Critical security parameter

{{Short description|Cryptography concept}}

{{refimprove|date=June 2011}}

In cryptography, a critical security parameter (CSP){{cite web|url=http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/fips140-2/fips1402.pdf|title=FIPS PUB 140-2: Security Requirements for Cryptographic modules|date=2002-12-03|publisher=NIST}} is information that is either user or system defined and is used to operate a cryptography module in processing encryption functions including cryptographic keys and authentication data, such as passwords, the disclosure or modification of which can compromise the security of a cryptographic module or the security of the information protected by the module.