2 files changed, 36 insertions, 10 deletions
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-common/src/meshbay_common/crypto.py b/packages/meshbay-common/src/meshbay_common/crypto.py
index 682e1c0..b2ff3c0 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-common/src/meshbay_common/crypto.py
+++ b/packages/meshbay-common/src/meshbay_common/crypto.py
@@ -168,21 +168,45 @@ def unwrap_gek_aes(bundle: dict, sk_recipient: bytes, pk_recipient: bytes) -> by
 
 # ── Keystore (local key storage) ──────────────────────────────────────────────
 
-# Argon2id parameters — calibrate to ~500ms on target hardware before production.
-# POC measured 78ms with these; increase memory_cost to 262144 (256MB) for prod.
+# Argon2id parameters for the node keystore.
+#
+# Finding M2: these sat at 64 MB long after the hub's password verifier was raised
+# to 256 MB, and the docs recorded the bump as done — true for the hub, false here.
+# The keystore protects the node's Ed25519 and X25519 private keys, so it is the
+# more valuable target of the two.
+#
+# Parameters are recorded in each keystore envelope, so raising them does not
+# invalidate existing files: LEGACY_* is used when an envelope predates the field.
 ARGON2_ITERATIONS   = 3
-ARGON2_MEMORY_COST  = 65536   # 64 MB — increase to 262144 for production
+ARGON2_MEMORY_COST  = 262144   # 256 MB
 ARGON2_LANES        = 4
 ARGON2_KEY_LENGTH   = 32
 
-def derive_keystore_key(password: str, salt: bytes) -> bytes:
-    """Derive AES-256 key from password using Argon2id."""
+LEGACY_ARGON2_ITERATIONS  = 3
+LEGACY_ARGON2_MEMORY_COST = 65536    # 64 MB — keystores written before M2
+LEGACY_ARGON2_LANES       = 4
+
+
+def derive_keystore_key(
+    password: str,
+    salt: bytes,
+    *,
+    iterations: int | None = None,
+    memory_cost: int | None = None,
+    lanes: int | None = None,
+) -> bytes:
+    """
+    Derive an AES-256 key from a password using Argon2id.
+
+    Parameters default to the current production values; callers pass the values
+    recorded in an existing envelope when opening an older keystore.
+    """
     return Argon2id(
         salt=salt,
         length=ARGON2_KEY_LENGTH,
-        iterations=ARGON2_ITERATIONS,
-        lanes=ARGON2_LANES,
-        memory_cost=ARGON2_MEMORY_COST,
+        iterations=ARGON2_ITERATIONS if iterations is None else iterations,
+        lanes=ARGON2_LANES if lanes is None else lanes,
+        memory_cost=ARGON2_MEMORY_COST if memory_cost is None else memory_cost,
     ).derive(password.encode())
 
 def encrypt_keystore(plaintext: bytes, key: bytes) -> tuple[bytes, bytes, bytes]:
diff --git a/packages/meshbay-common/src/meshbay_common/protocol.py b/packages/meshbay-common/src/meshbay_common/protocol.py
index 55dcdde..d86b4ef 100644
--- a/packages/meshbay-common/src/meshbay_common/protocol.py
+++ b/packages/meshbay-common/src/meshbay_common/protocol.py
@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@ class MNP:
     CHAT_ATTACHMENT = "chat_attach"      # attachment metadata
     CHAT_HISTORY    = "chat_hist"       # request message history
     CHAT_HISTORY_RESPONSE = "chat_hist_resp"  # history response with messages
-    GEK_REQUEST     = "gek_req"         # browser requests group GEK
-    GEK_RESPONSE    = "gek_resp"        # node delivers GEK over secure channel
+    # GEK_REQUEST / GEK_RESPONSE were removed (NS3, and finding L1): the node must
+    # never serve the GEK in plaintext. Members obtain it by unwrapping their own
+    # ECIES bundle. The constants lingered after the handlers were deleted, leaving
+    # the wire contract looking as though the endpoint still existed.
     FILE_UPLOAD      = "file_upload"       # client pushes file chunk to node
     FILE_UPLOAD_ACK  = "file_upload_ack"   # node acknowledges chunk receipt
     FILE_DELETE      = "file_delete"       # client requests file deletion