key recovery

A process for learning the value of a cryptographic key that was previously used to perform some cryptographic operation. (See: cryptanalysis, recovery.)

Techniques that provide an intentional, alternate means to access the key used for data confidentiality service in an encrypted association. [DoD4] (Compare: recovery.)

Tutorial: It is assumed that the cryptographic system includes a primary means of obtaining the key through a key-establishment algorithm or protocol. For the secondary means, there are two classes of key recovery techniques: key encapsulation and key escrow.