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NIST Proposes the Conversion of FIPS 198-1 (HMAC) to a NIST Special Publication

  • 1.  NIST Proposes the Conversion of FIPS 198-1 (HMAC) to a NIST Special Publication

    Posted Sep 20, 2022 09:20:00 AM
    Hi All,

    NIST Proposes the Conversion of FIPS 198-1 (HMAC) to a NIST Special Publication

    As a part of the periodic review of NIST's cryptographic standards and guidelines, NIST's Crypto Publication Review Board announced the review of FIPS 198-1 The Keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code (HMAC), in August 2021. In response, NIST received public comments.

    NIST proposes to convert FIPS 198-1 to a NIST Special Publication (SP) and apply the following changes:
    • Update the HMAC specification to include block sizes for the SHA-3 family of hash functions
    • Include a discussion on truncation
    • Improve the editorial quality and update references

    Conversion to an SP: NIST typically specifies fundamental cryptographic primitives-block ciphers, digital signatures algorithms, and hash functions-as FIPS publications, whereas other cryptographic schemes-modes of operation, message authentication codes, etc.-are published as a part of the NIST SP 800 series. (For more information, see Section 3 of NISTIR 7977.) To be consistent with that approach, NIST proposes to convert FIPS 198-1 to an SP.

    In particular, NIST proposes to develop a draft SP for the HMAC specification, updated as described above, which would be released for public comment. When the SP is finalized and published, FIPS 198-1 will be withdrawn simultaneously.

    Send comments on the decision proposal by October 20, 2022, to [email protected] with "Comments on FIPS 198-1 decision proposal" in the subject line.

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    Michael Roza CPA, CISA, CIA, MBA, Exec MBA
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