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by kurikuri 441 days ago
> Fast key erasure uses symmetric cipher. If there's a mathematical attack on that, then you just don't have any symmetric cipher

The generation of the RNG’s output stream is the result of a symmetric cipher, yes, but an attack doesn’t need to be on the cipher as a whole. And, once again, if there is a state leakage at any point we end up with the same problem that any future output of the key stream can be undetectably replicated. Sure, you can always replace the key sooner, but that only better protects against the state leakage; the output sequence is still deterministic no matter how fast you replace it.

> You need a custom protocol for this, how is that certified?

This is where cybersecurity testing labs are useful, especially ones who can do entropy source validation. If the protocol itself can be described in terms of the standard, and fulfill its requirements, then it can be easily certified. If there is no way to map the behavior to the standard, but the behavior is secure (according to the lab), the SMEs at the lab can request guidance from the certifying body on how to deal with the situation. These requests have culminated in public guidance (e.g., the FIPS 140-3 IGs) on how to certify industry specific protocols.