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Híradástechnika/Infocommunications journal

Quantum Network Security: A Quantum Firewall Approach

Shahad A. Hussein, Suadad S. Mahdi, Alharith A. Abdullah

Published Jan 1, 2023• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The increasing prominence of quantum networks has necessitated the exploration of their vulnerabilities and the development of effective countermeasures. This paper investigates the potential threats faced by quantum networks, particularly focusing on the exploitation of quantum TCP-threeway handshake connections. To mitigate these attacks, a novel approach involving the implementation of a quantum firewall is proposed. The paper emphasizes that the security of quantum networks is primarily reliant on pre-established agreements for creating quantum entanglement among devices, which inherently limits external attacks. However, it highlights the adverse impact of quantum assaults on network availability due to the consumption of quantum bits required for establishing connections. By leveraging unique node identification and coherence time of quantum memory, the proposed quantum firewall effectively mitigates the effects of attacks while ensuring network availability. Through this security strategy, the paper demonstrates the robustness of the quantum firewall in safeguarding the integrity and operation of quantum networks against potential threats.

DOI
10.36244/icj.2025.1.6

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This paper proposes a novel hardware security protocol leveraging the principles of quantum decoherence. Traditional hardware security protocols often rely on computationally intensive mathematical algorithms, rendering them vulnerable to sophisticated hardware attacks. Our approach introduces a fundamentally different strategy: embedding quantum decoherence directly into the hardware design. This creates an inherent barrier against eavesdropping and manipulation, as any attempt to observe or alter the quantum state will inevitably induce decoherence, destroying the key or corrupting the data. We detail the theoretical framework, focusing on the operational aspects of the protocol, and outline its potential advantages in mitigating hardware-based threats. The core claim of this work is to demonstrate a viable hardware security solution based on a well-established quantum phenomenon, offering a robust defense against attacks that exploit weaknesses in traditional cryptographic implementations.
Reliable and efficient functioning of a quantum network depends on identifying and mitigating security risks originating from within and outside the network. We aim to construct a comprehensive framework for developing and assessing secure quantum networks. We articulate issues for making quantum networks secure in general, summarise the state of the art and identify priority directions for further investigation. Our analysis builds on the secure communication protocols developed for classical layered network architectures such as the open-systems interconnection (OSI) model and the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) model. Our work will lead to the development of a hardware-independent framework for securing general quantum networks that allows developers to identify mandatory security mechanisms and incorporate additional security requirements of the clients during design of the networks.
6G networks require precise and secure clock synchronization for the success of promised applications. The growing demand for high accuracy and precision in clock synchronization motivated the development of QTS protocol. The security of the QTS protocol is crucial for maintaining reliable, uninterrupted network communications. As QTS consists of quantum and classical components, potential security vulnerabilities can be in both domains. This paper investigates the vulnerabilities in the classical channel and examines how these weaknesses impact the protocol. An attacker exploiting the weakness in TCP/IP protocol specifically ARP spoofing attack, followed by MITM attack threat is studied. This attacker can alter the timing information exchanged between devices located in respective clocks, resulting in an incorrect time offset calculation in QTS protocol. Simulation is conducted by generating photon detection timestamps following Poisson distribution at each detector and communicating over TCP connection. An attacker is located between two clocks and intercepts the packets. The simulation result illustrates vulnerabilities in the TCP protocol and demonstrates how exploiting these weaknesses can affect clock synchronization accuracy. In addition, TLS protocol is identified as a potential countermeasure mechanism.