README

LaravelAEAD is a library which provides Advanced Encryption with Associated Data (AEAD) for Laravel.

Abstract:

This package replaces, when installed and enabled, the default encryption implementation of Laravel, which currently supports only two variants of the same block cipher, AES-128-CBC and AES-256-CBC.

The reason for only having two options is probably based on PHP history itself, like the (not so much) rececent depreciation of MCrypt.

As of PHP 7.2, we can now count on the exceptional libsodium extension, with supports the most secure AEAD construtions and it's variants.

AEAD stands for Advanced Encryption, with Associated Data, and they are algorithms which combine a stream cipher with a message authentication code (MAC).

The result of such combination is a encryption scheme with provides three aspects that are useful for modern applications:

• Confidentiality
• Integrity
• Authenticity

For more information on AEAD, I highly recommend reading the libsodium documentation, which states the main parts, but, reading the construction IETF RFC's is also something interesting if you care for security.

Available Constructions.

Those are the libsodium AEAD constructors, and they respective key for usage with this package.

Installing & Configuring.

Installing the Library.

composer require hernandev/laravel-aead

Changing the authentication provider (on config/app.php):

    // YOU MUST COMMENT OUT THE DEFAULT ENCRYPTION CLASS>
    // Illuminate\Encryption\EncryptionServiceProvider::class,
    // THIS ONE SHOULD BE USED INSTEAD.
    LaravelAEAD\Providers\EncryptionServiceProvider::class,

Configuring the cipher (also on config/app.php):

    'cipher' => 'XCHACHA20-POLY1305-IETF',

Usage.

After doing this install, all default Laravel encryption will be performed under the relative constructions / ciphers.

Meaning if you use encrypt() and decrypt(), they will use this package instead of the default encryption.

It also means that cookies & session, that should be encrypted, will use it.