FortiGate encryption algorithm cipher suites

FortiGates use SSL/TLS encryption for HTTPS and SSH administrative access, and SSL VPN remote access. When establishing an SSL/TLS or SSH connection, you can control the encryption level and the ciphers that are used in order to control the security level.

HTTPS access

HTTP administrative access encryption is controlled using the following commands:

config system global
    set strong-crypto {enable | disable}
    set admin-https-ssl-versions {tlsv1-1 tlsv1-2 tlsv1-3}
    set admin-https-ssl-ciphersuites {<cipher_1> ... <cipher_n>}
    set admin-https-ssl-banned-ciphers {<cipher_1> ... <cipher_n>}
end

When strong encryption is enabled, only TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 are allowed. If strong encryption is then disabled, TLS 1.1 has to be manually enabled.

Setting admin-https-ssl-ciphersuites controls which cipher suites are offered in TLS 1.3. TLS 1.2 and lower are not affected by this command. To disable all TLS 1.3 cipher suites, remove TLS1-3 from admin-https-ssl-versions.

Setting admin-https-ssl-banned-ciphers controls which cipher technologies will not be offered for TLS 1.2 and lower.

Specific cipher suites are supported by each TLS version:

TLS version	Supported cipher suites
TLS 1.11	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA1	AES256-SHA1
	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA1	AES128-SHA1
TLS 1.2	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384	AES256-GCM-SHA3841
	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256	AES128-GCM-SHA2561
	ECDHE-RSA-CHACHA20-POLY1305	AES256-SHA256
	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA384	AES128-SHA256
	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256	AES256-SHA1
	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA1	AES128-SHA1
	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA1
TLS 1.3	TLS-AES-128-GCM-SHA256	TLS-AES-128-CCM-8-SHA256
	TLS-AES-256-GCM-SHA384	TLS-CHACHA20-POLY1305-SHA256
	TLS-AES-128-CCM-SHA256

¹ Disabled if strong encryption (strong-crypto) is enabled.

SSH access

SSH access encryption is controlled using the following command:

config system global
    set admin-ssh-v1 {enable | disable}
    set strong-crypto {enable | disable} 
    set ssh-enc-algo <algo_1> [<algo_2> ... <algo_n>]
    set ssh-kex-algo <algo_1> [<algo_2> ... <algo_n>]
    set ssh-mac-algo <algo_1> [<algo_2> ... <algo_n>]
end

The algorithms available when configuring set ssh-enc-algo are affected by set strong-crypto as follows:

Strong encryption setting	Supported ciphers
Enabled	chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com	aes256-ctr
	aes256-gcm@openssh.com
Disabled	chacha20-poly1305@openssh.com	aes128-ctr
	aes192-ctr	aes256-ctr
	arcfour256	arcfour128
	aes128-cbc	3des-cbc
	blowfish-cbc	cast128-cbc
	aes192-cbc	aes256-cbc
	arcfour	rijndael-cbc@lysator.liu.se
	aes128-gcm@openssh.com	aes256-gcm@openssh.com

The following options are available for the ssh-kex-algo algorithm based on the strong encryption setting:

Strong encryption setting	Supported ciphers
Enabled	diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256	curve25519-sha256@libssh.org
	ecdh-sha2-nistp256	ecdh-sha2-nistp384
	ecdh-sha2-nistp521
Disabled	diffie-hellman-group14-sha1	diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1
	diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256	curve25519-sha256@libssh.org
	ecdh-sha2-nistp256	ecdh-sha2-nistp384
	ecdh-sha2-nistp521

The following options are available for the ssh-mac-algo algorithm based on the strong encryption setting:

Strong encryption setting	Supported ciphers
Enabled	hmac-sha2-256	hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com
	hmac-sha2-512	hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com
Disabled	hmac-md5	hmac-md5-etm@openssh.com
	hmac-md5-96	hmac-md5-96-etm@openssh.com
	hmac-sha1	hmac-sha1-etm@openssh.com
	hmac-sha2-256	hmac-sha2-256-etm@openssh.com
	hmac-sha2-512	hmac-sha2-512-etm@openssh.com
	hmac-ripemd160	hmac-ripemd160@openssh.com
	hmac-ripemd160-etm@openssh.com	umac-64@openssh.com
	umac-128@openssh.com	umac-64-etm@openssh.com
	umac-128-etm@openssh.com

SSL VPN

For SSL VPN connections, the TLS versions and cipher suites are controlled using the following commands:

config vpn ssl setting
    set algorithm {high | medium | low}
    set ssl-max-proto-ver {tls1-0 | tls1-1 | tls1-2 | tls1-3}
    set ssl-min-proto-ver {tls1-0 | tls1-1 | tls1-2 | tls1-3}
    set ciphersuite {TLS-AES-128-GCM-SHA256 TLS-AES-256-GCM-SHA384 TLS-CHACHA20-POLY1305-SHA256 TLS-AES-128-CCM-SHA256 TLS-AES-128-CCM-8-SHA256}
end

Only cipher suites supported by TLS 1.3 can be set using the set ciphersuite command.

When the SSL VPN security level (algorithm) is set to high, only high levels are allowed. When it is set to medium, high and medium levels are allowed. When it is set to low, any level is allowed.

The strong encryption (strong-crypto) command has no effect on the SSL VPN encryption level or ciphers.

Specific cipher suites are supported by each TLS version:

TLS version	Supported cipher suites
TLS 1.0	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA	DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA128-SHA
	DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA	AES128-SHA
	DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA256-SHA	SEED-SHA1
	AES256-SHA	CAMELLIA128-SHA
	CAMELLIA256-SHA	ECDHE-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA1*
	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA	EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA1*
	DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA1	DES-CBC3-SHA1*
	DHE-RSA-SEED-SHA
TLS 1.1	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA	DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA128-SHA
	DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA	AES128-SHA
	DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA256-SHA	SEED-SHA1
	AES256-SHA	CAMELLIA128-SHA
	CAMELLIA256-SHA	ECDHE-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA1*
	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA	EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA1*
	DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA	DES-CBC3-SHA1*
	DHE-RSA-SEED-SHA1
TLS 1.2	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA
	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA384	DHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256
	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA	DHE-RSA-AES128-CCM8
	DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384	DHE-RSA-AES128-CCM
	ECDHE-RSA-CHACHA20-POLY1305	AES128-CCM8
	DHE-RSA-CHACHA20-POLY1305	AES128-CCM
	DHE-RSA-AES256-CCM8	DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256
	DHE-RSA-AES256-CCM	DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA
	DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA256	ECDHE-RSA-CAMELLIA128-SHA256
	DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA	DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA128-SHA256
	ECDHE-RSA-CAMELLIA256-SHA384	DHE-RSA-SEED-SHA1
	DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA256-SHA256	DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA128-SHA
	DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA256-SHA	AES128-GCM-SHA256
	AES256-GCM-SHA384	AES128-SHA256
	AES256-CCM8	AES128-SHA
	AES256-CCM	CAMELLIA128-SHA256
	AES256-SHA256	SEED-SHA1
	AES256-SHA	CAMELLIA128-SHA
	CAMELLIA256-SHA256	ARIA128-GCM-SHA256
	CAMELLIA256-SHA	DHE-RSA-ARIA128-GCM-SHA256
	ARIA256-GCM-SHA384	ECDHE-ARIA128-GCM-SHA256
	DHE-RSA-ARIA256-GCM-SHA384	ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384
	ECDHE-ARIA256-GCM-SHA384	ECDHE-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA1*
	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256	EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA1*
	ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256	DES-CBC3-SHA1*
TLS 1.3	TLS_AES_256_GCM_SHA384	TLS_AES_128_CCM_SHA256
	TLS_CHACHA20_POLY1305_SHA256	TLS_AES_128_CCM_8_SHA256
	TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256

¹ This cipher is not available when the SSL VPN security level (algorithm) is set to high.

^* This cipher is not available when the SSL VPN security level (algorithm) is set to medium.

Additional features

Security hardening for other FortiOS features can also be achieved by managing the encryption level or ciphers. See SSL algorithm security level for more information about different levels of security.

An asterisk (*) represents the default values for each feature.

Some of these features are described next.

WAN optimization

For WAN optimization tunnel connections, the encryption algorithm is controlled using the following commands:

config wanopt settings
    set tunnel-ssl-algorithm {high* | medium | low}
end

Explicit FTP proxy

For explicit FTP proxy, the encryption algorithm is controlled using the following commands:

config ftp-proxy explicit
    set ssl-algorithm { high* | medium | low}
end

Explicit web proxy

For explicit web proxy, the encryption algorithm is controlled using the following commands:

config web-proxy explicit
    set ssl-algorithm {high | medium | low*}
end

SSL Server

For SSL server, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config firewall ssl-server
    edit <name>
        set ssl-algorithm {high* |medium | low}
        set ssl-max-version {tls-1.0* |tls-1.1 | tls-1.2 | tls-1.3}
        set ssl-min-version {tls-1.0 |tls-1.1 | tls-1.2 | tls-1.3*}
    next
end

VIP

For VIP, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config firewall vip
        set ssl-max-version {ssl-3.0|tls-1.1 | tls1-2 | tls-1.3* | client}
        set ssl-min-version {ssl-3.0|tls-1.1* | tls1-2 | tls-1.3 |client}
        set ssl-algorithm {high* | medium | low | custom}
        config ssl-cipher-suites
            edit <priority>
                set cipher {TLS-AES-128-GCM-SHA256 | TLS-AES-256-GCM-SHA384|...}
                set versions {option1}, {option2}, ...
            next
        end
        set ssl-server-max-version [ssl-3.0|tls-1.1 | tls1-2 | tls-1.3 | client*}        
        set ssl-server-min-version [ssl-3.0|tls-1.1 | tls1-2 | tls-1.3 | client*}

        set ssl-server-algorithm {high | medium | low | custom | client* }
        config ssl-server-cipher-suites
            edit <priority>
                set cipher {TLS-AES-128-GCM-SHA256 | TLS-AES-256-GCM-SHA384|...}
                set versions {option1}, {option2}, ...
            next
        end
    next
end

The command config ssl-cipher-suites is available only under certain conditions: When set type is set to either server-load-balance or access-proxy When set ssl-algorithm is set to custom Similarly, the command config ssl-server-cipher-suites is available only under certain conditions: When set type is set to server-load-balance When set ssl-mode is set to full When set ssl-algorithm is set to custom

VoIP

For VoIP, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config voip profile
      edit <name>
     config sip
        set ssl-algorithm {high* |medium | low}
        set ssl-max-version {ssl-3.0 | tls-1.0* |tls-1.1 | tls-1.2 | tls-1.3}
        set ssl-min-version {ssl-3.0 | tls-1.0 |tls-1.1 | tls-1.2 | tls-1.3*}
    next
end

SSL algorithm security level

Option	Description
high	High encryption. Allow only AES and ChaCha.
medium	Medium encryption. Allow AES, ChaCha, 3DES, and RC4.
low	Low encryption. Allow AES, ChaCha, 3DES, RC4, and DES.
*custom	Custom encryption. Use ssl-server-cipher-suites to select the cipher suites that are allowed.
*client	Use the same encryption algorithms for both client and server sessions.

The SSL algorithm security levels marked with an asterisk (*) are not supported across different FortiOS features.

Other Products

The security level of communication to and from FortiOS can be managed by controlling the encryption level and ciphers used. See Encryption algorithm security level for more information about different levels of security.

An asterisk (*) represents the default value for each product.

Some products that commonly interact with the FortiGate device are listed next.

syslog server

For syslog server, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config log syslogd setting
    set enc-algorithm {high-medium | high | low | disable*}
    set ssl-min-proto-version {default* | SSLv3 | TLSv1 | TLSv1-1 | TLSv1-2}
end
config log syslogd override-setting
    set enc-algorithm {high-medium | high | low | disable*}
    set ssl-min-proto-version {default* | SSLv3 | TLSv1 | TLSv1-1 | TLSv1-2}
end

The command ssl-min-proto-version set to default means that the system global setting will be followed.

FortiCloud

For logging to FortiCloud, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config log fortiguard setting
    set enc-algorithm {high-medium | high* | low}
    set ssl-min-proto-version {default* | SSLv3 | TLSv1 | TLSv1-1 | TLSv1-2}
end

FortiAnalyzer Cloud

For FortiAnalyzer Cloud, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config log fortianalyzer-cloud setting
    set enc-algorithm {high-medium | high* | low}
    set ssl-min-proto-version {default* | SSLv3 | TLSv1 | TLSv1-1 | TLSv1-2 | TLSv1-3}
end

FortiAnalyzer

For FortiAnalyzer, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config log fortianalyzer setting
    set enc-algorithm {high-medium | high* | low}
    set ssl-min-proto-version {default* | SSLv3 | TLSv1 | TLSv1-1 | TLSv1-2 | TLSv1-3}
end
config log fortianalyzer override-setting
    set enc-algorithm {high-medium | high* | low}
    set ssl-min-proto-version {default* | SSLv3 | TLSv1 | TLSv1-1 | TLSv1-2 | TLSv1-3}
end

FortiSandbox

For FortiSandbox, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config system fortisandbox
    set enc-algorithm {default* | high | low}
    set ssl-min-proto-version {default* | SSLv3 | TLSv1 | TLSv1-1 | TLSv1-2}
end

FortiManager

For central management, the TLS versions and the encryption algorithm are controlled using the following commands:

config system central-management
    set enc-algorithm {default | high* | low}
end

Encryption algorithm security level

Option	Description
*high-medium/ default	SSL communication with high and medium encryption algorithms.
high	SSL communication with high encryption algorithm
low	SSL communication with low encryption algorithms.
*disable	Disable SSL communication.

Encryption algorithm security levels marked with an asterisk (*) are not supported across different products.