All Questions

178 views

How can one share information using the 'host-proof' paradigm?

I am attempting to make a web-based secure password management and sharing utility, both as an academic exercise and to fully understand and feel safe about using it. I really like the idea of a ...
133 views

How can I store a combination of multiple pass phrases?

Let's assume we have 2 phrases, one is the real password from a user, and the other is generated from the real password and almost impossible to guess. You would need both to authenticate a user. What ...
264 views

Are derived hashes weakening the root?

Given a root hash root = H(plaintext) and two (or more) derived hashes h1 = H(salt1 + root) h2 = H(salt2 + root) would the ...
107 views

Combating traffic analysis over request-response protocols

Suppose I am to design a request-response protocol (similar HTTP). For the sake of simplicity let us assume that this is a "chat" protocol where the client can only perform two actions: Contribute a ...
260 views

Standardized parameters for elliptic curve cryptography

When an elliptic curve-based cryptosystem is deployed, a single set of public parameters (consisting of a particular elliptic curve over a finite field as well as a generator of a prime order subgroup ...
161 views

Can one group the SHA-256 outputs depending on partial inputs?

Is it possible to predict a hash key based on half key? Let's have some example: I have 100000000 hash results, and they are generated by either ...
300 views

We know that exposing $p$, or $q$ or $\phi(n)$ results in trivial attacks on RSA since they allow us to factor $n$ and to compute the private exponent $d$. In OpenSSL (and most RSA implementations) ...
2k views

Rijndael vs. Serpent vs. Twofish: General comparison

Can anyone explain (or give a link to document about) why Rijndaal won the AES, especially comparing it to other finalists (Serpent and Twofish)? What criteria were used to make decision? Or is there ...
1k views

Which one of the Block Cipher modes is the best?

I have two questions regarding the Block Cipher Modes: First: Which one of the modes is considered the best? I know CBC has a problem of IV since the next block of the plain text is XORed with the ...
178 views

Realize a MAC using a Pseudo-random function?

Given a pseudo-random function and assuming that we do not have any other tools, How can we construct a MAC? I believe this can be done. Would like to know if there is more than one way of doing ...
438 views

advantages of a static ECDH key

What are the advantages of using static-ephemeral ECDH over ephemeral-ephemeral ECDH?
109 views

What will be the way to go about deciphering this kind of cipher? [closed]

I've come across this cipher and have tried unsuccesfully to decipher it. http://codepad.org/aea7Wuyl The only 'hint' that I have gotten so far as to how I am supposed to crack it is the word ...
406 views

How does the MOV attack work?

What exactly is the MOV attack, how does it actually work, and what is it used for? It's explained briefly here and I'd like to know what it is more / what is it fully used for.
147 views

Any techniques for evading frequency based crypt analysis without encrypting?

Are there any general techniques for evading frequency based crypt analysis without using any encrypting techniques
650 views

What is the 'Version Incompatibility" Problem in TLS 1.1/1.2 and 1.0?

It's unclear to me if there are multiple problems, or a single one, (and just what that problem is) with servers incorrectly negotiating down from a client offering 1.1 or 1.2 to something they ...
98 views

Proof of batch RSA security

Suppose we have two encrypted messages with two different public key issued from the one server. There is a client who wants to send these to messages to the server. In the middle there is an ...
923 views

SHA-256 “midstate”

Recently I've been trying to implement some Bitcoin-related code, and I've stumbled upon a weird concept, a SHA-256 "midstate". Some explanation is given here. The general concept is that Bitcoin ...
249 views

Is there some way to generate a non-predictable random number in a decentralised network?

Is there a way to generate a random number with given restrictions: It will be used in a decentralised network with a big number of peers (no central authority to generate it) Its generation should ...
273 views

Passwords with same SALT. What does this mean?

If the same SALT is used for many passwords on a Linux server, in what way is that a security risk? Does the mean, that a user (which can change his own password) can calculate other users passwords? ...
198 views

Threshold Signatures for RSA and DSA

I have a few questions relating to threshold signatures: a scheme where $n$ participants hold a key share and any $t$ of them can conduct a protocol using their shares that results in a valid RSA or ...
168 views

Is there a known vulnerability when using identical key and salt with PBKDF2?

For optimum security, a random salt should be chosen for PBKDF2. I came across a scenario where I produce a hash of a random file that serves as the "password". Due to the nature of files, this has ...
537 views

Why not use CTR with a randomized IV?

I'm currently reading the chapter of Cryptographic Engineering (Ferguson, Schneier, Kohno 2010) about block cipher modes of operation. They have recommended CBC with random IV instead of CTR due to ...
576 views

How to attack a general polyalphabetic cipher?

I am able to decrypt vigenere cipher text using the index of coincidence and chi test. However out of interested how do you go about attacking ciphertext that was encrypted using a mix alphabet ...
183 views

Undecrypt using the OpenSSL EVP API?

I'm writing a client-server encryption scheme for homework, and I've stumbled upon what might be a fatal blow to my current implementation. When using AES-256-CBC on the two sides, it's important ...
630 views

How does PBKDF1 work?

I need some basic guideline on Password Based Key Derivation Function. PBKDF1 generates a key from password and salt using Hashing algorithm (like SHA1, SHA256, MD5). What is the step behind this?
905 views

Secure way to transfer data over NFC?

I am currently writing a payment system to accept payment details from an NFC enabled smartphone (BlackBerry 9900) to a Windows client (C#.NET) I am currently having two issues relating to security: ...
214 views

Is Common Name encoded in the certificate?

When I make a certificate like so cd /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/2.0/ source ./vars . /etc/openvpn/easy-rsa/2.0/build-key client1 Then ...
209 views

Best choice of finite field for AES on a 4-bit microcontroller?

As the finite field of $GF(2^8)$ are isomorphic to $GF((2^4)^2)$, $GF((2^2)^4)$ and $GF(((2^2)^2)^2)$, which of the fields is best suited and most efficient for 4-bit MCU and why? Would it be ...
2k views

Why do we need asymmetric algorithms for key exchange?

In SSL protocols, both symmetric and asymmetric algorithms are used. Why is it so? The symmetric algorithms are more secure and easier to implement. Why are asymmetric algorithms usually preferred in ...
181 views

Anonymous trust/reputation system

Suppose there are 3 persons, Alice, Bob and Peter. They are identified by their pseudonyms (public RSA keys). Alice has a key Alice, Bob has ...
904 views

How are timestamps verified?

You put an input and the hash value comes as an output then when someone puts the input the hash function it is applied to see if it is the same hash original value is stored in some database , that ...
378 views

How to account for moore's law in estimating time-to-crack?

It seems to be common practice (at least in some communities) to tack on the phrase "with current computing power" when estimating the absurdly long time it would take to, for example, brute-force an ...
460 views

How to better generate large primes: sieving and then random picking or random picking and then checking?

I'm writing an RSA algorithm, and am wondering what is the best and/or usual way to choose the initial prime numbers (p and q). I know of two methods to achieve this, one based on a prime number ...
498 views

Can one implement AES on 4-bit microcontroller?

It is possible to implement AES on 4-bit microcontroller? As far as I know, AES on 8-bit microcontroller are common especially for light weight application such as the RFID. I have yet to come across ...
269 views

What is the key strength reduction encrypting only 160 bits of data using RSA1024 for signatures

I am attempting to determine the strength of an incorrectly implemented 1024 bit RSA signature scheme. The weakness in the implementation is that the padding data lacks random numbers. As a result, ...
99 views

Does anyone know which encryption scheme produces the following output? [closed]

My company is using software that stores an encrypted database password in a publicly accessible file. The encrypted version looks like this: ...
176 views

What type of hash functions provides non-malleability of hash digests?

I want to use a hash function for commitments. I don't want an attacker to construct a commitment related to a previously published (but still unopened) commitment. A simple deterministic commitment ...
297 views

I'm trying to understand the precise requirements on padding when using RSA for encryption. Suppose Alice uses RSA to encrypt a payload $M$ that cannot be guessed (say, a random nonce): Alice send ...
750 views

Converting a DER ECDSA signature to ASN.1

I having trouble verifying an ECDSA signature signed using client side javascript with Java/BouncyCastle. The javascript signing function source ...
328 views

Can md5 be used for encrypting data?

I know that md5 shouldn't be used for password hashing because of collisions and possibility of making dictionary attacks e.g. using rainbow tables. But what about ...
409 views

Is RSA of a random nonce with no padding safe?

Consider the following protocol: Bob has a private RSA key $B_{priv}$, and Alice knows the public key $B_{pub}$. Alice wants to send confidential messages to Bob (no integrity intended). To send a ...
1k views

Why RSA encryption key is based on modulo(phi(n)) rather than modulo n

While calculating RSA encryption key we take modulo(phi(n)) rather that modulo(n). I couldn't understand why its so?
1k views

How do I correctly derive a Key and IV?

Mainly I'm trying to understand how to correctly create the Key and IV for use with the .NET Implementation of AES (AesManaged class). This encryption code will be used in conjunction with existing ...
850 views

Simple/beginner level explanation of salt

I'm a beginner to cryptography and looking to understand in very simple terms what salt is, when I might need to use it and why I should/should not use it. Can anyone offer me a very simple and clear ...
2k views

Encryption/ciphers/codes in Chinese

I am quite curious as to how you can perform simple encryption for the Chinese language. Saw a similar question related to encryption/Chinese here: About cryptography in a character language, ...
388 views

Salts, how does the script know what the salt is?

I am new to PHP programming and trying to grasp the idea of hashing and encryption for protecting passwords, credit card details and such. I've done a lot of reading about MD5 which I think I ...
178 views

ECC Cryptography

I want to know th basic understanding of ECC algorithm for cryptography.But I am not aware of the algorithm so please any one give me the basic understanding of the algorithm.
317 views

Proving knowledge of a preimage of a hash without disclosing it?

We consider a public hash function $H$, assumed collision-resistant and preimage-resistant (for both first and second preimage), similar in construction to SHA-1 or SHA-256. Alice discloses a value ...