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Hidden Structures and Quantum Cryptanalysis

Xavier Bonnetain

Published Nov 15, 2019• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

In this thesis, we study the security of cryptographic systems against an adversary who has access to a quantum computer. In quantum computing, we studied the hidden period and hidden shift problems, which are among the few known problems that have some applications in cryptogaphy and for which the best known quantum algorithm is more than polynomially faster than the best known classical algorithm. We proposed some improvements, new tradeoffs between classical and quantum time and memory, and extended their scope of applications to cases where only a classical oracle is available. In cryptanalysis, in symmetric cryptography, we proposed some attacks against symmetric constructions based on hidden shifts, and generalized many attacks using hidden periods to cases where the construction is only accessible classically. We proposed a quantum cryptanalysis of the different versions of the authenticated cipher AEZ and some quantum versions of multiple slide attacks, which are a classical family of cryptanalyses. This rewriting of attacks in the formalism of hidden periods has allowed us to propose a new classical attack against multiple variants of the cipher MiMC. In asymmetric cryptography, we proposed a concrete and asymptotic quantum security analysis of some isogeny-based key exchanges. Finally, we studied quantum security in some cases where these hidden structure problems do not apply, with in particular the first quantum security analysis of AES, the most used symmetric cipher to date.

DOI
10.70675/376c5157z8acez485dzab89z9e1bfa697ee9

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In this thesis, we study the security of cryptographic systems against an adversary who has access to a quantum computer. In quantum computing, we studied the hidden period and hidden shift problems, which are among the few known problems that have some applications in cryptogaphy and for which the best known quantum algorithm is more than polynomially faster than the best known classical algorithm. We proposed some improvements, new tradeoffs between classical and quantum time and memory, and extended their scope of applications to cases where only a classical oracle is available. In cryptanalysis, in symmetric cryptography, we proposed some attacks against symmetric constructions based on hidden shifts, and generalized many attacks using hidden periods to cases where the construction is only accessible classically. We proposed a quantum cryptanalysis of the different versions of the authenticated cipher AEZ and some quantum versions of multiple slide attacks, which are a classical family of cryptanalyses. This rewriting of attacks in the formalism of hidden periods has allowed us to propose a new classical attack against multiple variants of the cipher MiMC. In asymmetric cryptography, we proposed a concrete and asymptotic quantum security analysis of some isogeny-based key exchanges. Finally, we studied quantum security in some cases where these hidden structure problems do not apply, with in particular the first quantum security analysis of AES, the most used symmetric cipher to date.
Quantum computers, that may become available one day, would impact many scientific fields, most notably cryptography since many asymmetric primitives are insecure against an adversary with quantum capabilities. Cryptographers are already anticipating this threat by proposing and studying a number of potentially quantum-safe alternatives for those primitives. On the other hand, symmetric primitives seem less vulnerable against quantum computing: the main known applicable result is Grover's algorithm that gives a quadratic speed-up for exhaustive search. In this work, we examine more closely the security of symmetric ciphers against quantum attacks. Since our trust in symmetric ciphers relies mostly on their ability to resist cryptanalysis techniques, we investigate quantum cryptanalysis techniques. More specifically, we consider quantum versions of differential and linear cryptanalysis. We show that it is usually possible to use quantum computations to obtain a quadratic speed-up for these attack techniques, but the situation must be nuanced: we don't get a quadratic speed-up for all variants of the attacks. This allows us to demonstrate the following non-intuitive result: the best attack in the classical world does not necessarily lead to the best quantum one. We give some examples of application on ciphers LAC and KLEIN. We also discuss the important difference between an adversary that can only perform quantum computations, and an adversary that can also make quantum queries to a keyed primitive.
Quantum computers offer a novel approach to data processing, which poses both opportunities and threats for modern cryptography. While Shor’s algorithm for prime factorisation demonstrated the possible impact of quantum cryptanalysis, the complete quantum significance in the cryptanalytical context still needs further research. This thesis compiles a series of recent publications, each of which examines a distinct application of quantum advantage in cryptography. Collectively, these contributions constitute a non-exhaustive compendium of recent advancements in quantum cryptanalysis. We first examine applications of the Harrow-Hassidim-Lloyd (HHL) algorithm for solving linear equation systems. We propose two approaches in which the quantum advantage of the HHL algorithm could be leveraged to investigate structural properties relevant to symmetric cryptanalysis. In the subsequent chapter, an analysis is conducted on the significance of adiabatic quantum computing and its role in the cryptanalytical setting. Together, these results offer novel insights into the capabilities and limitations of quantum-enhanced cryptanalysis of symmetric ciphers. Turning to asymmetric settings, two quantum attacks are proposed that result in the complete break of the underlying ciphers. The first one exploits the recipient’s encryption process to extract the secret key used in the Quantum Encryption Method. The second targets an Identity-Based Encryption scheme whose security relies on isogenies. We demonstrate that the distinct use of isogenies introduces new attack vectors for both classical and quantum adversaries. Collectively, these contributions deepen the understanding of quantum-enhanced cryptanalysis, thereby clarifying both its potential and current boundaries.
Quantum computers, that may become available one day, would impact many scientific fields, most notably cryptography since many asymmetric primitives are insecure against an adversary with quantum capabilities. Cryptographers are already anticipating this threat by proposing and studying a number of potentially quantum-safe alternatives for those primitives. On the other hand, symmetric primitives seem less vulnerable against quantum computing: the main known applicable result is Grover’s algorithm that gives a quadratic speed-up for exhaustive search. In this work, we examine more closely the security of symmetric ciphers against quantum attacks. Since our trust in symmetric ciphers relies mostly on their ability to resist cryptanalysis techniques, we investigate quantum cryptanalysis techniques. More specifically, we consider quantum versions of differential and linear cryptanalysis. We show that it is usually possible to use quantum computations to obtain a quadratic speed-up for these attack techniques, but the situation must be nuanced: we don’t get a quadratic speed-up for all variants of the attacks. This allows us to demonstrate the following non-intuitive result: the best attack in the classical world does not necessarily lead to the best quantum one. We give some examples of application on ciphers LAC and KLEIN. We also discuss the important difference between an adversary that can only perform quantum computations, and an adversary that can also make quantum queries to a keyed primitive.
Cryptography is the technique of masking the message by means of any encryption method so that intended entity can decrypt the contents. Cryptanalysis is the art of retrieving plain text from cipher text with no prior information about technique or key used for encrypting the message. An intruder can attack in many ways to access the communication channel like impersonating, non-repudiation, denial of services, modification of data, threatening confidentiality and breaking availability of services. Thus, the security of any cryptographic schemes lies on the strength of particular hard problem like the integer factorization problem, the discrete logarithm problem in the multiplicative subgroup and on an elliptic curve. Nonetheless, with increased speed and memory of computers and stronger cryptanalytic algorithms, the two problems discrete logarithm problem in the multiplicative subgroup and the integer factorization problem, earlier considered to be strong and hard can be cracked in sub exponential time. Elliptic curve DLP has advantages over the other two: it generates shorter keys and is still an exponentially hard problem for classical and traditional computers. The circumstances will change if stronger attacks are discovered or fast computers are invented. Hence, researchers are predicting, quantum computers could solve Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm Problem in polynomial time. Researchers are working in the area to identify hard problems for quantum computers. Thus, the focus of the papers is on various available classical and quantum cryptographic schemes and its hardness with respect to classical and quantum computers respectively.
The general context Cryptography is a computer discipline that aims to protect messages through encryption systems. In symmetric cryptography, a secret parameter, called a key, is used both to encrypt and to decrypt messages. The security provided by a symmetric encryption system is evaluated using cryptanalysis techniques which aim, for example, to find the secret key. Quantum computer arrival could impact the cryptographic field. Indeed, in 1994, Shor exhibited that quantum computers could be used to improve assymetric cryptanalysis [17]. With the recent breakthrough in quantum computer, the security of cryptographic primitives against quantum adversary can not be taken as guaranteed. The NIST launched a competition for new primitives that are safe even against adversaries that has access to a quantum computer. To estimate the quantum security of a cryptographic scheme, it is necessary to perform its quantum cryptanalysis. Quantum cryptanalysis techniques sometimes are quantum adaptation of classical cryptanalysis techniques. This transformation is called quantizing. Let's note that an attack is valid if and only if it is more efficient than the naive attack. In the classical setting, the naive attack is the generic exhaustive search, in the quantum setting, it is the Grover search algorithm [14].
The realm of this thesis is cryptographic protocol theory in the quantum world. We study the security of quantum and classical protocols against adversaries that are assumed to exploit quantum effects to their advantage. Security in the quantum world means that quantum computation does not jeopardize the assumption, underlying the protocol construction. But moreover, we encounter additional setbacks in the security proofs, which are mostly due to the fact that some well-known classical proof techniques are forbidden by certain properties of a quantum environment. Interestingly, we can exploit some of the very same properties to the benefit of quantum cryptography. Thus, this work lies right at the heart of the conflict between highly potential effects but likewise rather demanding conditions in the quantum world.