Skip to Content [alt-c]

Andrew Ayer

Sections

LibreSSL's PRNG is Unsafe on Linux [Update: LibreSSL fork fix]

Comment by Andrew Ayer

Posted in reply to Comment by Reader zagam.

This comment is owned by whoever posted it. I am not responsible for it in any way.

Not all information on Unix is retrieved using a device file. For example, getting the time of day is done with a system call. Getting entropy is more analogous to getting the time of day than accessing a device: it's a core function needed by many applications, and there is no need to ever restrict access to it (running out of entropy is a myth created by the Linux man page for random(4)). Combined with the security problems with using a device file for such a security-critical function, you have a compelling case for using a system call for entropy.

| Posted on 2016-06-19 at 15:26:55 UTC by Andrew Ayer | Parent | Reply to This

Post a Reply

Your comment will be public. If you would like to contact me privately, please email me. Please keep your comment on-topic, polite, and comprehensible. Use the "Preview" button to make sure your comment is properly formatted. Name and email address are optional. If you specify an email address it will be kept confidential.

Post Comment


(Optional; will be published)


(Optional; will not be published)


(Optional; will be published)


  • Blank lines separate paragraphs.
  • Lines starting with ">" are indented as block quotes.
  • Lines starting with two spaces are reproduced verbatim.
  • Text surrounded by *asterisks* is italicized.
  • Text surrounded by `back ticks` is monospaced.
  • URLs are turned into links.