Show HN: Air-gapped file encryption as self-decrypting HTML page (cms-sfx-demo.apeleg.com)
31 points by emurlin 14 hours ago
Air-gapped file encryption packed into a single, self-decrypting HTML page. Repo: https://github.com/ApelegHQ/ts-cms-ep-sfx
I was inspired by self-extracting archives. I wanted to share files with basically no dependencies. The goal was:
1. Something that didn't require any installation (assuming a web browser)
2. Have a single file with no network that could self-decrypt
3. Be fully auditable
The first point is made by cleverly manipulating the HTML structure so that it can decrypt without breaking the PGP signature. It can even decrypt using bare openssl (which was a design goal too, though getting the exact structure right took some work and bug reports).
The third point is accomplished by the first two, and by the source being freely available.
(*) Depends on the OS at the moment.
som an hour ago
A version of this that supported PKE would be cool. So you don't have to share a password in a side channel
lukan 2 hours ago
I assume the "air gapped" part is merely indicating no internet required?
az226 an hour ago
Offline would be a better word.
firefax 2 hours ago
cool project!
also does everyone have to enable js to vote, or did i troll too hard? (sorry!)
DylanMerigaud 14 hours ago
Self-decrypting HTML? That's an innovative approach.
emurlin 14 hours ago
Yeah, I was inspired by self-extracting archives. I wanted to share files with basically no dependencies.
The goal was:
1. Something that didn't require any installation (assuming a web browser)
2. Have a single file with no network that could self-decrypt
3. Be fully auditable
The second point is done by having (sort of(*)) reproducible builds and embedded OpenPGP signatures.
The first point is made by cleverly manipulating the HTML structure so that it can decrypt without breaking the PGP signature. It can even decrypt using bare openssl (which was a design goal too, though getting the exact structure right took some work and bug reports).
The third point is accomplished by the first two, and by the source being freely available.
(*) Depends on the OS at the moment.
dang 3 hours ago
I'm going to move this description to the top and re-up the post - I hope that's ok!
112233 2 hours ago
Somebody already has copied this innovative approach and travelled to past apparently: https://acme.com/software/securepage/
jszymborski 2 hours ago
Methods like these go way further back than 2010... I recall one that had a reward promised if you could break it.
EDIT: Here's a patent from 2006 [0]
[0] https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloa...
nikhilkxmar 7 hours ago
Cool!
FatalLogic 14 hours ago
Maybe this is the source?
dang 2 hours ago
Added above. Thanks!
emurlin 14 hours ago
Correct