The prior-present `Ciphersuite::hash_to_F` was a sin. Implementations took a DST, yet were not require to securely handle it. It was also biased towards the requirements of `modular-frost` as `ciphersuite` was originally written all those years ago, when `modular-frost` had needs exceeding what `ff`, `group` satisfied. Now, the hash is bound to produce an output which can be converted to a scalar with `ff::FromUniformBytes`. A new `hash_to_F`, which accepts a single argument of the value to hash (removing the potential to insecurely handle the DST by removing the DST entirely). Due to `digest` yielding a `GenericArray`, yet `FromUniformBytes` taking a `const usize`, the `ciphersuite` crate now defines a `FromUniformBytes` trait taking an array (then implemented for all satisfiers of `ff::FromUniformBytes`). In order to get the array type from the `GenericArray`, the output of the hash, `digest` is updated to the `0.11` release candidate which moves to `flexible-array` which solves that problem. The existing, specific `hash_to_F` functions have been moved to `modular-frost` as necessary. `flexible-array` itself is patched to a fork due to https://github.com/RustCrypto/hybrid-array/issues/131.
Flexible Transcript
Flexible Transcript is a crate offering:
Transcript, a trait offering functions transcripts should implement.DigestTranscript, a competent transcript format instantiated against a provided hash function.MerlinTranscript, a wrapper ofmerlininto the trait (available via themerlinfeature).RecommendedTranscript, a transcript recommended for usage in applications. Currently, this isDigestTranscript<Blake2b512>(available via therecommendedfeature).
The trait was created while working on an IETF draft which defined an incredibly
simple transcript format. Extensions of the protocol would quickly require a
more competent format, yet implementing the one specified was mandatory to meet
the specification. Accordingly, the library implementing the draft defined an
IetfTranscript, dropping labels and not allowing successive challenges, yet
thanks to the trait, allowed protocols building on top to provide their own
transcript format as needed.
DigestTranscript takes in any hash function implementing Digest, offering a
secure transcript format around it. All items are prefixed by a flag, denoting
their type, and their length.
MerlinTranscript was used to justify the API, and if any issues existed with
DigestTranscript, enable a fallback. It was also meant as a way to be
compatible with existing Rust projects using merlin.
This library was audited by Cypher Stack in March 2023, culminating in commit 669d2dbffc1dafb82a09d9419ea182667115df06. Any subsequent changes have not undergone auditing.
This library is usable under no_std.