Re: MD5 algorithm considered toxic (and harmful)

["Steven Adair" <steven () securityzone org>]

> There you have it.  Surely a GPL'd tool implementing this attack style
> will be available shortly.  And since Chinese researchers have been
> attacking SHA-1 lately, should SHA-256 be considered the proper
> replacement?  I am unsure :-(

Yes, it would probably be a good idea.  I think this link has been put out
on this list in the past with respect to discussion on SHA-1:

http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/ST/toolkit/secure_hashing.html

NIST might not be the bible to you on what to follow and implement, but
they are definitely worth listening to (even if you're not a U.S. Federal
agency) when they tell you not to use something anymore.  For those that
don't want to click and just want to read, here's the relevant parts:

----

March 15, 2006: The SHA-2 family of hash functions (i.e., SHA-224,
SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512) may be used by Federal agencies for all
applications using secure hash algorithms. Federal agencies should stop
using SHA-1 for digital signatures, digital time stamping and other
applications that require collision resistance as soon as practical, and
must use the SHA-2 family of hash functions for these applications after
2010. After 2010, Federal agencies may use SHA-1 only for the following
applications: hash-based message authentication codes (HMACs); key
derivation functions (KDFs); and random number generators (RNGs).
Regardless of use, NIST encourages application and protocol designers to
use the SHA-2 family of hash functions for all new applications and
protocols.

----

Steven
http://www.securityzone.org

> --
> Kristian Erik Hermansen
> "I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious."
>
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