linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH v43 01/15] Linux Random Number Generator

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Date:   Wed, 1 Dec 2021 19:24:43 -0500
From:   Jeffrey Walton <noloader@...il.com>
To:     "Jason A. Donenfeld" <Jason@...c4.com>
Cc:     Simo Sorce <simo@...hat.com>,
        Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@...uxfoundation.org>,
        Stephan Mueller <smueller@...onox.de>, Tso Ted <tytso@....edu>,
        Linux Crypto Mailing List <linux-crypto@...r.kernel.org>,
        Willy Tarreau <w@....eu>, Nicolai Stange <nstange@...e.de>,
        LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
        Arnd Bergmann <arnd@...db.de>,
        "Eric W. Biederman" <ebiederm@...ssion.com>,
        "Alexander E. Patrakov" <patrakov@...il.com>,
        "Ahmed S. Darwish" <darwish.07@...il.com>,
        Matthew Garrett <mjg59@...f.ucam.org>,
        Vito Caputo <vcaputo@...garu.com>,
        Andreas Dilger <adilger.kernel@...ger.ca>,
        Jan Kara <jack@...e.cz>, Ray Strode <rstrode@...hat.com>,
        William Jon McCann <mccann@....edu>,
        zhangjs <zachary@...shancloud.com>,
        Andy Lutomirski <luto@...nel.org>,
        Florian Weimer <fweimer@...hat.com>,
        Lennart Poettering <mzxreary@...inter.de>,
        Peter Matthias <matthias.peter@....bund.de>,
        Eric Biggers <ebiggers@...nel.org>,
        Marcelo Henrique Cerri <marcelo.cerri@...onical.com>,
        Neil Horman <nhorman@...hat.com>,
        Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@...radead.org>,
        Julia Lawall <julia.lawall@...ia.fr>,
        Dan Carpenter <dan.carpenter@...cle.com>,
        Andy Lavr <andy.lavr@...il.com>,
        Petr Tesarik <ptesarik@...e.cz>,
        John Haxby <john.haxby@...cle.com>,
        Alexander Lobakin <alobakin@...lbox.org>,
        Jirka Hladky <jhladky@...hat.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v43 01/15] Linux Random Number Generator

On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 1:25 PM Jason A. Donenfeld <Jason@...c4.com> wrote:
>
> On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 12:19 PM Simo Sorce <simo@...hat.com> wrote:
> > that much it is, and it is a required one. However having worked a lot
> > on this I can tell you there is actually real cryptographic value in
> > the requirements FIPS introduced over the years
> > Well I think most of the requirements are sane practices, hopefully
> > controversial stuff will be minimal.
> > I happen to think quite a few of the requirements are actually good
> > ideas to implement to improve the guarantees of randomness
>
> If you think there are good ways to improve the RNG, of course send
> patches for this, justifying why, taking into account recent research
> into the topic you wish to patch, etc. Don't write, "because FIPS";
> instead argue rationale for each patch. And if you _do_ feel the need
> to appeal to authority, perhaps links to the various eprint papers you
> consulted would be worthwhile. Preferably you're able to do this in a
> small, incremental way, with small standalone patchsets, instead of
> gigantic series.

I may be parsing things incorrectly, but you seem to be rejecting the
NIST requirements, and then positioning your personal opinion as
superior. It sounds like one authority is being replaced by another.
Perhaps I am missing something.

I am also guessing you've never read the relevant NIST documents. The
documents state the security goals and provide the steps to achieve
them in an implementation.

Jeff