Re: [Hash] Charter discussion, round 1

Ben Laurie <ben@algroup.co.uk> Mon, 27 June 2005 12:01 UTC

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Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 13:01:34 +0100
From: Ben Laurie <ben@algroup.co.uk>
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To: Russ Housley <housley@vigilsec.com>
Subject: Re: [Hash] Charter discussion, round 1
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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 secondly, why constrain it in this way? A 
protocol could easily transfer the random value somewhere other than in 
the algorithm identification.

Indeed, if the protocol doesn't use algorithm identifiers every time it 
uses a hash (TLS would be an example of this, surely?), you'd be utterly 
screwed by this wording.

Cheers,

Ben.

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