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arXiv:quant-ph/0407130 · Quantum Information and Computation

Cryptanalysis of a Practical Quantum Key Distribution with Polarization-Entangled Photons

T. Beth, Jörn Müller‐Quade, Rainer Steinwandt

Published May 1, 2005• 12 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Recently, a quantum key exchange protocol has been described\cite{PFLM04}, which served as basis for securing an actual bank transaction by means of quantum cryptography \cite{ZVS04}. The authentication scheme used to this aim has been proposed by Peev et al. \cite{PML04}. Here we show, that this authentication is insecure in the sense that an attacker can provoke a situation where initiator and responder of a key exchange end up with different keys. Moreover, it may happen that an attacker can decrypt a part of the plaintext protected with the derived encryption key.

DOI
10.26421/qic5.3-1

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Recently, a quantum key exchange protocol has been described\cite{PFLM04}, which served as basis for securing an actual bank transaction by means of quantum cryptography \cite{ZVS04}. The authentication scheme used to this aim has been proposed by Peev et al. \cite{PML04}. Here we show, that this authentication is insecure in the sense that an attacker can provoke a situation where initiator and responder of a key exchange end up with different keys. Moreover, it may happen that an attacker can decrypt a part of the plaintext protected with the derived encryption key.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has been developed over the last decade; QKD addresses the challenge of a securely exchanging cryptographic key between two parties over an insecure channel where there are two parties that simultaneously generate and share a secret key using the polarization of quantum states of light by applying the phenomena of quantum physics. The integration of QKD protocol with public key cryptography for securely exchanging the encryption/decryption keys is proposed and simulated, the simulation results evaluate the work of the existing and proposed protocol taking into account different measures. Finally, a short security analysis is given to show the difference between the proposed protocol and its counterparts.
Cryptographic world has faced multiple challenges that are included in encoding and decoding transmitting information into a secure communication channel. Quantum cryptography may be another generation of the cryptography world, which is based on the law of physics. After decades of using the classical cryptography, there is an essential need to move a step forward through the most trusted systems, especially enormous amount of data flows through billions of communicating channels (e.g. The internet), and keeping this transmitting information away from eavesdropping is obligatory. Moreover, quantum cryptography has proved its standing against many weaknesses in the classical cryptography. One of these weaknesses is the ability to copy any type of information using a passive attack without an interruption, which is impossible in the quantum system. Theoretically, several quantum observables are utilized to diagnose an action of one particle. These observables are included in measuring mass, movement, speed, etc. The polarization of one photon occurs normally and randomly in the space. Any interruption that happens during sending of a light will cause a deconstruction of the light polarization. Therefore, particles’ movement in a three-dimensional space is supported by Non-Cloning theory that makes eavesdroppers unable to interrupt a communication system. In case an eavesdropper tried to interrupt a photon, the photon will be destroyed after passing the photon into a quantum detector or any measurement device. In the last decades, many Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocols have been created to initiate a secret key during encoding and decoding transmitted data operations. Some of these protocols were proven un-secure based on the quantum attacks that were released early. Even though the power of physics is still active and the Non-Cloning theory is unbroken, some QKD protocols failed during the security measurements. The main reason of the failure is based on the inability to provide the authentication between the end users during the quantum and classical channels. The proposed QKD protocol was designed to utilize some advantages of quantum physics as well as solid functions that are used in the classical cryptography. The authentication is a requirement during different communication channels, where both legitimate parties must confirm their identities before starting to submit data (plain-text). Moreover, the protocol uses most needed scenarios to finish the communication without leaking important data. These scenarios have been approved in existing QKD protocols either by classical or quantum systems. The matrix techniques also are used as a part of the preparation of the authentication key, where the end users communicate by an EPR (related to Einstein, Podolsky, and Rosen theory in 1935) channel. The EPR channel will be supported by an entanglement of particles. If the EPR communication succeeded, transferring the converted plain-text is required. Finally, both end users will have an authenticated secret key, and the submission will be done without any interruption.
The current standard to exchange a secret key for ensuring secure data transmission within the SSL/TLS protocol is based on Public-Key encryption. This method is only secure as long as the computation power of a potential attacker is limited. So far, the only way to make an unconditional secure key exchange, is to use quantum key distribution (QKD). With the latest figures of sifting key rates provided by NIST, we show which authentic theoretical final key rates are possible. Furthermore we present a modified SSL/TLS protocol, which uses quantum key distribution, in different encryption variants.
Authenticated key exchange mechanisms instantiated with cryptosystems based on integer factorization, finite field discrete log, or elliptic curve discrete log, are believed to be secure now but are vulnerable to a harvest-then-decrypt attack where an attacker who cannot currently break the mechanism records the traffic anyway, then decrypts it at some point in the future when quantum computers become available. The Quantum-safe Hybrid approach is a modular design, allowing any authenticated key exchange mechanism to be protected against the harvest-then-decrypt attack by exchanging additional secret material protected with an ephemeral key for a quantum-safe public key cryptographic algorithm and including that secret material in the Key Derivation Function (KDF) run at the end of the key exchange. This approach has been proposed in TLS as the Quantum-safe Hybrid handshake mechanism for Transport Layer Security protocol (QSH_TLS). This document provides a guideline to criteria for selecting public key encryption algorithms approved for experimental use in the quantum safe hybrid setting.
By realizing a quantum cryptography system based on polarization entangled photon pairs we establish highly secure keys, because a single photon source is approximated and the inherent randomness of quantum measurements is exploited. We implement a novel key distribution scheme using Wigner's inequality to test the security of the quantum channel, and, alternatively, realize a variant of the BB84 protocol. Our system has two completely independent users separated by 360 m, and generates raw keys at rates of 400-800 bits/s with bit error rates around 3%.