Classic McEliece Security API
Side-channel claim limit. Nothing on this page claims constant-time behaviour or side-channel resistance for any target: the side-channel harness covers nothing (finding A48) and no measurement exists. The Rust and C cores are designed for constant time and unmeasured; managed runtimes (JIT, GC, bounds checks) make no timing claim. Where this page names constant-time or side-channel techniques, in prose or in code, they are design intent or recommendations, not measured properties.
Version: 1.0.0
Last Updated: 2025-01-02
Security Classification: Code-Based KEM
Author: MetaMUI Security Team
Overview
Classic McEliece is a code-based KEM with strong security guarantees but very large public keys.
- Algorithm Family: Niederreiter cryptosystem
- Security Levels: Multiple parameter sets
- Key Sizes:
- Public Key: 261,120 to 1,357,824 bytes
- Secret Key: ~14 KB
- Ciphertext: ~240 bytes
- NIST Round: Round 4 finalist
Security Warnings ⚠️
- Huge Public Keys: Megabyte-sized public keys
- Conservative Security: Very strong security assumptions
- Storage Requirements: Not suitable for constrained devices
- Fast Operations: Very fast encapsulation/decapsulation
API Functions
Standard KEM interface with very large public keys.
Security Analysis
Threat Model: Classic McEliece Threat Model
The comprehensive threat analysis covers:
- Algorithm-specific attack vectors
- Implementation vulnerabilities
- Side-channel considerations
- Quantum resistance analysis (where applicable)
- Deployment recommendations
For complete security analysis and risk assessment, see the dedicated threat model documentation.