5 Algorithm Details

This chapter describes details of algorithms in the crypto application.

The tables only documents the supported cryptos and key lengths. The user should not draw any conclusion on security from the supplied tables.

5.1 Ciphers

A cipher in the new api is categorized as either cipher_no_iv(), cipher_iv() or cipher_aead(). The letters IV are short for Initialization Vector and AEAD is an abreviation of Authenticated Encryption with Associated Data.

Due to irregular naming conventions, some cipher names in the old api are substitued by new names in the new api. For a list of retired names, see Retired cipher names.

To dynamically check availability, check that the name in the Cipher and Mode column is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(ciphers).

Ciphers without an IV - cipher_no_iv()

To be used with:

The ciphers are:

Cipher and Mode Key length
[bytes]
Block size
[bytes]
aes_128_ecb 16 16
aes_192_ecb 24 16
aes_256_ecb 32 16
blowfish_ecb 16 8
des_ecb 8 8
rc4 16 1

Table 5.1: Ciphers without IV

Ciphers with an IV - cipher_iv()

To be used with:

The ciphers are:

Cipher and Mode Key length
[bytes]
IV length
[bytes]
Block size
[bytes]
Limited to
OpenSSL versions
aes_128_cbc 16 16 16
aes_192_cbc 24 16 16
aes_256_cbc 32 16 16
aes_128_cfb8 16 16 1
aes_192_cfb8 24 16 1
aes_256_cfb8 32 16 1
aes_128_cfb128 16 16 1
aes_192_cfb128 24 16 1
aes_256_cfb128 32 16 1
aes_128_ctr 16 16 1
aes_192_ctr 24 16 1
aes_256_ctr 32 16 1
aes_ige256 16 32 16
blowfish_cbc 16 8 8
blowfish_cfb64 16 8 1
blowfish_ofb64 16 8 1
chacha20 32 16 1 ≥1.1.0d
des_cbc 8 8 8
des_ede3_cbc 24 8 8
des_cfb 8 8 1
des_ede3_cfb 24 8 1
rc2_cbc 16 8 8

Table 5.2: Ciphers with IV

Ciphers with AEAD - cipher_aead()

To be used with:

The ciphers are:

Cipher and Mode Key length
[bytes]
IV length
[bytes]
AAD length
[bytes]
Tag length
[bytes]
Block size
[bytes]
Limited to
OpenSSL versions
aes_128_ccm 16 7-13 any even 4-16
default: 12
any ≥1.0.1
aes_192_ccm 24 7-13 any even 4-16
default: 12
any ≥1.0.1
aes_256_ccm 32 7-13 any even 4-16
default: 12
any ≥1.0.1
aes_128_gcm 16 ≥1 any 1-16
default: 16
any ≥1.0.1
aes_192_gcm 24 ≥1 any 1-16
default: 16
any ≥1.0.1
aes_256_gcm 32 ≥1 any 1-16
default: 16
any ≥1.0.1
chacha20_poly1305 32 1-16 any 16 any ≥1.1.0

Table 5.3: AEAD ciphers

5.2 Message Authentication Codes (MACs)

To be used in mac/4 and related functions.

CMAC

CMAC with the following ciphers are available with OpenSSL 1.0.1 or later if not disabled by configuration.

To dynamically check availability, check that the name cmac is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(macs). Also check that the name in the Cipher and Mode column is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(ciphers).

Cipher and Mode Key length
[bytes]
Max Mac Length
(= default length)
[bytes]
aes_128_cbc 16 16
aes_192_cbc 24 16
aes_256_cbc 32 16
aes_128_ecb 16 16
aes_192_ecb 24 16
aes_256_ecb 32 16
blowfish_cbc 16 8
blowfish_ecb 16 8
des_cbc 8 8
des_ecb 8 8
des_ede3_cbc 24 8
rc2_cbc 16 8

Table 5.4: CMAC cipher key lengths

HMAC

Available in all OpenSSL compatible with Erlang CRYPTO if not disabled by configuration.

To dynamically check availability, check that the name hmac is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(macs) and that the hash name is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(hashs).

Hash Max Mac Length
(= default length)
[bytes]
sha 20
sha224 28
sha256 32
sha384 48
sha512 64
sha3_224 28
sha3_256 32
sha3_384 48
sha3_512 64
blake2b 64
blake2s 32
md4 16
md5 16
ripemd160 20

Table 5.5: HMAC output sizes

POLY1305

POLY1305 is available with OpenSSL 1.1.1 or later if not disabled by configuration.

To dynamically check availability, check that the name poly1305 is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(macs).

The poly1305 mac wants an 32 bytes key and produces a 16 byte MAC by default.

5.3 Hash

To dynamically check availability, check that the wanted name in the Names column is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(hashs).

Type Names Limitated to
OpenSSL versions
SHA1 sha
SHA2 sha224, sha256, sha384, sha512
SHA3 sha3_224, sha3_256, sha3_384, sha3_512 ≥1.1.1
MD4 md4
MD5 md5
RIPEMD ripemd160

Table 5.6:

5.4 Public Key Cryptography

RSA

RSA is available with all OpenSSL versions compatible with Erlang CRYPTO if not disabled by configuration. To dynamically check availability, check that the atom rsa is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(public_keys).

Warning

The RSA options are experimental.

The exact set of options and there syntax may be changed without prior notice.

Option sign/verify public encrypt
private decrypt
private encrypt
public decrypt
{rsa_padding,rsa_x931_padding} x x
{rsa_padding,rsa_pkcs1_padding} x x x
{rsa_padding,rsa_pkcs1_pss_padding}
{rsa_pss_saltlen, -2..}
{rsa_mgf1_md, atom()}
x (2)
x (2)
x (2)
{rsa_padding,rsa_pkcs1_oaep_padding}
{rsa_mgf1_md, atom()}
{rsa_oaep_label, binary()}}
{rsa_oaep_md, atom()}
x (2)
x (2)
x (3)
x (3)
{rsa_padding,rsa_no_padding} x (1)

Table 5.7:

Notes:

  • (1) OpenSSL ≤ 1.0.0
  • (2) OpenSSL ≥ 1.0.1
  • (3) OpenSSL ≥ 1.1.0

DSS

DSS is available with OpenSSL versions compatible with Erlang CRYPTO if not disabled by configuration. To dynamically check availability, check that the atom dss is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(public_keys).

ECDSA

ECDSA is available with OpenSSL 0.9.8o or later if not disabled by configuration. To dynamically check availability, check that the atom ecdsa is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(public_keys). If the atom ec_gf2m also is present, the characteristic two field curves are available.

The actual supported named curves could be checked by examining the list returned by crypto:supports(curves).

EdDSA

EdDSA is available with OpenSSL 1.1.1 or later if not disabled by configuration. To dynamically check availability, check that the atom eddsa is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(public_keys).

Support for the curves ed25519 and ed448 is implemented. The actual supported named curves could be checked by examining the list with the list returned by crypto:supports(curves).

Diffie-Hellman

Diffie-Hellman computations are available with OpenSSL versions compatible with Erlang CRYPTO if not disabled by configuration. To dynamically check availability, check that the atom dh is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(public_keys).

Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman

Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman is available with OpenSSL 0.9.8o or later if not disabled by configuration. To dynamically check availability, check that the atom ecdh is present in the list returned by crypto:supports(public_keys).

The Edward curves x25519 and x448 are supported with OpenSSL 1.1.1 or later if not disabled by configuration.

The actual supported named curves could be checked by examining the list returned by crypto:supports(curves).

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