(_ token: TKToken) throws -> TKTokenSession {
        TokenSession(token: token)
    }
}

Info.plist and Registration

The extension's Info.plist must name the driver class:

NSExtension
  NSExtensionAttributes
    com.apple.ctk.driver-class = $(PRODUCT_MODULE_NAME).TokenDriver
  NSExtensionPointIdentifier = com.apple.ctk-tokens

Register the extension once by launching the host app as _securityagent:

sudo -u _securityagent /Applications/TokenHost.app/Contents/MacOS/TokenHost

Token Sessions

TKTokenSession manages authentication state and performs cryptographic operations via its delegate.

final class TokenSession: TKSmartCardTokenSession, TKTokenSessionDelegate {
    func tokenSession(
        _ session: TKTokenSession,
        supports operation: TKTokenOperation,
        keyObjectID: TKToken.ObjectID,
        algorithm: TKTokenKeyAlgorithm
    ) -> Bool {
        switch operation {
        case .signData:
            return algorithm.isAlgorithm(.rsaSignatureDigestPKCS1v15SHA256)
                || algorithm.isAlgorithm(.ecdsaSignatureDigestX962SHA256)
        case .decryptData:
            return algorithm.isAlgorithm(.rsaEncryptionOAEPSHA256)
        case .performKeyExchange:
            return algorithm.isAlgorithm(.ecdhKeyExchangeStandard)
        default:
            return false
        }
    }

    func tokenSession(
        _ session: TKTokenSession,
        sign dataToSign: Data,
        keyObjectID: TKToken.ObjectID,
        algorithm: TKTokenKeyAlgorithm
    ) throws -> Data {
        let smartCard = try getSmartCard()
        return try smartCard.withSession {
            try performCardSign(smartCard: smartCard, data: dataToSign, keyID: keyObjectID)
        }
    }

    func tokenSession(
        _ session: TKTokenSession,
        decrypt ciphertext: Data,
        keyObjectID: TKToken.ObjectID,
        algorithm: TKTokenKeyAlgorithm
    ) throws -> Data {
        let smartCard = try getSmartCard()
        return try smartCard.withSession {
            try performCardDecrypt(smartCard: smartCard, data: ciphertext, keyID: keyObjectID)
        }
    }
}

PIN Authentication

Return a TKTokenAuthOperation from beginAuthFor: to prompt the user for PIN entry before cryptographic operations:

func tokenSession(
    _ session: TKTokenSession,
    beginAuthFor operation: TKTokenOperation,
    constraint: Any
) throws -> TKTokenAuthOperation {
    let pinAuth = TKTokenSmartCardPINAuthOperation()
    pinAuth.pinFormat.charset = .numeric
    pinAuth.pinFormat.minPINLength = 4
    pinAuth.pinFormat.maxPINLength = 8
    pinAuth.smartCard = (session as? TKSmartCardTokenSession)?.smartCard
    pinAuth.apduTemplate = buildVerifyAPDU()
    pinAuth.pinByteOffset = 5
    return pinAuth
}

Smart Card Communication

TKSmartCard provides low-level APDU communication with smart cards. TKSmartCardSlotManager.default is optional; treat nil as unavailable hardware, missing entitlement/access, or unsupported runtime capability.

Discovering Card Readers

import CryptoTokenKit

func discoverSmartCards() {
    guard let slotManager = TKSmartCardSlotManager.default else {
        print("Smart card services unavailable")
        return
    }

    for slotName in slotManager.slotNames {
        slotManager.getSlot(withName: slotName) { slot in
            guard let slot else { return }
            if slot.state == .validCard, let card = slot.makeSmartCard() {
                communicateWith(card: card)
            }
        }
    }
}

Sending APDU Commands

Use send(ins:p1:p2:data:le:) for structured APDU communication. Always wrap calls in withSession:

func selectApplication(card: TKSmartCard, aid: Data) throws {
    try card.withSession {
        let (sw, response) = try card.send(
            ins: 0xA4, p1: 0x04, p2: 0x00, data: aid, le: nil
        )
        guard sw == 0x9000 else {
            throw TKError(.communicationError)
        }
    }
}

For raw APDU bytes or non-standard formats, use transmit(_:reply:) with manual beginSession/endSession lifecycle management.

NFC Smart Card Sessions (iOS/iPadOS 26+)

On iOS/iPadOS 26+, guard isNFCSupported() before calling createNFCSlot(message:completion:) to communicate with contactless cards:

@available(iOS 26.0, iPadOS 26.0, *)
func readNFCSmartCard() {
    guard let slotManager = TKSmartCardSlotManager.default,
          slotManager.isNFCSupported() else { return }

    slotManager.createNFCSlot(message: "Hold card near iPhone") { session, error in
        guard let session else {
            handleNFCError(error)
            return
        }
        defer { session.end() }

        guard let slotName = session.slotName,
              let slot = slotManager.slotNamed(slotName),
              let card = slot.makeSmartCard() else { return }
        // Communicate with the NFC card using card.send(...)
    }
}

Keychain Integration

When a token is present, CryptoTokenKit exposes its items as standard keychain entries. Query them using the kSecAttrTokenID attribute:

import Security

func findTokenKey(tokenID: String) throws -> SecKey {
    let query: [String: Any] = [
        kSecClass as String: kSecClassKey,
        kSecAttrTokenID as String: tokenID,
        kSecReturnRef as String: true
    ]
    var result: CFTypeRef?
    let status = SecItemCopyMatching(query as CFDictionary, &result)
    guard status == errSecSuccess, let key = result else {
        throw TKError(.objectNotFound)
    }
    return key as! SecKey
}

Use kSecReturnPersistentRef instead of kSecReturnRef to obtain a persistent reference that survives across app launches. The reference becomes invalid when the token is removed -- handle errSecItemNotFound by prompting the user to reinsert the token.

Query certificates the same way with kSecClass: kSecClassCertificate.

Certificate Authentication

Token Key Requirements

For user login, the token must contain at least one key capable of signing with: EC signature digest X962, RSA signature digest PSS, or RSA signature digest PKCS1v15.

For keychain unlock, the token needs:

• 256-bit EC key (kSecAttrKeyTypeECSECPrimeRandom) supporting ecdhKeyExchangeStandard, or
• 2048/3072/4096-bit RSA key (kSecAttrKeyTypeRSA) supporting rsaEncryptionOAEPSHA256 decryption

Smart Card Authentication Preferences (macOS)

Configure in the com.apple.security.smartcard domain (MDM or systemwide):

Key	Default	Description
allowSmartCard	true	Enable smart card authentication
checkCertificateTrust	0	Certificate trust level (0-3)
oneCardPerUser	false	Pair a single smart card to an account
enforceSmartCard	false	Require smart card for login

Trust levels: 0 = trust all, 1 = validity + issuer, 2 = + soft revocation, 3 = + hard revocation.

Token Watching

TKTokenWatcher monitors token insertion and removal. Available on iOS 10+ and macOS 10.12+. Enumerate tokenIDs, install an insertion handler, then add a removal handler for each observed token. Keep the watcher alive for as long as monitoring is required. For slot-level reader state, use Smart Card Slot Monitoring.

Error Handling

CryptoTokenKit operations throw TKError. Key error codes:

Code	Meaning
.notImplemented	Operation not supported by this token
.communicationError	Communication with token failed
.corruptedData	Data from token is corrupted
.canceledByUser	User canceled the operation
.authenticationFailed	PIN or password incorrect
.objectNotFound	Requested key or certificate not found
.tokenNotFound	Token is no longer present
.authenticationNeeded	Authentication required before operation

Common Mistakes

DON'T: Query token keychain items without checking token presence

// WRONG -- query may fail if token was removed
let key = try findTokenKey(tokenID: savedTokenID)

// CORRECT -- verify the token is still present first
let watcher = TKTokenWatcher()
guard watcher.tokenIDs.contains(savedTokenID) else {
    promptUserToInsertToken()
    return
}
let key = try findTokenKey(tokenID: savedTokenID)

DON'T: Treat API availability as an access guarantee

// WRONG -- may be nil without entitlement, hardware, or runtime support
let manager = TKSmartCardSlotManager.default!  // Crashes when unavailable

// CORRECT -- guard availability/access before using smart card slots
guard let manager = TKSmartCardSlotManager.default else {
    print("Smart card services unavailable")
    return
}

DON'T: Skip session management for card communication

// WRONG -- sending commands without a session
card.transmit(apdu) { response, error in /* may fail */ }

// CORRECT -- use withSession or beginSession/endSession
try card.withSession {
    let (sw, response) = try card.send(
        ins: 0xCA, p1: 0x00, p2: 0x6E, data: nil, le: 0
    )
}

DON'T: Ignore status words in APDU responses

// WRONG -- assuming success
let (_, response) = try card.send(ins: 0xA4, p1: 0x04, p2: 0x00, data: aid, le: nil)

// CORRECT -- check status word
let (sw, response) = try card.send(ins: 0xA4, p1: 0x04, p2: 0x00, data: aid, le: nil)
guard sw == 0x9000 else {
    throw SmartCardError.commandFailed(statusWord: sw)
}

DON'T: Hard-code blanket algorithm support

The supports delegate method must reflect what the hardware actually implements. Returning true unconditionally causes runtime failures when the system attempts unsupported operations.

Review Checklist

• Platform availability verified for the exact capability (TKTokenWatcher iOS 10+, NFC smart-card sessions iOS/iPadOS 26+)
• TKSmartCardSlotManager.default guarded for missing entitlement, hardware, or runtime support
• macOS token extension target uses NSExtensionPointIdentifier = com.apple.ctk-tokens
• com.apple.ctk.driver-class set to the correct driver class in Info.plist
• Extension registered via _securityagent launch during installation
• TKTokenSessionDelegate checks specific algorithms, not blanket true
• Smart card sessions opened and closed (withSession or beginSession/endSession)
• APDU status words checked after every send call
• Token presence verified via TKTokenWatcher before keychain queries
• TKError cases handled with appropriate user feedback
• Keychain contents populated with correct objectID values
• TKTokenKeychainKey capabilities (canSign, canDecrypt) match hardware
• Certificate trust level configured appropriately for deployment environment
• errSecItemNotFound handled for persistent references when token is removed
• iOS 26+ NFC sessions ended with TKSmartCardSlotNFCSession.end()

References

• Extended patterns (PIV commands, TLV parsing, generic token drivers, APDU helpers, secure PIN): references/cryptotokenkit-patterns.md
• TKTokenDriver
• TKToken
• TKTokenSession
• TKSmartCard
• TKSmartCardSlotManager
• com.apple.security.smartcard entitlement
• TKSmartCardSlotNFCSession
• TKSmartCardTokenRegistrationManager
• TKTokenWatcher
• Authenticating Users with a Cryptographic Token
• Using Cryptographic Assets Stored on a Smart Card
• Configuring Smart Card Authentication