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Radiotekhnika

Analysis and research of digital signature algorithm Picnic

Maryna V. Yesina, B.S. Shahov

Published Dec 23, 2020• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

An important feature of the post-quantum period in cryptography is the significant uncertainty regarding the source data for cryptanalysis and counteraction in terms of the capabilities of quantum computers, their mathematical and software, as well as the application of quantum cryptanalysis to existing cryptotransformations and cryptoprotocols. Mathematical methods of digital signature (DS) have been chosen as the main methods of NIST USA, which have undergone significant analysis and substantiation in the process of extensive research by cryptographers and mathematicians at the highest level. They are described in detail and studied at the first stage of the US NIST International Competition. In the second round, a number of decisions were made to merge some candidates for the post-quantum DS standard. 9 candidates were left for further research at the 2nd round: Crystals-Dilithium, Falcon, GeMSS, LUOV, MQDSS, Picnic, qTESLA, Rainbow and SPHINCS+. Three of them (Dilithium, Falcon, qTeSLA) are based on the stability of algebraic lattices (Lattice-based), four (GeMSS, LUOV, MQDSS, Rainbow) are based on multivariate transformations (MQ-transformations), one (SPHINCS+) is based on the stability of hash-function, one (Picnic) is based on the stability of the hash-function and block stream ciphers. During the 2nd round of the US NIST Competition the following finalist algorithms and alternative algorithms were selected as digital signatures according to the results of research on promising post-quantum cryptographic algorithms. As finalists algorithms such DS algorithms as Crystals-Dilithium, Falcon and Rainbow. Alternative algorithms are GeMSS, Picnic and SPHINCS+ were selected. This paper studies the peculiarities of construction of the digital signature algorithm considered as a candidate for the promising post-quantum standard of the NIST PQC competition – Picnic, also it analyzes the protection of the algorithm from known attacks. Data from the comparison of post-quantum algorithms such as digital signature are given. The description of the Picnic algorithm and its parameters are given.

DOI
10.30837/rt.2020.4.203.02

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An important feature of the post-quantum period in cryptography is the significant uncertainty about the input data for cryptanalysis and counteracting the capabilities of quantum computers, their mathematical and software, and the application of quantum cryptanalysis to existing cryptoprotocols and cryptotransformations. Mathematical electronic signature (ES) methods have been selected as the main methods in the work, which have undergone significant analysis and substantiation in the process of extensive research by cryptologists and mathematicians at the highest level. The article analyzes the existing electronic signature algorithms based on the lattices of stage 2 of the NIST competition. The possibility of using the post-quantum electronic signature mechanism based on algebraic lattices as the post-quantum national electronic signature standard is considered. It is proposed to use the post-quantum Сrystals-Dilithium algorithm as such electronic signature algorithm. The article considers this algorithm and substantiates the possibility of its application. The algorithm parameters and rules for their construction are considered. The differences and features of safe implementation of the algorithm in comparison with stage 1 are analyzed. The analysis is conducted and it is concluded that the Crystals-Dilithium algorithm can be taken as one of the candidates for the development of a national electronic signature standard using cryptographic algorithms, standardized in Ukraine, such as the hashing function described in DSTU 7564:2014. According to the authors of the article, the post-quantum period national standard of Ukraine should include at least 3 algorithms based on different types of mathematical transformations, which are recognized by the world cryptographic community as those that can provide the necessary level of stability in the conditions of quantum cryptanalysis.
An important feature of the transition and post-quantum period is the application of new mathematical methods to counteract quantum cryptanalysis. The world cryptographic community pays special attention to the open competition for the post-quantum standard of electronic signature. The problem is to prove the stability of new mathematical methods for the synthesis of transformations such as electronic signature, in particular with the use of algebraic lattices. The existing algorithms of electronic signature of the 2nd stage of the NIST competition are analyzed. Among the selected candidates for the EP 2 standard, 3 of the 3 algorithms are based on algebraic lattices, CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM and FALCON. The NIST has issued a statement saying that it is most likely that one of the algorithms will be chosen due to the same mathematical basis used in both algorithms. The main attacks on electronic signature algorithms based on the problem of learning with errors, as well as the parameters of the EP Dilithium algorithm, which affect the stability and complexity of transformations, are considered. Methods for generating system-wide parameters of stability levels of 512 bits of classical and 256 bits of quantum security, as well as the protection of the algorithm againstfrom attacks by third-party channels are considered. The dependence of the time of electronic signature production on the keys is analyzed. The results of calculations for the level of stability 512/256 are given, and also recommendations on the choice of system-wide parameters are given. The results of the 2nd stage of the NIST competition of post quantum cryptographic algorithms, as well as the prospects of standardization of transformations such as electronic signature at the 3rd stage are considered. Conclusions are made about the need for a more detailed study of attacks on algorithms based on the problem of learning with errors, as well as the importance of generating system-wide parameters of higher levels.
Shor's shockingly fast quantum algorithm for solving the period-finding problem is a threat for the most common public-key primitives, as it can be efficiently applied to solve both the Integer Factorisation Problem and the Discrete Logarithm Problem. In other words, many once-secure protocols have to be replaced by still-secure alternatives. Instead of relying, for example, on the RSA protocol, the Diffie-Hellman key-exchange or the (Elliptic Curve) Digital Signature Algorithm, many researchers moved their attention to the design and analysis of primitives which are yet to be broken by quantum algorithms. The urgency of the threat imposed by quantum computers led the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to open calls for both Post-Quantum Public-Keys Exchange Algorithms and Post-Quantum Digital Signature Algorithms. In this brief survey we focus on the round 3 finalists and alternate candidates for Digital Signatures: CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM, FALCON, Rainbow, SPHINCS+, GeMSS, Picnic.
Globally, the efforts of a significant number of crypto-theorists, mathematicians and cryptologists-practitioners are focused on the NIST PQC open competition. One of the main tasks of the competition consists in development and adoption of a post-quantum ES standard or standards. The finalists of the second stage of the NIST competition were three ES mechanisms – CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM, Falcon and Rainbow. In addition, three alternative candidates were identified that require more detailed research. In general, a comprehensive analysis of the finalists is an important task for cryptologists in the global cryptocommunity. Moreover, security, i.e. bringing the cryptographic stability of two finalist candidates, to the ES standard – CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM and Falcon, is based on problems in the theory and practice of algebraic lattices. The EP Dilithium method (scheme) is based on the approach called "Fiat-Shamir Interruptions". The essence of the CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM ES algorithm is considered in the article. A detailed analysis of possible attacks on the algorithm and the mechanisms of their implementation is also carried out. Models of violator, threats and security are considered and analyzed. The main definitions of ES security models are provided. The main design elements of the mechanism of perspective post-quantum ES Dilithium are described in the generalized form. General estimations of the ES Dilithium security level are given. The substantiation and essence of models of threats, violator and security are given. The stability of the ES Dilithium algorithm is investigated. The purpose of the article is to substantiate a security model, classification, primary analysis and assessment of known attacks on the CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM EP cryptosystem, to establish restrictions and develop practical algorithms for calculating (generating) system-wide parameters to ensure 128, 256, 384 and 512 bits of security relative to classical and 64, 128, 192 and 256 bits relative to quantum cryptanalysis.
The continuous development of quantum computing requires the development of cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum cryptanalysis. Therefore, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is holding a competition to standardize algorithms in the post-quantum period, including Crystals-Dilithium, Falcon, and Sphincs+ for digital signatures. In order to determine the ways of development and ways to improve the existing methods of cryptographic protection and electronic digital signature (EDS), an urgent task arose to assess the effectiveness (stability and computational complexity) of existing EDS algorithms. In this paper, a comparative evaluation of EDS algorithms was carried out by key indicators. Research results show the disadvantages and advantages of each algorithm, taking into account the importance of context-specific use. The conclusions indicate that Dilithium has the lowest load on the system's computing resources, Falcon stands out for its signature verification speed, and Sphincs+ provides reliable security. The capabilities of existing cryptographic transformation algorithms based on elliptic curves do not meet the growing need of authentication algorithms resistance to quantum cryptanalysis, and the use of modern candidates for the post-quantum cryptography standard does not allow for a short-term transition to the usage of new cryptographic algorithms in information systems. The paper also points out the impossibility of simultaneous transition to potentially quantum cryptanalysis-resistant algorithms in existing information systems. The direction of further research is the development of new cryptoalgorithms and methods that will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of information during its transmission over unprotected channels in the transition period to the widespread use and implementation of post-quantum cryptography standards.
Quantum computing challenges the mathematical problems anchoring the security of the classical public key algorithms. For quantum-resistant public key algorithms, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has undergone a multi-year standardization process and selected the post-quantum cryptography (PQC) public key digital signatures of Dilithium, Falcon, and SPHINCS+. Finding common ground to compare these algorithms can be difficult because of their design differences, including the fundamental math problems (lattice-based vs. hash-based). We use a visualization model to show the key/signature size vs. security trade-offs for all PQC algorithms. Our performance analyses compare the algorithms’ computational loads in the execution time. Building on the individual algorithms’ analyses, we analyze the communication costs and implementation overheads when integrated with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and with Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP). Our results show that the lattice-based algorithms of Dilithium and Falcon induce lower computational overheads than the hash-based algorithms of SPHINCS+. In addition, the lattice-based PQC can outperform the classical algorithm with comparable security strength; for example, Dilithium 2 and Falcon 512 outperform RSA 4096 in the TLS handshake time duration.