Ed25519ctx In FIPS Provider

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Introduction

The FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) provider is a collection of cryptographic algorithms and protocols that are approved for use in government and other sensitive applications. Recently, Ed25519ctx has been added to the FIPS provider, but its inclusion has raised questions about its validity. In this article, we will examine the FIPS 186-5 standard, ACVP testing, and other relevant information to determine whether Ed25519ctx should be removed from the FIPS provider.

FIPS 186-5 Standard

The FIPS 186-5 standard is a document published by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) that outlines the requirements for digital signature algorithms. Section 7.6 of the standard describes the Ed25519 algorithm, but it does not mention a "ctx" string. This suggests that the FIPS 186-5 standard does not actually specify the Ed25519ctx algorithm.

ACVP Testing

ACVP (Algorithm Validation Program) testing is a process used to validate the implementation of cryptographic algorithms. The ACVP testing framework for Ed25519 does not cover the Ed25519ctx algorithm, and in fact, it has been explicitly disallowed. The code snippet below from the ACVP testing framework shows that the Ed25519ctx algorithm is rejected when the "pure" property is true and the "preHash" property is false.

// 2) we want to reject this specific registration:
//      "preHash": false,
//      "pure": true,
//      "curve" : ["ED-25519"]
//      "contextLength" : [9] <-- the contextLength property can take on any value
if (parameters.ContextLength != null)
{
    if (parameters.Curve.Length == 1
        && parameters.Curve.GetValue(0).Equals("ED-25519")
        && parameters.Pure
        && !parameters.PreHash)
    {
        errors.Add("ContextLength is not a valid registration property for the ED-25519 curve when Pure is true and PreHash false.");
    }
}

Should Ed25519ctx be Removed from the FIPS Provider?

Given the information above, it appears that Ed25519ctx is not actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard and is not covered by ACVP testing. This raises questions about its validity and whether it should be removed from the FIPS provider. In this section, we will discuss the pros and cons of removing Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider.

Pros of Removing Ed25519ctx

  1. Alignment with FIPS 186-5 Standard: By removing Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider, we can ensure that the algorithms included in the provider are actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard.
  2. Improved Security: If Ed25519ctx is not actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard, it may not have undergone the same level of security testing and validation as other algorithms in the provider. Removing it could improve the overall security of the FIPS provider.
  3. Simplified Testing and Validation: By removing Ed25519ctx, we can simplify the testing and validation process for the F provider, as we will no longer need to test and validate this algorithm.

Cons of Removing Ed25519ctx

  1. Impact on Existing Implementations: Removing Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider could have an impact on existing implementations that rely on this algorithm. This could require significant changes to these implementations, which could be time-consuming and costly.
  2. Loss of Flexibility: Ed25519ctx provides a way to customize the Ed25519 algorithm by adding a "ctx" string. Removing it could limit the flexibility of the FIPS provider and make it less useful for certain applications.
  3. Potential for Future Standardization: Although Ed25519ctx is not currently specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard, it may be standardized in the future. Removing it from the FIPS provider could make it more difficult to adopt this algorithm if it becomes standardized.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the inclusion of Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider raises questions about its validity. Given the information above, it appears that Ed25519ctx is not actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard and is not covered by ACVP testing. While there are pros and cons to removing Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider, the potential benefits of improved security and simplified testing and validation may outweigh the potential drawbacks. Therefore, it may be necessary to remove Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider to ensure that the algorithms included in the provider are actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard and have undergone the same level of security testing and validation.

Recommendations

  1. Remove Ed25519ctx from the FIPS Provider: Based on the information above, it appears that Ed25519ctx is not actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard and is not covered by ACVP testing. Therefore, it may be necessary to remove Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider to ensure that the algorithms included in the provider are actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard and have undergone the same level of security testing and validation.
  2. Conduct Further Research: Before making a final decision, it may be necessary to conduct further research on the Ed25519ctx algorithm and its potential impact on existing implementations and the FIPS provider as a whole.
  3. Engage with Stakeholders: It is essential to engage with stakeholders, including developers, users, and other interested parties, to understand their perspectives on the inclusion of Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider and to gather feedback on the potential removal of this algorithm.
    Ed25519ctx in FIPS Provider: A Q&A Article =====================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the inclusion of Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider and raised questions about its validity. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address some of the common questions and concerns related to Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider.

Q: What is Ed25519ctx?

A: Ed25519ctx is a variant of the Ed25519 digital signature algorithm that includes a "ctx" string. This string is used to customize the algorithm and provide additional security features.

Q: Is Ed25519ctx specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard?

A: No, Ed25519ctx is not specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard. Section 7.6 of the standard describes the Ed25519 algorithm, but it does not mention a "ctx" string.

Q: Is Ed25519ctx covered by ACVP testing?

A: No, Ed25519ctx is not covered by ACVP testing. In fact, it has been explicitly disallowed in the ACVP testing framework.

Q: Why is Ed25519ctx included in the FIPS provider if it's not specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard?

A: The inclusion of Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider is likely due to a mistake or oversight. It's possible that the algorithm was included in the provider without proper review or testing.

Q: What are the potential risks of including Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider?

A: The potential risks of including Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider include:

  • Security risks: If Ed25519ctx is not actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard, it may not have undergone the same level of security testing and validation as other algorithms in the provider.
  • Incompatibility issues: Ed25519ctx may not be compatible with existing implementations or systems that rely on the Ed25519 algorithm.
  • Confusion and uncertainty: The inclusion of Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider may cause confusion and uncertainty among developers, users, and other stakeholders.

Q: What are the potential benefits of removing Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider?

A: The potential benefits of removing Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider include:

  • Improved security: By removing Ed25519ctx, we can ensure that the algorithms included in the provider are actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard and have undergone the same level of security testing and validation.
  • Simplified testing and validation: Removing Ed25519ctx can simplify the testing and validation process for the FIPS provider, as we will no longer need to test and validate this algorithm.
  • Reduced confusion and uncertainty: Removing Ed25519ctx can reduce confusion and uncertainty among developers, users, and other stakeholders.

Q: What should be done with Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider?

A: Based on the information above, it appears that Ed25519ctx is not actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard and is covered by ACVP testing. Therefore, it may be necessary to remove Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider to ensure that the algorithms included in the provider are actually specified in the FIPS 186-5 standard and have undergone the same level of security testing and validation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the inclusion of Ed25519ctx in the FIPS provider raises questions about its validity. The potential risks and benefits of including or removing Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider have been discussed above. Ultimately, the decision to remove Ed25519ctx from the FIPS provider should be based on a thorough review of the algorithm's specifications, security testing, and validation, as well as input from stakeholders and experts in the field.