Crypto Review

Crypto Review

Purpose

Review cryptographic implementations for algorithm choice correctness, key management soundness, side-channel resistance, and crypto agility readiness.

Scope Constraints

Reads source code, configuration files, and documentation for cryptographic implementation analysis. Does not modify files or execute code. Does not access key material, HSMs, or cryptographic secrets directly.

Inputs

• System or component using cryptographic operations
• Cryptographic algorithms and modes in use
• Key management architecture (generation, storage, rotation, destruction)
• Data sensitivity classification and compliance requirements
• Performance constraints and target platforms

Input Sanitization

No user-provided values are used in commands or file paths. All inputs are treated as read-only analysis targets.

Procedure

Step 1: Inventory Crypto Operations

Enumerate all cryptographic operations in the system:

• Symmetric encryption (algorithm, mode, key size)
• Asymmetric operations (signing, key exchange, encryption)
• Hashing (algorithm, usage context — integrity, commitment, password)
• Key derivation (KDF, parameters, input entropy)
• Random number generation (source, seeding, reseeding)

Step 2: Check Algorithm Choices

For each crypto operation, verify:

• Algorithm is current and not deprecated (no MD5, SHA-1 for security, DES, RC4)
• Mode is appropriate (AEAD preferred: AES-GCM, ChaCha20-Poly1305; no ECB, no unauthenticated CBC)
• Key size provides adequate security margin (AES-256 for long-term, AES-128 minimum)
• Parameters are correct (IV/nonce size, tag length, iteration counts for KDFs)
• Construction is standard (no custom padding, no hand-rolled MAC-then-encrypt)

Step 3: Review Key Management

Assess the full key lifecycle:

• Generation: Keys generated from cryptographically secure RNG? Sufficient entropy?
• Storage: Keys stored in HSM/TPM/keystore? Never in plaintext config files or source code?
• Distribution: Key exchange uses authenticated channels? No key material in logs or error messages?
• Rotation: Rotation policy defined? Rotation does not cause service disruption?
• Destruction: Keys securely erased after use? Memory not swapped to disk with key material?

Step 4: Assess Side-Channel Resistance

For security-critical crypto operations, check:

• Constant-time comparison for MACs and signatures (no early-exit on mismatch)
• Constant-time table lookups (no cache-timing-dependent S-box access)
• No branching on secret data
• Memory access patterns independent of key material
• Adequate blinding for RSA/ECC operations

Step 5: Check Crypto Agility

Assess the system's ability to migrate algorithms:

• Are algorithm identifiers negotiated or hardcoded?
• Can algorithms be swapped without architectural changes?
• Is there a version/algorithm field in encrypted data formats?
• Can the system support hybrid mode (classical + PQC)?

Compaction resilience: If context was lost during a long session, re-read the Inputs section to reconstruct what system is being analyzed, then resume from the earliest incomplete step.

Output Format

Crypto Operations Inventory

Finding Table

Key Management Assessment

• Generation: [Assessment]
• Storage: [Assessment]
• Rotation: [Assessment]
• Destruction: [Assessment]

Crypto Agility Score

• Algorithm identifiers negotiated: [Yes/No]
• Format supports versioning: [Yes/No]
• Hybrid mode possible: [Yes/No]

Handoff

• Hand off to protocol-analysis if protocol-level vulnerabilities are identified during crypto review.
• Hand off to pqc-readiness if quantum migration planning is needed based on algorithm inventory.

Quality Checks

• All crypto operations are inventoried
• No deprecated algorithms in security-critical paths
• AEAD mode used for all authenticated encryption
• Key management covers full lifecycle (generate, store, rotate, destroy)
• Side-channel resistance assessed for security-critical operations
• Nonce/IV management verified (uniqueness guaranteed)
• Crypto agility path exists for future algorithm migration

Evolution Notes