# All Questions

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### Securely generating passwords based on a secret and a public identifier

I'm trying to create a good scheme for generating passwords in my systems management scripts. What I'd like to do is have a secret key (let's say hello123), which I ...
398 views

### inverse problem about scalar multiplication on elliptic curve

Let $E$ be an elliptic curve over a finite field $F_p$. Given $n$ be a positive integer and $Q$ be a point on $E$, assume that $Q=nP$, how can we find this $P$? We can assume that $n|p-1$. If $n$ is ...
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### Why is $h(H, m) = E(m, H) \oplus m$ insecure?

I am taking a cryptography class on Coursera. I learned that the compression function $h(H, m) = E_m(H) \oplus m$ is insecure (even though other variants like Davies­-Meyer or Miyaguchi-Preneel are ...
139 views

### Correct way to truncate data to a range [duplicate]

2 hours ago I thought I had this figured out, but now I am doubting myself and want someone to validate my algorithm. I want to take a stream of k trusted random ...
147 views

### AES Message Authentication Vulnerability

My securities instructor recently posed this question to the class and I am bending my brain in half trying to figure it out. Suppose $y_1 = AES(K, x_1)$ and $y_2 = AES(K,x_2)$, and suppose you ...
904 views

### How to perform Multiplicative Inverse Modulo in IDEA

How to perform the Multiplicative Inverse Modulo in International Data Encryption Algorithm? I don't understand on how to perform it… For example, let's say I have a value of ...
211 views

### Is there an efficient way to hide the encrypted plaintext length with a block cipher?

In block cipher modes of operation for encryption on input of a plaintext of $N$ blocks (We assume that the input size is always a multiple of the blockcipher mode: $N·16$ bytes) the size of the ...
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### Why is Bcrypt called a Key Derivation Function?

I am trying to understand why is bcrypt called a Key Derivation Function? I looked up the details of Ekfblowfish on Usenix article here: ...
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### Questions about proof of correct encryption in the Paillier cryptosystem

In the Paillier cryptosystem [1] the encryption of $m \in \mathbb{Z}_N$ with randomness $r \in \mathbb{Z}_n^*$ is $c = g^m r^n \bmod{n^2}$. A proof of correct encryption could look like presented in ...
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### How hard is a known prefix hash preimage attack?

Suppose the attacker knows $X, Z$ such that $H(X || Y) = Z$ If bit-length(Y) < 60 then a brute force attack is possible. What if ...
122 views

### Using UMAC with stream cypher

I understand that most stream ciphers, due to being applied with a simple XOR, are specially fragile against data tampering, and must be used with some MAC mechanism. So I am investigating the use of ...
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### Why not use CBC, not send IV, and assume first plaintext block is garbage? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Using CBC with fixed IV Forgive me if this has been asked before, I looked but haven't seen any answers that suit. Is there any danger in using CBC, encrypting a ...
1k views

Say I have ...
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### What is an oracle adversary?

I'm trying to figure out block ciphers and this is the first time I've encountered the term "oracle adversary". It appears in the context of defining a PRP and a PRF. Can someone please explain what ...
204 views

### Messages of different lengths and one-time computationally-secret

I'm preparing myself to exam, but I have a lot of troubles with rigorous proofs. Let $\Pi=(Gen,Enc,Dec)$ be an efficient secret-key encryption scheme that is not fixed-length. That is, for any $n$ ...
398 views

### Increase number of rounds for SPN and Feistel ciphers

Read a post on Schneiers blog (and again 2011) about increasing the number of rounds for AES from to "AES-128 at 16 rounds, AES-192 at 20 rounds, and AES-256 at 28 rounds" to raise the security. ...
734 views

### Avalanche noise RNG for one-time pad use

I came across this little HRNG widget and was really intrigued as I have been looking for a decent but afordable source for truly random bits to use in a one-time pad. The question is, would a HRNG ...
439 views

### Hash collision resistance requirements for Lamport signatures

According to the original paper, Lamport one-time signature scheme uses two one-way functions: $F$ and $G$. The former one, $F$, is used to create a public key by hashing elements of the private key ...
386 views

### implications of SSH server key compromission when authenticating users against a public key

Friday we had a disagreement with a colleague of mine about the implications of SSH server key compromission The question was stated as this : What could a hacker do while provided with the SSH ...
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### Can I make a cipher (ex: Vigenère) harder to break?

The Vigenère cipher can relatively easy be broken when the key size is small compared to the size of the message. One first finds the length of the key, and then uses frequency analysis to actually ...
518 views

### Several questions about Paillier cryptosystem

I have several questions concerning the original Paillier cryptosystem as described in Paillier, Pascal (1999). "Public-Key Cryptosystems Based on Composite Degree Residuosity Classes". EUROCRYPT. ...
295 views

### How to properly format a PGP Message Block?

As sort of a follow up to my (currently) unanswered question, if it is correct, how do i properly calculate and format the packet that actually stores the data being encrypted? I thought I knew what I ...
980 views

### Capacity of Advanced Encryption Standard in terms of File Encryption

what is the capacity of AES in terms of File Encryption? is it really good to encrypt a large files in AES? ex. I am encrypting a 8GB of File... is it still good to used AES? is it still good to used ...
2k views

### Is my pseudo-random initialization vector secure?

How can I know if I am generating a secure pseudorandom initialization vector? Currently I am planning to generate a pseudo-random initialization Vector using current date and time - is this secure ...
675 views

### Computational feasible to reverse MD5SUM?

This might be out of ignorance, I apologize, but how complex of a problem might it be to generate a file of size $N$ whose MD5SUM is $X$? For example, ...
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### Offline anonymous electronic money systems and their cryptographical base

What anonymous offline electronic money systems exist and what are they based on? I know only one currently - eCash, based on RSA blind signatures.
358 views

### Looking for cryptographic secure hash algorithm(s) that produces identical root hash for differently sliced hash list

I have a scenario similar to the one described in Wikipedia: hash list, but with a twist. I'm looking for a cryptographically secure hash function that would create the same root hash for the same ...
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### AES key equal to IV (CBC mode)

Application uses AES in CBC mode with 128 bit key. In this implementation key is always same and is equal to IV. Can attacker get the key or decrypt data? If he knows: First and second blocks of ...
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### What happens if you multiply a point with its order on complete Edwards curves?

I was recently working with some ECC crypto and stumbled across the following phrase on the SafeCurves page: The rational points of a complete Edwards curve are the pairs (x,y) of elements of ...
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### setting the MGF hash to a different value other than the regular hash with openssl for PSS signatures

In PKCS1's Probabilistic Signature Mode you have the Hash and the MGF Hash. Both appear to be, by default, sha1, with the OpenSSL CLI client, however, I can change it to sha256 with the following: ...
281 views

### Message exchange with textbook RSA

I am working on this exercise but can't work out the answer to the question b. I have solved the question (a) by decrypting the ciphertext $C = 2$ using the formula:  M = C^d \bmod n = 2^{17} \bmod ...
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### Authentication protocol which detects client impersonation from another machine

Consider following authentication protocol. Client ClientA knows some initial secret KeyA shared with server. Client also knows IP of legitimate server. Now when client wants to establish connection ...
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### How to check the signature without the predetermined function in ECDSA from openssl?

I'm developing a client for a two-factor authentication in Qt/C++ under openSUSE 13.2, 64bit. I've got the FIDO U2F Security Key from yubico/fido. I'm using the classes from openssl, in particular ...
82 views

### Exactly how slow is asymmetric encryption?

I'm currently doing a project on RSA, and have just come across this website. https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/798/67/what-is-an-rsa-key-used-for On here, it says that ...
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### Are there key collisions in AES-192, AES-256?

Suppose we have a single, fixed plaintext block $p$ of 128 bits. Call the set of all possible 128 bit blocks $B$. We could define fixed plaintext AES-128 as a function $f(k) \to B$ that takes a 128 ...
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### With ECDSA is there a way for the verifier to calculate any properties of $k$?

With ECDSA, given $(r,s)$ and $m$, is there a way for a verifier to calculate any (boolean) properties of $k$, without knowing $k$ or the private key $D_A$? (I understand that $k$ should be random, ...
110 views

### Algorithm to transform plaintext to a key of desired keysize, when using input plaintext as key for FPE?

Using a format preserving encryption scheme that uses AES internally as its block cipher, for a plaintext that I encrypt I want to use that input plaintext as the key. However using AES-128, my ...
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### Solving Vigenére with unknown alphabet

I'm trying to decrypt a cipher that I suppose has been encrypted with Vigenére. However I came about the following thought: The cipher consists of characters from ...
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### Hash functions vs. keyed hash functions in the context of private key generation

I'm designing a key distribution mechanism and have thought of using a securely generated/acquired private key as a seed for a sequence of private keys to be distributed to a number of users using a ...
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### Powerline password conversion [closed]

I read this post from Ben Tasker describing how to take control of a powerline network. Since I am interested in security, I tried to do the same thing, to see if it was possible. I used Devolo ...
141 views

### What are the required security properties for salts?

I was recently thinking about password hashing (maybe caused by the PHC progression). I started to think a little more about it and got stuck at this question: What security properties do ...
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### ElGamal signatures systems

Let $p$ prime number $q/p-1$ prime and $g\in (Z/pZ)^*$ element of order $q$.Also $a\in \{1,...,q-1\}$ the private key and $y\equiv g^a\pmod p$ the correspoding public key.For each of the following ...
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### Converting a pre-image resistant hash to second pre-image resistant

I am looking for some standard conversion from any hash function $f$, which has pre-image resistance, to another hash function with second preimage resistance. Is there such a standard conversion?
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### IES: What security has the asymmetric primitive to provide?

I think most of us know the notion Shoup introduced of KEM/DEM (Key encryption material / data encryption material) which is used for example by the (famous) ECIES, where the key is the hash of some ...
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### Derive cipher IV and cipher Key using PBKDF2 with random salt?

It is said that cipher IV does not have to be secret and the only secret component of the encryption scheme should be a cipher key. Question: is it safe to generate IV using PBKDF2 function, which ...
138 views

### Finding public exponent e

I'm trying to create an algorithm to find the public exponent e given a plain (non-CRT) private key that doesn't include the public exponent, i.e. I've only got $n$ and $d$. A question has already ...
128 views

### Severity of Cooking NIST P Curve Constants

Bruce Schneier and Gregory Maxwell have both stated that they believe the constants chosen for NIST's P curves (i.e. P-256r) are cooked. DJB has put together a detailed list of red flags but, outside ...
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### Could this alternative hash based MAC construction be as, or even more secure than an HMAC?

Begin hashing (Key||Message) Encrypt the hash state (or some part of it, such as the first 128 or 256 bits), with the key. Add the encrypted hash state to the ...