docs: ADR for zero-knowledge encryption Phase 1

Records the decision: client-side AES-256-GCM, double-PBKDF2 auth/enc-key
split, server-as-blind-store, in-memory key lifecycle, and Phase 1 limitations
(forgotten password = data loss; Phase 2 recovery wrapping deferred).
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goose 2026-06-28 21:51:47 -03:00
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| [backend-deployment-constraints.md](./backend-deployment-constraints.md) | Deployment requirements (Solaria, Docker) |
| [mobile-health-frameworks-data.md](./mobile-health-frameworks-data.md) | HealthKit / Health Connect data-type reference (for future mobile work) |
| [android-health-connect-data-types.md](./android-health-connect-data-types.md) | Android Health Connect data types |
| [zero-knowledge-encryption.md](./zero-knowledge-encryption.md) | Client-side zero-knowledge encryption (AES-256-GCM, double-PBKDF2, Phase 1) |
> **Note**: Where a decision diverges from the implemented code (e.g. state
> management), the code is the source of truth and the ADR is kept only as

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# ADR: Zero-Knowledge Encryption (Phase 1)
**Status**: Implemented (Phase 1)
**Date**: 2026-06-28
## Context
The original design (`docs/product/encryption.md`, `docs/adr/mongodb-schema-decision.md`)
specified client-side zero-knowledge encryption: the server should never hold
plaintext user data or encryption keys. Until this change, the `EncryptedField`
type and recovery-phrase fields were aspirational scaffolding — data was always
stored and processed as plaintext JSON.
## Decision
Implement **client-side zero-knowledge encryption** using AES-256-GCM via the
browser's Web Crypto API. The server becomes a blind store: it holds opaque
ciphertext and can never decrypt user data.
### Key derivation: double PBKDF2
From the user's password, the client derives two independent values:
- **Auth secret**: `PBKDF2(password, "normogen-auth-v1", 150k iters, SHA-256)`
base64, sent to the server as the "password". The server PBKDF2-hashes it
(as before).
- **Encryption key**: `PBKDF2(password, "normogen-enc-v1", 150k iters, SHA-256)`
AES-GCM `CryptoKey`, kept in memory only, never transmitted.
The server cannot derive the encryption key because it never sees the raw
password or the enc-domain PBKDF2 output.
### What's encrypted
- Medication data blobs (name, dosage, frequency, route, etc.)
- Appointment data blobs (title, provider, date/time, etc.)
- Profile display name
### What stays plaintext (queryable)
- IDs (`medicationId`, `appointmentId`, `userId`, `profileId`)
- Medication `active` flag (top-level, filterable)
- Appointment `status` (top-level, filterable)
- Timestamps
### In-memory key lifecycle
The encryption key lives only in browser memory for the authenticated session.
It is NOT persisted. A page reload requires re-entering the password to
re-derive it. This is the core ZK trade-off.
## Consequences
### Phase 1 limitations (documented)
- **Forgotten password = data loss.** No recovery key-wrapping yet (Phase 2).
- **Page reload requires re-authentication** to re-derive the enc key.
- No data migration was needed (no real user data existed).
### Phase 2 (future)
- Recovery key-wrapping (wrap the enc key under a recovery-derived key so a
forgotten password doesn't lose data).
- Password-change re-wrapping (re-wrap the enc key under the new password).
- Wrapped-DEK model (separate data-encryption key + key-encryption key).
## Relationship to the original design doc
`docs/product/encryption.md` describes a fuller zero-knowledge architecture
(per-user keys, deterministic encryption for search, key rotation). This Phase 1
implements the core property (server can't read data) with the simplest viable
design. The fuller features remain future work.