If the null cipher is used, allow only empty password for LUKS. The cipher_null is no-encryption, it can be used for testing or temporarily when encrypting device (cryptsetup-reencrypt). Accepting only empty password prevents situation when you replace a LUKS header on an unlocking device with the faked header using null cipher (and the same UUID). Here a system could think that the device was properly unlocked (with any entered password) and will try to use this unencrypted partition instead. (IOW it prevents situation when attacker intentionaly forces an user to boot into dirrerent system just by LUKS header manipulation.) Properly configured systems should have an additional integrity protection in place here (LUKS here provides only confidentiality) but it is better to not not allow this situation in the first place. (Despite the fact that once you allow physical tampering of your system it cannot be properly secured anymore.)

Cryptsetup is utility used to conveniently setup disk encryption based on DMCrypt kernel module.
These include plain dm-crypt volumes, LUKS volumes, loop-AES and TrueCrypt (including VeraCrypt extension) format.
Project also includes veritysetup utility used to conveniently setup DMVerity block integrity checking kernel module.
LUKS is the standard for Linux hard disk encryption. By providing a standard on-disk-format, it does not
only facilitate compatibility among distributions, but also provides secure management of multiple user passwords.
In contrast to existing solution, LUKS stores all setup necessary setup information in the partition header,
enabling the user to transport or migrate his data seamlessly.
All release tarballs and release notes are hosted on kernel.org.
The latest cryptsetup version is 1.6.7
Previous versions
For development version code, please refer to source page, mirror on kernel.org or GitHub.
For libcryptsetup documentation see libcryptsetup API page.
NLS PO files are maintained by TranslationProject.
Please always read FAQ first. For cryptsetup and LUKS related questions, please use the dm-crypt mailing list, [email protected].
If you want to subscribe just send an empty mail to [email protected].
You can also browse list archive or read it through web interface.