How to generate non-bad cv25519 encryption key?

theaetetos at tutanota.com theaetetos at tutanota.com
Mon Aug 22 20:53:03 CEST 2022


Hi there!

I am encountering a certain warning regarding my ed25519/cv25519
encryption key.  When I export the freshly generated encryption subkey
and then reimport it, I get the following:

>gpg: Schlüssel 20628B8C51751C49: "some name <some at email.domain>"
>nicht geändert
>gpg: warning: lower 3 bits of the secret key are not cleared
>gpg: Um 'secring.gpg' zu migrieren sollte für jede Smartcard "gpg
>--card-status" aufgerufen werden.
>gpg: Schlüssel 20628B8C51751C49: geheimer Schlüssel importiert

Excuse the German (I'm a learner). Conveniently, the warning is left
untranslated.

The key looks like this - the cv25519 [E] key being the culprit:

gpg2 --list-keys
> /home/patriv/.gnupg/pubring.kbx
> -----------------------------------------------------
> pub   ed25519 2022-08-22 [C]
>       52777B22E1A9F815C6112F1420628B8C51751C49
> uid        [ ultimativ ] some name <some at email.domain>
> sub   ed25519 2022-08-22 [S] [verfällt: 2023-08-22]
> sub   ed25519 2022-08-22 [A] [verfällt: 2023-08-22]
> sub   cv25519 2022-08-22 [E] [verfällt: 2023-08-22]


I think this was discussed in GnuPG-bug-id:T5464 [1]. I don't know
what to do in order to generate a correct, unencumbered encryption
key.

[1] https://dev.gnupg.org/T5464


Some more info for the curious attached below,
~Patrizio


[Reproduction steps]

gpg2 --version
>gpg (GnuPG) 2.3.3
>libgcrypt 1.9.4

# Generate keys
gpg2 --expert --full-generate-key
>11, s, q, 1, 0, y, some name, some at email.domain, ENTER, <passphrase>, confirm
gpg2 --expert -edit-key some at email.domain
>addkey, 10, 1, 1y, y, y, <passphrase>
>addkey, 11, s, a, q, 1, 1y, y, y, <passphrase>
>addkey, 12, 1, 1y, y, y, <passphrase>

# Back up keys
gpg2 --export --export-options backup --output pub.gpg some at email.domain
gpg2 --export-secret-keys --export-options backup --output sec.gpg some at email.domain
gpg2 --export-secret-subkeys --export-options backup --output sub.gpg some at email.domain
gpg2 --export-ownertrust > otrust.txt

# Delete keys (because I want to import only the subkeys)
gpg2 --delete-secret-and-public-keys some at email.domain

# Import only the subkeys
gpg2 --import --import-options restore sub.gpg
<message with the key bits warning from above>




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