openssl / openssl/openssl

fips self tests have some potential for optimisation

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severity: fips change triaged: feature
Dominant language
C
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Description

There are algorithms which are being used multiple times during the CASTs (e.g. SHA256).

There is some potential to reduce the testing load by replacing the second and later uses with other algorithms that are being independently self tested (e.g. SHA512 and SHA3-256 have their own self tests which could be rolled into the KDF/MAC tests easily enough.

This is unlikely to produce a large performance improvement but it will help a little.

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Research direction

Start by tracing the CAST self-test implementations and identifying repeated SHA256 uses. Compare those uses with the independently self-tested SHA512 and SHA3-256 paths; the work is done when redundant algorithm testing is reduced without removing independent coverage.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
c
Domain
cryptography, security
Issue type
Refactor
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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