Ensure `ZZ_p::init(modulus)` is Called in Each Thread When Using NTL‘s `ZZ_p`

Reminder: Ensure ZZ_p::init(modulus) is Called in Each Thread When Using NTL’s ZZ_p

When working with NTL’s ZZ_p class in multi-threaded applications, it’s crucial to ensure that the modulus for ZZ_p operations is properly initialized in each thread. Failing to do so can result in hard-to-diagnose issues like segmentation faults or unexpected behavior during cryptographic operations.

This tutorial serves as a reminder for handling ZZ_p correctly in parallelized environments, such as when using std::async or other multi-threading techniques.

Problem: Segmentation Fault with ZZ_p in Multi-Threaded Code

In NTL, the ZZ_p type represents elements of a finite field, where all operations are performed modulo a prime number. To use ZZ_p, you must initialize the prime modulus using:

ZZ_p::init(modulus);

However, if you’re using multi-threading (e.g., via std::async, std::thread, etc.), the global modulus set by ZZ_p::init(modulus) is not automatically shared across all threads. If a thread tries to perform ZZ_p operations without first calling ZZ_p::init(), it can lead to a segmentation fault (core dump).

Typical Scenario

Consider the following code where a main function initializes the modulus for ZZ_p, and encryption is performed in parallel:

void InitializeElGamalParams()