IACR News item: 13 November 2025
Akif Mehmood, Nicola Tuveri
The emergence of Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computers (CRQCs) threatens traditional cryptographic systems, necessitating a transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). OpenSSL 3.0 introduced `Providers`, enabling modular cryptographic integration.
This work presents the concept of a "shallow `Provider`", facilitating integration of external implementations, to achieve a higher degree of cryptographic agility.
`aurora`, which we introduce as an instance of the "shallow `Provider`" methodology, integrates standardized PQC algorithms in TLS 1.3 for both key establishment and authentication, to support the PQC transition.
It enhances cryptographic agility by allowing OpenSSL to dynamically adapt to evolving PQC standards and the rapidly evolving ecosystem of PQC implementations.
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