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

[Stephan Mueller]

Am Dienstag, 30. November 2021, 08:55:53 CET schrieb Greg Kroah-Hartman:

Hi Greg,

> On Tue, Nov 30, 2021 at 03:32:38PM +0800, Sandy Harris wrote:
> > I think we should eliminate add_disk_randomness() since it does
> > not work well on current hardware. Also, FIPS requires that
> > entropy sources be independent & add_interrupt_randomness()
> > depends on the same disk events so these sources may not be.
> 
> This whole "may not be" guessing game when it comes to FIPS
> certification is a huge problem.  I have heard of different vendors
> getting different feedback and different implementations "passing" in
> different ways that totally contradict each other.  It seems that there
> is a whole certification industry built up that you can use to try to
> pass these tests, but those tests are different depending on the vendor
> you use for this, making a total mess.
> 
> So perhaps getting solid answers, and having the FIPS people actually
> implement (or at least review) the changes and submit them (this is all
> open for everyone to see and work on), would be the best thing as that
> would at least let us know that this is what they require.

Just as a note: I am working as FIPS tester. I am part of the NIST entropy 
working group which oversees the entropy related requirements. The LRNG's FIPS 
compliant implementation is directly based on those requirements. The LRNG was 
even reviewed by NIST personnel who mentioned that they do not see any 
contradiction to the specification. Finally, we are pursuing to get a separate 
ENT validation from NIST for the LRNG which would indicate that the LRNG meets 
all their requirements.

Besides, the LRNG can be configured to have no FIPS bits included at all as 
documented in the patches and in the separately provided documentation. Yet, 
it offers a streamlined conditioning operation and a combination of different 
entropy source data which is obvious to not destroy entropy.

Ciao
Stephan