Self-validating request message structure and operation

A computer readable storage medium comprises:

• at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by one or more processing modules of one or more devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), causes the one or more devices to:
• generate, by a first device of the one or more devices, a self-validating message by:
• creating a master key;
• using the master key and a secret function to create a message encryption key;
• encrypting a message using the message encryption key to produce an encrypted message;
• encrypting the master key using a public key of a second device to produce an encrypted master key;
• and
• including a message authentication code of the first device in the self-validating message;
• receive, by a second device of the one or more devices, the self-validating message;
• and
• decode, by the second device, the self-validating message by:
• verifying the message authentication code of the first device;
• and
• when the message authentication code of the first device is verified:
• decrypting the encrypted master key using a private key of the second device to recover the master key;
• using the master key and the secret function to create the message encryption key;
• and
• decrypting the encrypted message using the message encryption key to recover the message.