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Subject: RE: [security-services] Possible 1.1 (and 1.0) errata


I think this result is almost right, but question an aspect of the analysis.
The "almost right" part first: the "less than" components should be "less
than or equal to", assuming that the intent is to allow 128-bit and 160-bit
values respectively rather than requiring something slightly larger; the
probability that one 160-bit random value matches the next should be exactly
2^-160, not less.  The first trial fixes the value against which the second
independent sample will be compared, and there are 2^160 possible values. 

WRT the analysis, it's easier (given enough operations and their accumulated
history) to find a result collision between some pair of hash inputs than to
find a match against a specific fixed output.  This corresponds to the
result that 2^80 operations can be expected to yield *some* collision for a
160-bit hash function, but doesn't mean that the probability that two
initial trials, taken in isolation, will match with a probability as "high"
as 2^-80.

--jl

-----Original Message-----
From: Jahan Moreh [mailto:jmoreh@sigaba.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2003 1:41 PM
To: Scott Cantor; SAML
Subject: RE: [security-services] Possible 1.1 (and 1.0) errata


Scott -
This is the text in 1.1 core that references uniqueness (I am using draft
10, lines 360-362):

The mechanism by which a SAML system entity ensures that the identifier is
unique is left to the implementation. In the case that a pseudorandom
technique is employed, the probability of two randomly chosen identifiers
being identical MUST be less than 2^-128 and SHOULD be less than 2^-160.
This requirement MAY be met by encoding a randomly chosen value between 128
and 160 bits in length.

I actually think this text is correct! The key words here are: "randomly
chosen". I believe the case you identify below is the probability of
collision when one value is already chosen (i.e., a birthday attack). In
that case, indeed the probability is approximately 2^-n/2, where "n" is the
number of bits.

So, if this is not the text you are referencing, or, if I am mistaken in my
analysis, please let me know so that I can update the errata accordingly.

Thanks,
Jahan


----------------
Jahan Moreh
Chief Security Architect
310.286.3070

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott Cantor [mailto:cantor.2@osu.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2003 10:21 AM
> To: SAML
> Subject: [security-services] Possible 1.1 (and 1.0) errata
>
>
> It's been pointed out during review of the latest Liberty
> documents that the
> part in SAML about identifier uniqueness is overstated based on
> the intent.
> If the point is to use a SHA1 hash, then the actual collision
> probability in
> the spec language should be <= 2^-80 instead of < 2^-160
>
> Liberty had the same language and it was copied from SAML, so I
> figured I'd
> mention it.
>
> -- Scott
>
>
> You may leave a Technical Committee at any time by visiting
> http://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/security-services/mem
bers/leave_workgroup.php


You may leave a Technical Committee at any time by visiting
http://www.oasis-open.org/apps/org/workgroup/security-services/members/leave
_workgroup.php


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