Curing agent for silicone rubber masses, containing a compound with the general structural formula R 1 m Si 4-m, wherein each R 1 independently represents an optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, an optionally substituted straight-chain or branched chain C2 to C16 alkenyl group or an optionally substituted C4 to C14 aryl group, m is an integer from 0 to 2, wherein (a) R is a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester residue having the general structural formula: wherein R 2 represents an optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, a C4 to C14 cycloalkyl group or a C5 to C15 aralkyl group or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent, or (b) the general structural formula R 1 m Si 4-m is or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent, wherein R 2 is as defined above, or (c) R is a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester residue having the general structural formula wherein R 2 represents an optionally substituted, straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, a C4 to C14 cycloalkyl group, a C5 to C15 aralkyl group or a C4 to C14 aryl group, Z is -(CR 3 R 4) n -, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 10, or Z is an optionally substituted saturated or partially unsaturated cyclic ring system with 4 to 14 C atoms, each of R 3 and R 4 is independently H or an optionally substituted straight or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group or a C4 to C14 aryl group, and n is an integer from 2 to 10 or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent. each R 1 independently represents an optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, an optionally substituted straight-chain or branched chain C2 to C16 alkenyl group or an optionally substituted C4 to C14 aryl group, m is an integer from 0 to 2, wherein (a) R is a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester residue having the general structural formula: wherein R 2 represents an optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, a C4 to C14 cycloalkyl group or a C5 to C15 aralkyl group or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent, or (b) the general structural formula R 1 m Si 4-m is or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent, wherein R 2 is as defined above, or (c) R is a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester residue having the general structural formula wherein R 2 represents an optionally substituted, straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, a C4 to C14 cycloalkyl group, a C5 to C15 aralkyl group or a C4 to C14 aryl group, Z is -(CR 3 R 4) n -, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 10, or Z is an optionally substituted saturated or partially unsaturated cyclic ring system with 4 to 14 C atoms, each of R 3 and R 4 is independently H or an optionally substituted straight or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group or a C4 to C14 aryl group, and n is an integer from 2 to 10 or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent. (a) R is a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester residue having the general structural formula: wherein R 2 represents an optionally substituted straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, a C4 to C14 cycloalkyl group or a C5 to C15 aralkyl group or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent, or (b) the general structural formula R 1 m Si 4-m is or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent, wherein R 2 is as defined above, or (c) R is a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester residue having the general structural formula wherein R 2 represents an optionally substituted, straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, a C4 to C14 cycloalkyl group, a C5 to C15 aralkyl group or a C4 to C14 aryl group, Z is -(CR 3 R 4) n -, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 10, or Z is an optionally substituted saturated or partially unsaturated cyclic ring system with 4 to 14 C atoms, each of R 3 and R 4 is independently H or an optionally substituted straight or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group or a C4 to C14 aryl group, and n is an integer from 2 to 10 or oligomers or polymers of the curing agent. wherein R 2 represents an optionally substituted, straight-chain or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group, a C4 to C14 cycloalkyl group, a C5 to C15 aralkyl group or a C4 to C14 aryl group, Z is -(CR 3 R 4) n -, wherein n is an integer from 2 to 10, or Z is an optionally substituted saturated or partially unsaturated cyclic ring system with 4 to 14 C atoms, each of R 3 and R 4 is independently H or an optionally substituted straight or branched C1 to C16 alkyl group or a C4 to C14 aryl group, and n is an integer from 2 to 10