Cipher suites come in a variety of strengths. Because they are made up of several different types of algorithms (authentication, encryption, and message authentication code (MAC)), the strength of each varies with the chosen key sizes. There can be many methods of grading the strength of a cipher suite – the specific method used seems to vary between different projects and companies an can include things such as symmetric and public key algorithm key sizes, type of algorithm, performance, and known weaknesses.
NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) makes recommendations on choosing an acceptable cipher suite by providing comparable algorithm strengths for varying key sizes of each. The strength of a cryptographic algorithm depends on the algorithm and the key size used. The NIST Special Publication, SP800-57, states that two algorithms are considered to be of comparable strength as follows:
“… two algorithms are considered to be of comparable strength for the given key sizes (X and Y) if the amount of work needed to “break the algorithms” or determine the keys (with the given key sizes) is approximately the same using a given resource. The security strength of an algorithm for a given key size is traditionally described in terms of the amount of work it takes to try all keys for a symmetric algorithm with a key size of “X” that has no short cut attacks (i.e., the most efficient attack is to try all possible keys).”
The two tables in section 4.3 of the wolfSSL Manual (Table 2, Table 3). are based off of both Table 2 (pg. 64) and Table 4 (pg. 66) from NIST SP800-57, and show comparable security strength between algorithms as well as a strength measurement (based off of NIST’s suggested algorithm security lifetimes using bits of security).
Using these tables as guides to begin to classify a cipher suite, we categorize it based on the strength of the symmetric encryption algorithm. In doing this, a rough grade classification can be devised to classify each cipher suite based on bits of security (only taking into account symmetric key size):
LOW = bits of security smaller than 128 bits
MEDIUM = bits of security equal to 128 bits
HIGH = bits of security larger than 128 bits
Outside of the symmetric encryption algorithm strength, the strength of a cipher suite will depend greatly on the key sizes of the key exchange and authentication algorithm keys. The strength is only as good as the cipher suite’s weakest link.
Following the above grading methodology (and only basing it on symmetric encryption algorithm strength), wolfSSL 2.0.0 currently supports a total of 0 LOW strength cipher suites, 12 MEDIUM strength cipher suites, and 8 HIGH strength cipher suites – as listed in section 4.3.2 of the wolfSSL Manual. The following strength classification could change depending on the chosen key sizes of the other algorithms involved. For a reference on hash function security strength, see Table 3 (pg. 64) of NIST SP800-57.
In some cases, you will see ciphers referenced as “EXPORT” ciphers. These ciphers originated from the time period in US history (as late as 1992) when it was illegal to export software with strong encryption from the United States. Strong encryption was classified as “Munitions” by the US Government (under the same category as Nuclear Weapons, Tanks, and Ballistic Missiles). Because of this restriction, software being exported included “weakened” ciphers (mostly in smaller key sizes). In the current day, this restriction has been lifted, and as such, EXPORT ciphers are no longer a mandated necessity.