KUIDskeyed

KUIDskeyed is a term used in theoretical discussions and speculative literature to describe a class of cryptographic constructions that blend Key Unique Identifiers (KUIDs) with keyed cryptographic operations to derive per-object cryptographic material. A KUID is envisioned as a stable, device-bound or user-bound identifier that is unique within a deployment and protected against spoofing. In KUIDskeyed designs, the KUID serves as an input to a key derivation function or a keyed hash function in conjunction with a domain-specific master key or salt, producing per-file encryption keys, MAC keys, or session keys.

Mechanism: The usual approach involves obtaining the KUID from a trusted component, applying a cryptographic derivation process, and using the derived material for subsequent operations. This enables fine-grained key management, as keys can be rotated or revoked by changing the master secret or by re-deriving keys from updated KUID data.

Applications: Proposed uses include encrypted data stores with per-item keys, tamper-evident logging, secure device authentication in IoT, and controlled access to cloud resources. The method can support revocation by invalidating KUIDs or re-keying dependent material without wholesale system re-encryption.

Limitations: Practical deployment depends on robust provisioning of KUIDs, protection against leakage of KUIDs, enduring compatibility with existing cryptographic protocols, and clear standards for KUID generation and lifecycle management.

Status: As of now, KUIDskeyed remains a conceptual framework discussed in theory and some speculative scenarios; it has not been adopted as a formal standard in major security bodies.