Re: [saag] NIST requests comments on using ISO/IEC 19790:2012 as the U.S. Federal Standard for cryptographic modules

Russ Housley <housley@vigilsec.com> Mon, 17 August 2015 18:48 UTC

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From: Russ Housley <housley@vigilsec.com>
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Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2015 14:48:08 -0400
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To: William Whyte <wwhyte@securityinnovation.com>
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Subject: Re: [saag] NIST requests comments on using ISO/IEC 19790:2012 as the U.S. Federal Standard for cryptographic modules
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It is not clear to me that the use of ISO/IEC 19790 offers any improvement for the people that make crypto modules or the people that purchase crypto modules.  The specification being behind a paywall means that fewer people will know what it says.  Since the existing FIPS documents are freely available online, this seems to me to be a move in the wrong direction.

Russ


On Aug 17, 2015, at 12:21 PM, William Whyte wrote:

> In fairness, NIST explicitly call this out themselves at https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/08/12/2015-19743/government-use-of-standards-for-security-and-conformance-requirements-for-cryptographic-algorithm: 
> 
>  NIST is also interested in feedback on the impacts of a potential U.S. Government requirement for use and conformance using a standard with a fee-based model where organizations must purchase copies of the ISO/IEC 19790:2014.
> 
> William
> 
> On Sat, Aug 15, 2015 at 8:50 AM, Stephen Farrell <stephen.farrell@cs.tcd.ie> wrote:
> 
> 
> On 15/08/15 12:24, David Lloyd-Jones wrote:
> > What is it you have "heard," Stephen, that has given Phil this avalanche of
> > "reason to object"?
> 
> I already said that I have been told that the ISO spec is behind
> a paywall, that is all. And now I've said it twice:-)
> 
> Whether or not that's a deal for folks who've previously been
> willing to subject themselves to FIPS140 fun is a reasonable
> question. But it's also reasonable to point out that that is
> a barrier to broad, open review.
> 
> And of course, if you care about any of this, then telling
> NIST what you think is the correct action.
> 
> S.