The actual cipher string can take several different forms.
It can consist of a single cipher suite such as RC4-SHA.
It can represent a list of cipher suites containing a certain algorithm, or cipher suites of a certain type. For example SHA1 represents all ciphers suites using the digest algorithm SHA1 and SSLv3 represents all SSL v3 algorithms.
Lists of cipher suites can be combined in a single cipher string using the + character. This is used as a logical and operation. For example SHA1+DES represents all cipher suites containing the SHA1 and the DES algorithms.
Each cipher string can be optionally preceded by the characters !, - or +.
If ! is used then the ciphers are permanently deleted from the list. The ciphers deleted can never reappear in the list even if they are explicitly stated.
If - is used then the ciphers are deleted from the list, but some or all of the ciphers can be added again by later options.
If + is used then the ciphers are moved to the end of the list. This option doesn't add any new ciphers it just moves matching existing ones.
If none of these characters is present then the string is just interpreted as a list of ciphers to be appended to the current preference list. If the list includes any ciphers already present they will be ignored: that is they will not moved to the end of the list.
Additionally the cipher string @STRENGTH can be used at any point to sort the current cipher list in order of encryption algorithm key length.
SSL_RSA_WITH_NULL_MD5 NULL-MD5 SSL_RSA_WITH_NULL_SHA NULL-SHA SSL_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_RC4_40_MD5 EXP-RC4-MD5 SSL_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_MD5 RC4-MD5 SSL_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA RC4-SHA SSL_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_RC2_CBC_40_MD5 EXP-RC2-CBC-MD5 SSL_RSA_WITH_IDEA_CBC_SHA IDEA-CBC-SHA SSL_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA EXP-DES-CBC-SHA SSL_RSA_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA DES-CBC-SHA SSL_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA DES-CBC3-SHA SSL_DH_DSS_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA DH-DSS-DES-CBC-SHA SSL_DH_DSS_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA DH-DSS-DES-CBC3-SHA SSL_DH_RSA_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA DH-RSA-DES-CBC-SHA SSL_DH_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA DH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA SSL_DHE_DSS_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA EXP-EDH-DSS-DES-CBC-SHA SSL_DHE_DSS_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA EDH-DSS-CBC-SHA SSL_DHE_DSS_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA EDH-DSS-DES-CBC3-SHA SSL_DHE_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA EXP-EDH-RSA-DES-CBC-SHA SSL_DHE_RSA_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA EDH-RSA-DES-CBC-SHA SSL_DHE_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA SSL_DH_anon_EXPORT_WITH_RC4_40_MD5 EXP-ADH-RC4-MD5 SSL_DH_anon_WITH_RC4_128_MD5 ADH-RC4-MD5 SSL_DH_anon_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA EXP-ADH-DES-CBC-SHA SSL_DH_anon_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA ADH-DES-CBC-SHA SSL_DH_anon_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA ADH-DES-CBC3-SHA SSL_FORTEZZA_KEA_WITH_NULL_SHA Not implemented. SSL_FORTEZZA_KEA_WITH_FORTEZZA_CBC_SHA Not implemented. SSL_FORTEZZA_KEA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA Not implemented.
TLS_RSA_WITH_NULL_MD5 NULL-MD5 TLS_RSA_WITH_NULL_SHA NULL-SHA TLS_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_RC4_40_MD5 EXP-RC4-MD5 TLS_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_MD5 RC4-MD5 TLS_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA RC4-SHA TLS_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_RC2_CBC_40_MD5 EXP-RC2-CBC-MD5 TLS_RSA_WITH_IDEA_CBC_SHA IDEA-CBC-SHA TLS_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA EXP-DES-CBC-SHA TLS_RSA_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA DES-CBC-SHA TLS_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA DES-CBC3-SHA TLS_DH_DSS_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA Not implemented. TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA Not implemented. TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA Not implemented. TLS_DH_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA Not implemented. TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA Not implemented. TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA Not implemented. TLS_DHE_DSS_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA EXP-EDH-DSS-DES-CBC-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA EDH-DSS-CBC-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA EDH-DSS-DES-CBC3-SHA TLS_DHE_RSA_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA EXP-EDH-RSA-DES-CBC-SHA TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA EDH-RSA-DES-CBC-SHA TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA TLS_DH_anon_EXPORT_WITH_RC4_40_MD5 EXP-ADH-RC4-MD5 TLS_DH_anon_WITH_RC4_128_MD5 ADH-RC4-MD5 TLS_DH_anon_EXPORT_WITH_DES40_CBC_SHA EXP-ADH-DES-CBC-SHA TLS_DH_anon_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA ADH-DES-CBC-SHA TLS_DH_anon_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA ADH-DES-CBC3-SHA
TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA AES128-SHA TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA AES256-SHA TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA DH-DSS-AES128-SHA TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA DH-DSS-AES256-SHA TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA DH-RSA-AES128-SHA TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA DH-RSA-AES256-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA DHE-DSS-AES128-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA DHE-DSS-AES256-SHA TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA TLS_DH_anon_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA ADH-AES128-SHA TLS_DH_anon_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA ADH-AES256-SHA
TLS_RSA_WITH_CAMELLIA_128_CBC_SHA CAMELLIA128-SHA TLS_RSA_WITH_CAMELLIA_256_CBC_SHA CAMELLIA256-SHA TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_CAMELLIA_128_CBC_SHA DH-DSS-CAMELLIA128-SHA TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_CAMELLIA_256_CBC_SHA DH-DSS-CAMELLIA256-SHA TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_CAMELLIA_128_CBC_SHA DH-RSA-CAMELLIA128-SHA TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_CAMELLIA_256_CBC_SHA DH-RSA-CAMELLIA256-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_CAMELLIA_128_CBC_SHA DHE-DSS-CAMELLIA128-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_CAMELLIA_256_CBC_SHA DHE-DSS-CAMELLIA256-SHA TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_CAMELLIA_128_CBC_SHA DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA128-SHA TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_CAMELLIA_256_CBC_SHA DHE-RSA-CAMELLIA256-SHA TLS_DH_anon_WITH_CAMELLIA_128_CBC_SHA ADH-CAMELLIA128-SHA TLS_DH_anon_WITH_CAMELLIA_256_CBC_SHA ADH-CAMELLIA256-SHA
TLS_RSA_WITH_SEED_CBC_SHA SEED-SHA TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_SEED_CBC_SHA DH-DSS-SEED-SHA TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_SEED_CBC_SHA DH-RSA-SEED-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_SEED_CBC_SHA DHE-DSS-SEED-SHA TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_SEED_CBC_SHA DHE-RSA-SEED-SHA TLS_DH_anon_WITH_SEED_CBC_SHA ADH-SEED-SHA
TLS_GOSTR341094_WITH_28147_CNT_IMIT GOST94-GOST89-GOST89 TLS_GOSTR341001_WITH_28147_CNT_IMIT GOST2001-GOST89-GOST89 TLS_GOSTR341094_WITH_NULL_GOSTR3411 GOST94-NULL-GOST94 TLS_GOSTR341001_WITH_NULL_GOSTR3411 GOST2001-NULL-GOST94
TLS_RSA_EXPORT1024_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA EXP1024-DES-CBC-SHA TLS_RSA_EXPORT1024_WITH_RC4_56_SHA EXP1024-RC4-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_EXPORT1024_WITH_DES_CBC_SHA EXP1024-DHE-DSS-DES-CBC-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_EXPORT1024_WITH_RC4_56_SHA EXP1024-DHE-DSS-RC4-SHA TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_RC4_128_SHA DHE-DSS-RC4-SHA
TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_NULL_SHA ECDH-RSA-NULL-SHA TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA ECDH-RSA-RC4-SHA TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA ECDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA ECDH-RSA-AES128-SHA TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA ECDH-RSA-AES256-SHA TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_NULL_SHA ECDH-ECDSA-NULL-SHA TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA ECDH-ECDSA-RC4-SHA TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA ECDH-ECDSA-DES-CBC3-SHA TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA ECDH-ECDSA-AES128-SHA TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA ECDH-ECDSA-AES256-SHA TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_NULL_SHA ECDHE-RSA-NULL-SHA TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA ECDHE-RSA-RC4-SHA TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA ECDHE-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_NULL_SHA ECDHE-ECDSA-NULL-SHA TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_RC4_128_SHA ECDHE-ECDSA-RC4-SHA TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA ECDHE-ECDSA-DES-CBC3-SHA TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-SHA TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-SHA TLS_ECDH_anon_WITH_NULL_SHA AECDH-NULL-SHA TLS_ECDH_anon_WITH_RC4_128_SHA AECDH-RC4-SHA TLS_ECDH_anon_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA AECDH-DES-CBC3-SHA TLS_ECDH_anon_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA AECDH-AES128-SHA TLS_ECDH_anon_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA AECDH-AES256-SHA
TLS_RSA_WITH_NULL_SHA256 NULL-SHA256 TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 AES128-SHA256 TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256 AES256-SHA256 TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 DH-RSA-AES128-SHA256 TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256 DH-RSA-AES256-SHA256 TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 DH-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_DH_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 DH-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 DH-DSS-AES128-SHA256 TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256 DH-DSS-AES256-SHA256 TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 DH-DSS-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_DH_DSS_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 DH-DSS-AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256 TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256 DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA256 TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 DHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_DHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 DHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 DHE-DSS-AES128-SHA256 TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256 DHE-DSS-AES256-SHA256 TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 DHE-DSS-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_DHE_DSS_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 DHE-DSS-AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 ECDH-RSA-AES128-SHA256 TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA384 ECDH-RSA-AES256-SHA384 TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 ECDH-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_ECDH_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 ECDH-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 ECDH-ECDSA-AES128-SHA256 TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA384 ECDH-ECDSA-AES256-SHA384 TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 ECDH-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_ECDH_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 ECDH-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256 TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA384 ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA384 TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-SHA256 TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA384 ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-SHA384 TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384 TLS_DH_anon_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA256 ADH-AES128-SHA256 TLS_DH_anon_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA256 ADH-AES256-SHA256 TLS_DH_anon_WITH_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 ADH-AES128-GCM-SHA256 TLS_DH_anon_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 ADH-AES256-GCM-SHA384
TLS_PSK_WITH_RC4_128_SHA PSK-RC4-SHA TLS_PSK_WITH_3DES_EDE_CBC_SHA PSK-3DES-EDE-CBC-SHA TLS_PSK_WITH_AES_128_CBC_SHA PSK-AES128-CBC-SHA TLS_PSK_WITH_AES_256_CBC_SHA PSK-AES256-CBC-SHA
SSL_CK_RC4_128_WITH_MD5 RC4-MD5 SSL_CK_RC4_128_EXPORT40_WITH_MD5 Not implemented. SSL_CK_RC2_128_CBC_WITH_MD5 RC2-CBC-MD5 SSL_CK_RC2_128_CBC_EXPORT40_WITH_MD5 Not implemented. SSL_CK_IDEA_128_CBC_WITH_MD5 IDEA-CBC-MD5 SSL_CK_DES_64_CBC_WITH_MD5 Not implemented. SSL_CK_DES_192_EDE3_CBC_WITH_MD5 DES-CBC3-MD5
openssl ciphers -v 'ALL:eNULL'
Include all ciphers except NULL and anonymous DH then sort by strength:
openssl ciphers -v 'ALL:!ADH:@STRENGTH'
Include all ciphers except ones with no encryption (eNULL) or no authentication (aNULL):
openssl ciphers -v 'ALL:!aNULL'
Include only 3DES ciphers and then place RSA ciphers last:
openssl ciphers -v '3DES:+RSA'
Include all RC4 ciphers but leave out those without authentication:
openssl ciphers -v 'RC4:!COMPLEMENTOFDEFAULT'
Include all chiphers with RSA authentication but leave out ciphers without encryption.
openssl ciphers -v 'RSA:!COMPLEMENTOFALL'