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secp256k1_context_randomize: document.
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I think I summarized it correctly after IRC discussion with gmaxwell
and andytoshi; I didn't know it existed :(

It's regrettable to expose this level of detail, but users need to know
this to make a decision about how to use it.

Signed-off-by: Rusty Russell <rusty@rustcorp.com.au>
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rustyrussell committed Feb 14, 2017
1 parent 9d560f9 commit 70ff29b
Showing 1 changed file with 16 additions and 1 deletion.
17 changes: 16 additions & 1 deletion include/secp256k1.h
Original file line number Diff line number Diff line change
Expand Up @@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ typedef int (*secp256k1_nonce_function)(
*
* Returns: a newly created context object.
* In: flags: which parts of the context to initialize.
*
* See also secp256k1_context_randomize.
*/
SECP256K1_API secp256k1_context* secp256k1_context_create(
unsigned int flags
Expand Down Expand Up @@ -543,11 +545,24 @@ SECP256K1_API SECP256K1_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT int secp256k1_ec_pubkey_tweak_mul(
const unsigned char *tweak
) SECP256K1_ARG_NONNULL(1) SECP256K1_ARG_NONNULL(2) SECP256K1_ARG_NONNULL(3);

/** Updates the context randomization.
/** Updates the context randomization to protect against side-channel leakage.
* Returns: 1: randomization successfully updated
* 0: error
* Args: ctx: pointer to a context object (cannot be NULL)
* In: seed32: pointer to a 32-byte random seed (NULL resets to initial state)
*
* While secp256k1 code is written to be constant-time no matter what secret
* values are, it's possible that a future compiler may output code which isn't,
* and also that the CPU may not emit the same radio frequencies or draw the same
* amount power for all values.
*
* This function provides a seed which is combined into the blinding value: that
* blinding value added before each multiplication (and removed afterwards) so
* that it does not affect function results, but shields against attacks which
* rely on any input-dependent behaviour.
*
* You should call this after secp256k1_context_create or
* secp256k1_context_clone, and may call this repeatedly afterwards.
*/
SECP256K1_API SECP256K1_WARN_UNUSED_RESULT int secp256k1_context_randomize(
secp256k1_context* ctx,
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