Re: [Hash] Charter discussion, round 1

Ben Laurie <ben@algroup.co.uk> Tue, 28 June 2005 15:54 UTC

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Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 16:54:15 +0100
From: Ben Laurie <ben@algroup.co.uk>
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To: Paul Hoffman <paul.hoffman@vpnc.org>
Subject: Re: [Hash] Charter discussion, round 1
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Paul Hoffman wrote:
> At 1:01 PM +0100 6/27/05, Ben Laurie wrote:
> 
>> Russ Housley wrote:
>>
>>> Perhaps "as a parameter to the algorithm identifier" captures the 
>>> intent even better.  It would read:
>>>
>>>   2) Including a random value in the hash function computation. The
>>>      random block used is transferred as a parameter to the algorithm
>>>      identifier.  This approach is sometimes called a "salted" or
>>>      "randomized" hash function.
>>
>>
>> It strikes me as weird, describing it as a parameter to the algorithm 
>> identifier - firstly, it seems this wording is derived from where you 
>> want to fit it into ASN.1
> 
> 
> ... and PGP and IKE and other protocols that have parameters for crypto 
> functions.

I've managed to avoid IKE (so far) but PGP doesn't have parameters for 
crypto functions.

>> , and secondly, why constrain it in this way? A protocol could easily 
>> transfer the random value somewhere other than in the algorithm 
>> identification.
> 
> You may be right, but I'm not convinced about "easily".

I'm pretty sure its easy. What isn't so easy is changing all the 
applications to understand the modified protocol.

> Do you have different wording that would help, for example, TLS use 
> these kinds of functions if we define them?

'Including a random value in the hash function computation.  The random 
block used is transferred at appropriate points in the protocol (ideally 
once for each use of the hash function).  This approach is sometimes 
called a "salted" or "randomized" hash function.'

And now I'm thinking harder about this, we also should say that care 
needs to be taken that the right party chooses the random value (or it 
may be that both (all?) parties should choose it in some cases) - since 
allowing the attacker to choose it would be bad.

Cheers,

Ben.

-- 
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