AI CURATED HOT STORY · 10/17/2026
Anthropic's Claude model successfully reverse-engineered the generation logic of the 'mystery seeds' in NIST ECDSA standards within 30 minutes, solving a puzzle that had baffled cryptographers for 25 years. This breakthrough confirmed that these critical parameters were generated by a simple C language pseudo-random number function (lrand48), effectively dispelling long-standing suspicions that the NSA had intentionally implanted backdoors.
Cross-verified reports indicate that Claude independently traced the seed origins for five standard curves (P-192 to P-521) by identifying bit patterns and restoring generator states, confirming initialization based on Unix timestamps from 1997-1998. The conclusion was validated by bounty initiator Filippo Valsorda, with systematic zero values in high bits further supporting the 'no backdoor' finding. While some historical details like the B-163 seed remain unexplained, the core mystery is resolved.
Although this did not break the ECDSA algorithm or reveal new vulnerabilities, it significantly enhanced transparency and public trust in existing encryption standards. Anthropic donated the $36,864 bounty to the Internet Security Research Group, demonstrating AI's potential in solving complex security challenges and setting a new benchmark for using large models in security audits.