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EPJ Web of Conferences

Development of the experimental setup for investigation of latching of superconducting single-photon detector caused by blinding attack on the quantum key distribution system

Mikhail S. Elezov, Roman V. Ozhegov, Gregory N Gol'tsman, Vadim Makarov

Published Dec 13, 2016• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Recently bright-light control of the SSPD has been demonstrated. This attack employed a “backdoor” in the detector biasing scheme. Under bright-light illumination, SSPD becomes resistive and remains “latched” in the resistive state even when the light is switched off. While the SSPD is latched, Eve can simulate SSPD single-photon response by sending strong light pulses, thus deceiving Bob. We developed the experimental setup for investigation of a dependence on latching threshold of SSPD on optical pulse length and peak power. By knowing latching threshold it is possible to understand essential requirements for development countermeasures against blinding attack on quantum key distribution system with SSPDs.

DOI
10.1051/epjconf/201713201004

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Single photon detectors (SPDs) based on passively quenched avalanche photodiodes can be temporarily blinded by relatively bright light, of intensity less than 1 nW. A bright-light regime suitable for attacking a quantum key distribution system containing such detectors is described in this paper. In this regime, all SPDs in the receiver Bob are uniformly blinded by continuous illumination coming from the eavesdropper Eve. When Eve needs a certain detector in Bob to produce a click, she modifies the polarization (or other parameters used to encode quantum states) of the light she sends to Bob such that the target detector stops receiving light, while the other detector(s) continue to be illuminated. The target detector regains single photon sensitivity and, when Eve modifies the polarization again, produces a single click. Thus, Eve has full control of Bob and can perform a successful intercept–resend attack. To check the feasibility of the attack, three different models of passively quenched detectors have been tested. In the experiment, I have simulated the intensity diagrams the detectors would receive in a real QKD system under attack. Control parameters and side effects are considered. It appears that the attack could be practically possible.

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Controlling passively quenched single photon detectors by bright light

Vadim Makarov

Single photon detectors (SPDs) based on passively quenched\navalanche photodiodes can be temporarily blinded by relatively bright light, of\nintensity less than 1nW. A bright-light regime suitable for attacking a quantum\nkey distribution system containing such detectors is described in this paper. In\nthis regime, all SPDs in the receiver Bob are uniformly blinded by continuous\nillumination coming from the eavesdropper Eve. When Eve needs a certain\ndetector in Bob to produce a click, she modifies the polarization (or other\nparameters used to encode quantum states) of the light she sends to Bob such\nthat the target detector stops receiving light, while the other detector(s) continue\nto be illuminated. The target detector regains single photon sensitivity and, when\nEve modifies the polarization again, produces a single click. Thus, Eve has\nfull control of Bob and can perform a successful intercept–resend attack. To\ncheck the feasibility of the attack, three different models of passively quenched\ndetectors have been tested. In the experiment, I have simulated the intensity\ndiagrams the detectors would receive in a real QKD system under attack. Control\nparameters and side effects are considered. It appears that the attack could be\npractically possible.

•Jan 1, 2009•113 citations
Recently bright-light control of the SSPD has been demonstrated. This attack employed a “backdoor” in the detector biasing scheme. Under bright-light illumination, SSPD becomes resistive and remains “latched” in the resistive state even when the light is switched off. While the SSPD is latched, Eve can simulate SSPD single-photon response by sending strong light pulses, thus deceiving Bob. We developed the experimental setup for investigation of a dependence on latching threshold of SSPD on optical pulse length and peak power. By knowing latching threshold it is possible to understand essential requirements for development countermeasures against blinding attack on quantum key distribution system with SSPDs.
Nowadays, the superconducting single-photon detectors (SSPDs) are used in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) instead of single-photon avalanche photodiodes. Recently bright-light control of the SSPD has been demonstrated. This attack employed a “backdoor” in the detector biasing technique. We developed the autoreset system which returns the SSPD to superconducting state when it is latched. We investigate latched state of the SSPD and define limit conditions for effective blinding attack. Peculiarity of the blinding attack is a long nonsingle photon response of the SSPD. It is much longer than usual single photon response. Besides, we need follow up response duration of the SSPD. These countermeasures allow us to prevent blind attack on SSPDs for Quantum Key Distribution.
We explore bright-light control of superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) in the shunted configuration (a practical measure to avoid latching). In an experiment, we simulate an illumination pattern the SNSPD would receive in a typical quantum key distribution system under hacking attack. We show that it effectively blinds and controls the SNSPD. The transient blinding illumination lasts for a fraction of a microsecond and produces several deterministic fake clicks during this time. This attack does not lead to elevated timing jitter in the spoofed output pulse, and hence does not introduce significant errors. Five different SNSPD chip designs were tested. We consider possible countermeasures to this attack.
We derive the time-dependent photo-detection probability equation of a superconducting single photon detector (SSPD) to study the responsive property for a pulse train at high repetition rate. Using this equation, we analyze the characteristics of SSPDs when illuminated by bright pulses in blinding attack on a quantum key distribution (QKD). We obtain good agreement between expected values based on our equation and actual experimental values. Such a time-dependent probability analysis contributes to security analysis.
Single photon detectors (SPDs) based on passively quenched avalanche photodiodes can be temporarily blinded by relatively bright light, of intensity less than 1 nW. A bright-light regime suitable for attacking a quantum key distribution system containing such detectors is described in this paper. In this regime, all SPDs in the receiver Bob are uniformly blinded by continuous illumination coming from the eavesdropper Eve. When Eve needs a certain detector in Bob to produce a click, she modifies the polarization (or other parameters used to encode quantum states) of the light she sends to Bob such that the target detector stops receiving light, while the other detector(s) continue to be illuminated. The target detector regains single photon sensitivity and, when Eve modifies the polarization again, produces a single click. Thus, Eve has full control of Bob and can perform a successful intercept–resend attack. To check the feasibility of the attack, three different models of passively quenched detectors have been tested. In the experiment, I have simulated the intensity diagrams the detectors would receive in a real QKD system under attack. Control parameters and side effects are considered. It appears that the attack could be practically possible.
Single photon detectors (SPDs) based on passively quenched\navalanche photodiodes can be temporarily blinded by relatively bright light, of\nintensity less than 1nW. A bright-light regime suitable for attacking a quantum\nkey distribution system containing such detectors is described in this paper. In\nthis regime, all SPDs in the receiver Bob are uniformly blinded by continuous\nillumination coming from the eavesdropper Eve. When Eve needs a certain\ndetector in Bob to produce a click, she modifies the polarization (or other\nparameters used to encode quantum states) of the light she sends to Bob such\nthat the target detector stops receiving light, while the other detector(s) continue\nto be illuminated. The target detector regains single photon sensitivity and, when\nEve modifies the polarization again, produces a single click. Thus, Eve has\nfull control of Bob and can perform a successful intercept–resend attack. To\ncheck the feasibility of the attack, three different models of passively quenched\ndetectors have been tested. In the experiment, I have simulated the intensity\ndiagrams the detectors would receive in a real QKD system under attack. Control\nparameters and side effects are considered. It appears that the attack could be\npractically possible.