The Random Oracle Methodology, Revisited
by Ran Canetti, Oded Goldreich, Shai Halevi
Abstract
We take a formal look at the relationship between the 
security of cryptographic schemes in the Random Oracle Model, and 
the security of the schemes which result from implementing the random 
oracle by so called ``cryptographic hash functions''. 
Our main result is a negative one: There exist signature 
and encryption schemes which are secure in the Random Oracle Model, but 
for which ANY implementation of the random oracle results in 
insecure schemes. 
 
In the process of devising the above schemes, we consider possible 
definitions for the notion of a ``good implementation'' of a random 
oracle, pointing out limitations and challenges.
Versions
Also available: a follow-up work
(by the same authors, 2003). 
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