MCPInstall

cryptotokenkit

Access security tokens and smart cards using CryptoTokenKit. Use when building TKTokenDriver or TKSmartCardTokenDriver extensions, communicating with smart cards via TKSmartCard/TKSmartCardSlotManager, using iOS 26+ NFC smart-card sessions, registering smart cards, querying token-backed keychain items with kSecAttrTokenID, monitoring TKTokenWatcher, or configuring certificate-based smart-card authentication.

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Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill cryptotokenkit
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads cryptotokenkit automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

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

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

TypeRolePlatform
TKTokenDriver / TKToken / TKTokenSessionToken driver, token, and session primitivesiOS 10+, macOS 10.12+
TKSmartCardTokenDriverEntry point for smart card token extensionsiOS 10+, macOS 10.12+; macOS extension flow
TKSmartCard / TKSmartCardSlotManagerLow-level APDU communication and slot discoveryiOS 9+, macOS 10.10+; default is optional
TKTokenWatcherObserves token insertion and removaliOS 10+, macOS 10.12+
TKSmartCardSlotNFCSessionNFC-backed smart card slot sessioniOS/iPadOS 26+
TKSmartCardTokenRegistrationManagerRegisters NFC smart cards for later keychain useiOS/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):

KeyDefaultDescription
allowSmartCardtrueEnable smart card authentication
checkCertificateTrust0Certificate trust level (0-3)
oneCardPerUserfalsePair a single smart card to an account
enforceSmartCardfalseRequire 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:

CodeMeaning
.notImplementedOperation not supported by this token
.communicationErrorCommunication with token failed
.corruptedDataData from token is corrupted
.canceledByUserUser canceled the operation
.authenticationFailedPIN or password incorrect
.objectNotFoundRequested key or certificate not found
.tokenNotFoundToken is no longer present
.authenticationNeededAuthentication 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

FAQ

What does the cryptotokenkit skill do?

Access security tokens and smart cards using CryptoTokenKit. Use when building TKTokenDriver or TKSmartCardTokenDriver extensions, communicating with smart cards via TKSmartCard/TKSmartCardSlotManager, using iOS 26+ NFC smart-card sessions, registering smart cards, querying token-backed keychain items with kSecAttrTokenID, monitoring TKTokenWatcher, or configuring certificate-based smart-card authentication.

How do I install cryptotokenkit?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills --skill cryptotokenkit in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/cryptotokenkit/ (personal) or .claude/skills/cryptotokenkit/ (project).

Which AI agents can use cryptotokenkit?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is cryptotokenkit safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains cryptotokenkit?

It is published by dpearson2699 in dpearson2699/swift-ios-skills. It has 3,082 recorded installs.

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