softhsm ☆

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Description:
Cryptographic store accessible through a PKCS#11 interface

Type: Formula | Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025

Links: Homepage | formulae.brew.sh

Category: Security

Tags: cryptography hsm pkcs11 security development

Install: brew install softhsm

About:
SoftHSM is a software-based Hardware Security Module (HSM) that emulates a physical cryptographic device. It provides a PKCS#11 interface, allowing applications to manage cryptographic keys and perform operations in a secure, isolated environment. This tool is essential for developers needing to test PKCS#11 integrations without access to expensive hardware.

Key Features:

PKCS#11 v2.40 compliant interface
Software emulation of secure hardware
Support for multiple cryptographic algorithms (RSA, ECC, AES)
Secure key storage and management

Use Cases:

Developing and testing applications that require PKCS#11 support
Creating a secure environment for key management without physical hardware
CI/CD pipelines for cryptographic software validation

Alternatives:

OpenSC – OpenSC provides middleware for smart cards, whereas SoftHSM emulates a full HSM in software.
YubiHSM 2 – YubiHSM is a physical hardware device offering higher security assurance than the software-only SoftHSM.

Version History

Detected	Version	Rev	Change	Commit
Sep 11, 2025 5:33am		0	VERSION_BUMP	c8e7cc7c