The screen is dark except for one red error: FIPS 140-3 User Config Dependent. You know what it means. The module will not pass validation until the configuration matches the security profile.
FIPS 140-3 sets strict rules for cryptographic modules. When you see “User Config Dependent,” it means the module’s security level depends on runtime configuration choices. The code you wrote may be sound, but if the environment is misconfigured, you will fail compliance. This state is common when settings that control algorithm selection, key size, entropy source, or self-tests are not locked to meet the validated FIPS profile.
Every implementation under FIPS 140-3 must define its approved mode of operation. The “User Config Dependent” flag signals that compliance is not guaranteed until certain settings are enforced. This is often tied to conditional features—non-approved algorithms, optional key lengths, or toggles for debug output. If these features are available and not restricted by configuration, the module cannot claim to be in FIPS mode.
In practice, debugging a “User Config Dependent” status requires confirming:
- All approved algorithms are enabled.
- All non-approved algorithms are disabled.
- Keys meet minimum length requirements for the security level.
- RNG and entropy meet the documented requirements.
- Startup self-tests and continuous tests run with no bypass.
Misalignment in any of these areas can shift the module out of compliance. A build might include both FIPS-approved and non-approved ciphers; the operational profile must enforce only the approved set. High-assurance deployments often hardcode these settings and block changes at runtime to eliminate any dependency on user configuration.
The path to a consistent FIPS 140-3 status is to audit configuration at boot time, reject non-compliant settings, and document the approved operational state. Automation here is key. Manual configuration invites deviations and failing states.
The “User Config Dependent” warning is not a failure—it’s a prompt. It tells you that compliance lives or dies in the configuration layer. Resolve it, and your module becomes trustworthy under FIPS 140-3. Leave it, and your certification is an illusion.
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