“Post-Quantum Hybrid Key Agreement Mechanisms for TLS 1.3” that Bas is 
proposing is fine by me.

+1 on mentioning ephemeral everywhere consistently.

“post-quantum hybrid” aligns with “PQ/T hybrid” in RFC9794. I suggest we swap 
with “PQ/T hybrid” or “Post-Quantum Traditional hybrid” in the whole document 
wherever there is a “hybrid”.

“post-quantum ML-KEM” in the Abstract is fine imo. “quantum-resistant ML-KEM” 
would also be fine.

I think Bas, covered all the other questions.

Rgs,
Panos

From: Bas Westerbaan <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2026 9:09 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; Kampanakis, Panos <[email protected]>; 
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; 
[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; 
[email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Final Review: RFC-to-be 10024 
(draft-ietf-tls-ecdhe-mlkem) in XML


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On Fri, Jul 24, 2026 at 12:06 AM 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Authors,

While reviewing this document during Final Review, please resolve (as 
necessary) the following questions, which are also in the source file.

1) <!-- [rfced] Document title

a) How may we update the document title to clarify "ECDHE-MLKEM Key Agreement”?
Note that we will add a hyphen for "MLKEM" (i.e., "ML-KEM").

Original:
Post-quantum hybrid ECDHE-MLKEM Key Agreement for TLSv1.3

Perhaps:
Post-Quantum Hybrid Key Agreement Mechanisms for TLS 1.3 That Combine ML-KEM and
ECDHE

Coauthors, I prefer the original, but if we make a change, I'd prefer

  Post-Quantum Hybrid Key Agreement Mechanisms for TLS 1.3

with abbreviation

 PQ Hybrids for TLS 1.3

2) <!-- [rfced] Questions about ECDHE and ECDH

Note: The abbreviation "ECDHE" refers to "Ephemeral Elliptic Curve
Diffie-Hellman", and the abbreviation "ECDH" refers to "Elliptic Curve
Diffie-Hellman".

a) The document title and abstract use "ECDHE" (but the expansion in the
abstract does not include "Ephemeral"). A similar sentence in Section 2 uses
"ECDH".  Should the usage be aligned?

Document title (uses "ECDHE"):
Post-quantum hybrid ECDHE-MLKEM Key Agreement for TLSv1.3

Abstract (uses "ECDHE" but expansion does not include "Ephemeral"):
This draft defines three hybrid key agreement mechanisms for TLS 1.3
- X25519MLKEM768, SecP256r1MLKEM768, and SecP384r1MLKEM1024 - that
combine the post-quantum ML-KEM (Module-Lattice-Based Key
Encapsulation Mechanism) with an ECDHE (Elliptic Curve Diffie-
Hellman) exchange.

Section 2 (uses "ECDH"):
This document introduces three new supported groups for hybrid post-
quantum key agreements in TLS 1.3: the X25519MLKEM768,
SecP256r1MLKEM768, and SecP384r1MLKEM1024 which combine ML-KEM with
ECDH in the manner of [hybrid].


b) Both "ECDH" an "ECDHE" are also used elsewhere in the document, including in
the IANA Considerations section. Please review all instances and let us know if
any further updates are needed.
-->

Coauthors, I propose to mention emphemeral everywhere consistently.

3) <!-- [rfced] In the title, abstract, and Section 2 (mentioned in the previous
question), is there a preferred order for the words "post-quantum" and "hybrid"?
Or is the current variation okay?

For example, "post-quantum hybrid" is used in the document title, and "hybrid
post-quantum" is used in Section 2. In the abstract, "post-quantum" is placed
before "ML-KEM".
-->

"Hybrid post-quantum" sounds more natural to my ear, but "post-quantum hybrid" 
emphases what is important. I don't have an opinion. Coauthors?

4) <!-- [rfced] RFC 8446 has been obsoleted by RFC 9846. Would you like to 
update
instances of [RFC8446] to [RFC9846]?

Note that if we update [RFC8446] to [RFC9846], we would also need to update the
following section number (several instances in the document):

  Section 4.2.8.2 of [RFC8446] > Section 4.3.8.2  of [RFC9846]

Three instances to my count.

We do not believe this section number would need to be updated:

  Section 7.4.2 of [RFC8446] > Section 7.4.2 of [RFC9846]

Please confirm.

Correct.

-->


5) <!-- [rfced] May we combine Sections 2.1 and 3 into one section?

Original:
 2.1.  Terminology

   The [hybrid] document defines "traditional" algorithms as those that
   are already widely adopted and "next-generation" algorithms as those
   that are not yet widely adopted, such as post-quantum algorithms.  In
   this document, ECDH using Curve25519, P-256, or P-384 is considered
   traditional, while ML-KEM is considered next-generation.

   The [hybrid] document also defines a "hybrid" key exchange as the
   simultaneous use of multiple key exchange algorithms, with their
   outputs combined to provide security as long as at least one of the
   component algorithms remains secure, even if the others are
   compromised.  This document uses the term "hybrid" with the same
   meaning.

 3.  Conventions and Definitions

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and
   "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in
   BCP 14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all
   capitals, as shown here.

Perhaps:
 3.  Terminology

   [RFC9954] defines "traditional" algorithms as those that are already
   widely adopted and "next-generation" algorithms as those that are not
   yet widely adopted, such as post-quantum algorithms.  In this
   document, ECDH using Curve25519, P-256, or P-384 is considered
   traditional, while ML-KEM is considered next-generation.

   [RFC9954] also defines a "hybrid" key exchange as the simultaneous
   use of multiple key exchange algorithms, with their outputs combined
   to provide security as long as at least one of the component
   algorithms remains secure, even if the others are compromised.  This
   document uses the term "hybrid" with the same meaning.

   The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT",
   "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "NOT RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and
   "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in
   BCP 14 [RFC2119] [RFC8174] when, and only when, they appear in all
   capitals, as shown here.
-->

Ok.

6) <!-- [rfced] Would adding "in [RFC9954]" after "framework" be helpful here?

Original:
   This document applies the framework to ML-KEM and specifies code
   points for the hybrid groups.a

Perhaps;
   This document applies the framework in [RFC9954] to ML-KEM and specifies code
   points for the hybrid groups.
-->

Yes.

7) <!-- [rfced] Should the note in Section 4.1 of this document be in the 
<aside>
element? It is defined as "a container for content that is semantically less
important or tangential to the content that surrounds it"
(https://authors.ietf.org/en/rfcxml-vocabulary#aside).
-->

Yes.

8) <!-- [rfced] Is "final" correct here? Or is "latest" or something similar
intended?

Original:
   These identifiers are to be
   used with the final, ratified by NIST, version of ML-KEM which is
   specified in [NIST-FIPS-203].

Perhaps:
   These identifiers are to be used with the latest version of ML-KEM
   ratified by NIST, which is specified in [NIST-FIPS-203].
-->

Final is correct. A changed algorithm will have a different name.

9) <!-- [rfced] Throughout the text, the following terminology appears to be 
used
inconsistently. Please review these occurrences and let us know if/how they
may be made consistent.

key exchange value
key_exchange value
-->

Everywhere should be key_exchange.

10) <!-- [rfced] FYI - We have expanded the following abbreviation per Section 
3.6
of RFC 7322 ("RFC Style Guide"). Please review carefully to ensure correctness.

HMAC-based Key Derivation Function (HKDF)
-->

Correct.

11) <!-- [rfced] Please review the "Inclusive Language" portion of the online 
Style
Guide <https://www.rfc-editor.org/styleguide/part2/#inclusive_language> and let
us know if any changes are needed.  Updates of this nature typically result in
more precise language, which is helpful for readers.

We follow rfc9794—perhaps better to cite it?

I reviewed the edits already made. They look good.

Kris, I'd like to highlight that the spelling of your name changed.

Thank you.

Thanks!

Best,

 Bas




Madison Church and Rebecca VanRheenen
RFC Production Center


On Jul 23, 2026, at 3:03 PM, 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> wrote:

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--------------------------------------
RFC 10024 (draft-ietf-tls-ecdhe-mlkem)

Title            : Post-quantum hybrid ECDHE-MLKEM Key Agreement for TLSv1.3
Author(s)        : K. Kwiatkowski,
                   P. Kampanakis,
                   B. Westerbaan,
                   D. Stebila
WG Chair(s)      : Joseph Salowey, Sean Turner, Deirdre Connolly
Area Director(s) : Deb Cooley, Christopher Inacio
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