Random Number Generation

ESP32-C2 contains a hardware random number generator, values from it can be obtained using the APIs esp_random() and esp_fill_random().

The hardware RNG produces true random numbers under any of the following conditions:

• RF subsystem is enabled (i.e. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are enabled).

• An internal entropy source has been enabled by calling bootloader_random_enable() and not yet disabled by calling bootloader_random_disable().

• While the ESP-IDF Second stage bootloader is running. This is because the default ESP-IDF bootloader implementation calls bootloader_random_enable() when the bootloader starts, and bootloader_random_disable() before executing the app.

When any of these conditions are true, samples of physical noise are continuously mixed into the internal hardware RNG state to provide entropy. Consult the ESP32-C2 Technical Reference Manual > Random Number Generator (RNG) [PDF] chapter for more details.

If none of the above conditions are true, the output of the RNG should be considered pseudo-random only.

Startup

During startup, ESP-IDF bootloader temporarily enables a non-RF entropy source (internal reference voltage noise) that provides entropy for any first boot key generation. However, after the app starts executing then normally only pseudo-random numbers are available until Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are initialized.

To re-enable the entropy source temporarily during app startup, or for an application that does not use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, call the function bootloader_random_enable() to re-enable the internal entropy source. The function bootloader_random_disable() must be called to disable the entropy source again before using ADC, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Note

The entropy source enabled during the boot process by the ESP-IDF Second Stage Bootloader will seed the internal RNG state with some entropy. However, the internal hardware RNG state is not large enough to provide a continuous stream of true random numbers. This is why a continuous entropy source must be enabled whenever true random numbers are required.

Note

If an application requires a source of true random numbers but it is not possible to permanently enable a hardware entropy source, consider using a strong software DRBG implementation such as the mbedTLS CTR-DRBG or HMAC-DRBG, with an initial seed of entropy from hardware RNG true random numbers.

Secondary Entropy

ESP32-C2 RNG contains a secondary entropy source, based on sampling an asynchronous 8MHz internal oscillator (see the Technical Reference Manual for details). This entropy source is always enabled in ESP-IDF and continuously mixed into the RNG state by hardware. In testing, this secondary entropy source was sufficient to pass the Dieharder random number test suite without the main entropy source enabled (test input was created by concatenating short samples from a continuously resetting ESP32-C2). However, it is currently only guaranteed that true random numbers will be produced when the main entropy source is also enabled as described above.

API Reference

Header File

• components/esp_hw_support/include/esp_random.h

Functions

uint32_t esp_random(void)

Get one random 32-bit word from hardware RNG.

If Wi-Fi or Bluetooth are enabled, this function returns true random numbers. In other situations, if true random numbers are required then consult the ESP-IDF Programming Guide “Random Number Generation” section for necessary prerequisites.

This function automatically busy-waits to ensure enough external entropy has been introduced into the hardware RNG state, before returning a new random number. This delay is very short (always less than 100 CPU cycles).

Returns

Random value between 0 and UINT32_MAX

void esp_fill_random(void *buf, size_t len)

Fill a buffer with random bytes from hardware RNG.

Note

This function is implemented via calls to esp_random(), so the same constraints apply.

Parameters

• buf – Pointer to buffer to fill with random numbers.

• len – Length of buffer in bytes

Header File

• components/bootloader_support/include/bootloader_random.h

Functions

void bootloader_random_enable(void)

Enable an entropy source for RNG if RF subsystem is disabled.

The exact internal entropy source mechanism depends on the chip in use but all SoCs use the SAR ADC to continuously mix random bits (an internal noise reading) into the HWRNG. Consult the SoC Technical Reference Manual for more information.

Can also be called from app code, if true random numbers are required without initialized RF subsystem. This might be the case in early startup code of the application when the RF subsystem has not started yet or if the RF subsystem should not be enabled for power saving.

Consult ESP-IDF Programming Guide “Random Number Generation” section for details.

Warning

This function is not safe to use if any other subsystem is accessing the RF subsystem or the ADC at the same time!

void bootloader_random_disable(void)

Disable entropy source for RNG.

Disables internal entropy source. Must be called after bootloader_random_enable() and before RF subsystem features, ADC, or I2S (ESP32 only) are initialized.

Consult the ESP-IDF Programming Guide “Random Number Generation” section for details.

void bootloader_fill_random(void *buffer, size_t length)

Fill buffer with ‘length’ random bytes.

Note

If this function is being called from app code only, and never from the bootloader, then it’s better to call esp_fill_random().

Parameters

• buffer – Pointer to buffer

• length – This many bytes of random data will be copied to buffer

getrandom

A compatible version of the Linux getrandom() function is also provided for ease of porting:

#include <sys/random.h>

ssize_t getrandom(void *buf, size_t buflen, unsigned int flags);

This function is implemented by calling esp_fill_random() internally.

The flags argument is ignored, this function is always non-blocking but the strength of any random numbers is dependent on the same conditions described above.

Return value is -1 (with errno set to EFAULT) if the buf argument is NULL, and equal to buflen otherwise.

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