Hi Jan-Just,
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jan Just Keijser [mailto:janj...@nikhef.nl]
> Adriaan de Jong wrote:
> >
> > On 02/07/2012 04:13 PM, Jan Just Keijser wrote:
> >>
<Snip>
> >> +void
> >> +tls_ctx_load_ecdh_params (struct tls_root_ctx *ctx, const char
> *curve_name
> >> + )
> >> +{
> >> +#ifdef USE_SSL_EC
> >> + if (curve_name != NULL)
> >> + {
> >> + int nid;
> >> + EC_KEY *ecdh = NULL;
> >> +
> >> + nid = OBJ_sn2nid(curve_name);
> >> +
> >> + if (nid == 0)
> >> + msg(M_SSLERR, "unknown curve name (%s)", curve_name);
> >> + else
> >> + {
> >> + ecdh = EC_KEY_new_by_curve_name(nid);
> >> + if (ecdh == NULL)
> >> + msg (M_SSLERR, "Unable to create curve (%s)", curve_name);
> >> + else
> >> + {
> >> + const char *sname;
> >> +
> >> + if (!SSL_CTX_set_tmp_ecdh(ctx->ctx, ecdh))
> >> + msg (M_SSLERR, "SSL_CTX_set_tmp_ecdh: cannot add curve");
> >> +
> >>
> >
> > What is happening here exactly? Is the same key being reused for
> every
> > connection, or is it magically regenerated by OpenSSL on every
> connection?
> >
> >
> the function SSL_CTX_set_tmp_ecdh is very similar to SSL_CTX_set_tmp
> (for DH keys).
> It adds the curve to the SSL CTX (ConTeXt); this CTX is used only when
> negotiating the TLS channel - NOT the data channel. It is updated by
> the OpenSSL TLS code automagically.
Thanks, I realise this is just about the control channel. Still: for a server
setup, multiple control channels are set up (one for each connection).
What I'm reading here, but that could be a mistake is the following:
1. Determine Curve NID
2. Generate a new DH key based on the curve NID (ecdh =
EC_KEY_new_by_curve_name(nid);)
3. For the global context, set that key as the one be used.
Now, if that is correct, the same key is reused across multiple connections for
a server setup.
Again, note that my assumptions here might be incorrect, especially in step 2.
Unfortunately, I can't find decent documentation for the OpenSSL functions.
> >> + /* Translate NID back to name , just for kicks */
> >> + sname = OBJ_nid2sn(nid);
> >> + if (sname == NULL) sname = "(Unknown)";
> >> + msg (D_TLS_DEBUG_LOW, "ECDH curve %s added", sname);
> >> +
> >> + EC_KEY_free(ecdh);
> >> + }
> >> + }
> >> + }
> >> +#else
> >> + msg(M_SSLERR, "Elliptic Curves not supported by this version of
> >> +OpenSSL"); #endif }
> >> +
<Snip>
> >
> > Codewise I don't have many comments. I do have a few questions
> > surrounding the use of OpenSSL:
> >
> > - How are curves for ECDSA set?
> >
> > - Is the default curve used, or is the same curve reused?
> >
> > - I don't quite understand how setting an ECDH curve relates to the
> > ECDSA signature size. Is this an OpenSSL specific issue?
> >
> > These are partially based on a lack of knowledge of the OpenSSL
> > implementation, so forgive me for any newbie questions there.
> >
> >
> as I said, the SSL_CTX_set_tmp_ecdh is used only for the TLS control
> channel connection. It does *NOT* add elliptic curve support on the
> data channel, as this requires quite a few more changes, some of which
> are not supported by the OpenSSL libs right now (e.g. the fact that
> openvpn calls the signing functions directly).
>
What I'm mostly concerned with is the control channel setup. As I understand
it, there's two steps involved that can use elliptic curve crypto:
1. Authentication using ECDSA/RSA/DSA/whatever
2. Anonymous DH/ECDH negotiation to get a session key
What I'm wondering is, if you use ECDSA, how is the curve for ECDSA set? As I
understand it, this patch only sets the ECDH curve and key, not the
> The main reason for adding this patch is to allow the use of
> certificates which are generated with ECDH keys and which are signed
> with a SHA2 family hash; without this patch , this is not allowed.
>
That's what my question boils down to: isn't ECDSA, not ECDH the
certificate-based part of the algorithm? ECDH is anonymous, isn't it?
> > Finally one more comment: to be accepted into the main branch, this
> > needs manpage and command line documentation.
> >
> >
> very true... but that applies to more patches ;)
>
Unfortunately true...
I hope that clarifies my concerns a little. Unfortunately, I haven't found a
good authoritative source for the functionality of SSL_CTX_set_tmp_ecdh. If it
works in a similar manner to SSL_CTX_set_tmp_rsa, then you would need to use
SSL_CTX_set_tmp_ecdh_callback instead to generate a new key for every control
channel (see the ssl_openssl.c code for an example of that).
Kind regards,
Adriaan
