Cryptanalysis of SP networks with partial non-linear layers

Achiya Bar-On, Itai Dinur, Orr Dunkelman, Virginie Lallemand, Nathan Keller, Boaz Tsaban

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Design of SP networks in which the non-linear layer is applied to only a part of the state in each round was suggested by Gérard et al. at CHES 2013. Besides performance advantage on certain platforms, such a design allows for more efficient masking techniques that can mitigate side-channel attacks with a small performance overhead. In this paper we present generic techniques for differential and linear cryptanalysis of SP networks with partial non-linear layers, including an automated characteristic search tool and dedicated key-recovery algorithms. Our techniques can be used both for cryptanalysis of such schemes and for proving their security with respect to basic differential and linear cryptanalysis, succeeding where previous automated analysis tools seem to fail. We first apply our techniques to the block cipher Zorro (designed by Gérard et al. following their methodology), obtaining practical attacks on the cipher which where fully simulated on a single desktop PC in a few days. Then, we propose a mild change to Zorro, and formally prove its security against basic differential and linear cryptanalysis. We conclude that there is no inherent flaw in the design strategy of Gérard et al., and it can be used in future designs, where our tools should prove useful.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAdvances in Cryptology – EUROCRYPT 2015 - 34th Annual International Conference on the Theory and Applications of Cryptographic Techniques, Proceedings
EditorsMarc Fischlin, Elisabeth Oswald
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages315-342
Number of pages28
ISBN (Print)9783662467992
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event34th Annual International Conference on the Theory and Applications of Cryptographic Techniques, Eurocrypt 2015 - Sofia, Bulgaria
Duration: 26 Apr 201530 Apr 2015

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume9056
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference34th Annual International Conference on the Theory and Applications of Cryptographic Techniques, Eurocrypt 2015
Country/TerritoryBulgaria
CitySofia
Period26/04/1530/04/15

Keywords

  • Block cipher
  • Differential cryptanalysis
  • Lightweight
  • Linear cryptanalysis
  • Zorro

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

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