On Mar 19, 2024, at 5:43 PM, AJITOMI Daisuke <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Laurence,

Two-layer COSE-HPKE is structurally the same as -25. If we take out 
COSE_KDF_Context and don’t provide an equivalent we are going backwards.

It's not correct. Two-layer COSE-HPKE is not similar to -25, but -29.

To illustrate using HPKE, in direct key agreement (-25, etc.), KEM and KDF are 
done at layer1, and AEAD is done at layer0. On the other hand, in COSE-HPKE key 
encryption, KEM, KDF, and AEAD all are done at layer1 for CEK encryption.
This is the same as Key Agreement with Key Wrap (-29, etc.).

Well, yes, kinda-sorta, but in a way that doesn’t matter for the discussion at 
hand.

The important part is that next_alg provides the necessary protection for both 
-25 and COSE-HPKE Key Encryption (aka 2-layer COSE). They are the same in that 
regard.

As you mentioned, next_alg is not a solution for -29. From my understanding, 
next_alg makes sense primarily for direct key agreement and is not related to 
COSE-HPKE.

I don’t think that logic makes sense. Two-layer COSE-HPKE is vulnerable to the 
lamps attack.

(and we can probably have a next_next_alg or such to fix -29).


Anyway, in COSE-HPKE key encryption, the key encryption at layer1 is protected 
by HPKE and is not affected by the lamps attack.

Yes, that’s true. In particular you can’t change the algorithm ID for the AEAD 
inside HPKE to a non-AEAD. Such a change will be detected and blocked.

The discussion about the keys used at layer0 is independent of layer1, and in 
my opinion, does not need to be considered in COSE-HPKE draft, regardless of 
whether non-AEAD algs can be used at layer0.

Not sure why you mention “keys used at layer 0”. What matters is that the 
algorithm ID at layer 0 is protected. It must always be protected no matter 
what type of COSE or HPKE or CMS or JOSE we are considering.

LL

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