Howdy everyone!
IMHO, we should leave the decision to use something deprecated (in terms of RNG algorithms) to folks who integrate solutions that utilize KMIP.
One thought from a Systems Engineering perspective, we should be careful not to remove capability (ie deprecated RNG algorithms).
Given that KMIP is effectively a "data contract" for utilizing, managing, and distributing encryption keys, I think it is better not to take anything away. This also has added benefit in helping those who adopt KMIP in the future to have a capacity for transition if they are currently using deprecated RNG algorithms. In other words, let KMIP be a bridge to better security vs a barrier to getting there.
The downside is that you are giving folks enough rope to hang themselves in terms of enabling use of algorithms that compromise security.
Thanks!
Chuck
-----Original Message-----
From: [mailto:] On Behalf Of Mike Yoder
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 2:39 AM
To: Robinson, Peter (RSA Engineering); Tim Hudson;
Subject: RE: [kmip] KMIP: RNG Proposals
>
> >NIST SP 800-90 Dual EC DRBG.
> There are some people who use this algorithm. As such, I don't think
> removing it outright is the correct thing to do.
Fair enough. There is a reasonable argument that says that even the "undesirable" algorithms should have a place, just so the client knows exactly what they're in for.
> > DES.... Well... maybe we ought to remove (or at least deprecate)
> > those, too. Why include anything that is known insecure? Shouldn't
> we, as a
> > group, feel qualified to make a value judgment here? Or at least
> follow NIST guidance?
>
> Deprecating the use of algorithms seems like a good idea, but where do
> we draw the line? Should we do this based on security strength?
A first pass would be to just copy NIST's 800-131a document, which is your deprecated list.
> For example we could say:
>
> Deprecated: Less than or equal to 80 bits of security strength: DES,
> RC2, MD2, MD4, MD5, Dual EC DRBG, FIPS 186 PRNG and RSA for key sizes
> less than or equal to 1024, EC with P160 curve.
And by this you mean that the algorithms would still be selectable, but noted in the standard as being deprecated, I assume?
> Deprecated for use in new applications: Between 80 and 112 bits of
> security strength: 3DES, SHA 224, RSA 2048, EC with P224 curve.
Hmmm. I would be on board with this in theory, but putting RSA 2048 on that list basically requires a transition to EC to go higher given the performance of RSA 4096. A good thing, but rather bold. It might be considered overreach.
John Leiseboer wrote:
> Indeed, where do we draw the line? One client's secure algorithm is
> another client's insecure algorithm. Make recommendations. Provide
> guidance. Do not introduce weaknesses, and vulnerabilities into the
> standard. Build ease of use into the standard; i.e. be secure by
> default, and force clients to explicitly change the default, or
> standard way of doing things, in order to be insecure.
I agree with this. But...for the sake of argument let's take an extreme case - DES. Crackable in under 24 hours at cloudcracker (MS-CHAPv2) for something like $17. Should we allow clients to impale themselves upon it?
Thinking back on this, (and contradicting my previous paragraph) I realize that I'm coming at this argument from a user interface point of view, where simplicity and removing everything that's not needed are good things. But perhaps this isn't the way to go for a standard such as KMIP, where we've got to support a wide variety of behaviors amongst clients / servers. This means we have to leave everything in, but we can at least provide guidance...
-Mike
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