At 02:38 PM 6/29/98 -0400, dontspam-tzeruch(_at_)ceddec(_dot_)com wrote:
I spotted this a few months ago. Technically the prefix should be the
blocksize plus 2 and the text should be changed everywhere (including the
long description of the reset) replacing 8 with Blocksize. I have these
as #defines in my implmentation but they are likely to become variables,
so I was ready for this.
I'm willing to do this -- replacing 8 with Blocksize, and 10 with
Blocksize+2. It's an easy enough change that provides a lot of clarification.
For that matter, what is the block size of a stream cipher? (Applause
with the sound of one hand clapping if you can answer correctly). Or one
that is a number of bits that is not divisible by 8?
The blocksize of a stream cypher is 1/8 octet. Octet-level stream cyphers
(like RC4) can also be thought of as an 8-bit block cypher. Really.
It would make sense to change the places that use "8" to Blocksize and
"10" to Blocksize+2, and do stream ciphers without any CFB (but prefix it
with either 4 or 10 bytes, the last pair being copies of the penultimate
pair). This mod will have to be in the next version of the spec.
I'm willing to do this.
Jon
-----
Jon Callas jon(_at_)pgp(_dot_)com
CTO, Total Network Security 3965 Freedom Circle
Network Associates, Inc. Santa Clara, CA 95054
(408) 346-5860
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