Session 2: Secret key cryptography – stream ciphers – part 1.

Session 2: Secret key cryptography – stream

ciphers – part 1

The Vernam cipher

Message 00011 01111 01101 Cryptogram 11000 01010 00110

Running key 11011 00101 01011 Running key 11011 00101 01011

Cryptogram 11000 01010 00110 Message 00011 01111 01101

Key distribution centre

transmitter receiver

The Vernam cipher

Advantage: Unconditionally secure.Disadvantage: Requires one key bit for

every plaintext bit.Because of that, if the level of security is

not the highest one (the red phone line, etc.), instead of the Vernam cipher, a stream cipher can be used.

xi

Key

zi zi

yi

Deterministic algorithm

xi

Deterministic algorithm

The stream cipher procedure

xi zi = yiyi zi = xi

TRANSMITTER RECEIVER

Key

Stream ciphers

The key is short – much shorter than the length of the plaintext (on average).

The key determines the initial state of a deterministic algorithm.

Based on the initial state, the algorithm generates the running key sequence.

The running key sequence is summed modulo 2 with the bits of the plaintext.

Stream ciphers

Vernam cipher

(running key)Stream cipher

(running key)

Lengthtext Lengthseq. YES

Used once YES

Randomness Pseudorandomness

Running key Algorithm + key

c3

c2

c1

Stream ciphersDo not satisfy the perfect secrecy

conditions (the running key is not random but pseudorandom).

However, stream ciphers possess practical secrecy. The level of security depends on the design.

Advantage: the secret key is short – it is the only piece of information that the transmitter and the receiver must share.

The running key:

1. What are general characteristics of these sequences?

2. What generators produce them?

Stream ciphers

Enciphering bit after bit

Generation of pseudorandom sequences:

• Long period

• Pseudorandomness properties

• Unpredictability

Key space large enough

Etc.

Running keys

The running key sequences generated by pseudorandom sequence generators are ultimately periodic (i.e. they may have an aperiodic prefix).

The period must be at least as long as the length of the plaintext.

In practice, this period is much longer.

Running keys

Example:

T = 2100 - 1 ≈ 1.26 1030 bits

Vc = 1.2 108 bits/sec 3.33 1014 years

22200 times the age of the universe

(1.5 1010 years) to generate the whole

period.

Running keys

Distribution of zeros and ones

…… 0100110100111010110010010 ……• a run of length k – k consecutive equal digits

between two different digits.

• runs of zeros (gaps)• runs of ones (blocks)

Running keys:

Autocorrelation

• Autocorrelation in phase:• Autocorrelation out of phase:• A – Number of coincidences• D – Number of no coincidences• T – Period• k - Shift

( ) ( ) /AC k A D T Original seq. 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1

Shifted seq. 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1

( ) 1AC k ( ) [ 1,1]AC k

Golomb’s pseudorandomness postulates

G1: In each period of the considered sequence, the

difference between the number of 1s and the number of 0s

must not overcome unity.

G2: In each period of the considered sequence, half of the

runs, of the total number of observed runs, has the length 1,

one fourth has the length 2, one eight has the length 3 … etc.

For each length, there will be the same number of blocks and

gaps.

G3: The autocorrelation AC(k) out of phase must be constant

for each k.

Explanation of the Golomb´s postulates

G1: The 1s and 0s must appear along the

sequence with the same probability.

G2: different n-grams (samples of n consecutive

digits) must occur with the correct probability.

G3: Computation of the coincidences between a

sequence and its shifted version must not give

any information about the period of the

sequence.

Golomb´s postulates

A finite sequence that satisfies the 3 Golomb´s postulates is denominated PN sequence (Pseudo-Noise).

Its properties are equal to the properties of a random sequence with uniform distribution.

Unpredictability

Given a part of a sequence of any length, a cryptanalyst cannot predict the next digit with a probability of success greater than 0.5.

A measure of unpredictability: Linear complexity.

Basic structures

Generators based on linear congruencies Feedback shift registers

• Non linear feedback shift registers (NLFSR)

• Linear feedback shift registers (LFSR)

Linear congruencies

The recurrence of the type

The parameters a, b and m can be used as the secret key.

X0 is the seed that initializes the process. If the parameters a, b and m are chosen in an

appropriate way, the numbers Xi are not repeated until they cover entirely the segment [0,m-1].

)(mod1 mbaXX ii

Linear congruencies

Example:

,...8,1,6,7,4,13,2,3,0,9,14,15,12,5,10,11,8,1

1

16mod35

0

1

X

XX ii

Linear congruencies

Security of the generator: bad• Given a sufficiently long portion of the

sequence, it is possible to deduce the parameters m, a and b, i.e. the key.

Feedback shift registers

A feedback shift register (FSR):• n flip-flops (stages)

• A feedback function – to express each new element of the output sequence as a function of the n previous elements.

The contents of the flip-flops is shifted one position at every clock pulse.


Shift registers

The state of the register – the contents of the stages between two clock pulses.

The initial state – the contents of the stages at the moment of the beginning of the process.

The state diagram of a FSR is cyclic if the feedback function is not singular, i.e. it has the form: ntantatatagta 1,,2,1

Shift registers

The period of the produced sequence depends on the number of stages n of the FSR and the characteristics of the function g.

The maximum possible period is 2n.The key – the initial contents of the FSR.

The feedback function can also be kept secret.

Shift registersExample 1: n=3

x1 x2 x3 g

0 0 0 0

0 0 1 0

0 1 0 0

0 1 1 0

1 0 0 0

1 0 1 1

1 1 0 1

1 1 1 0

Shift registers

Example 1 (cont.)• Algebraic normal form of the function g:

3121321 ),,( xxxxxxxg


Example 1 (cont.)

The DeBruijn graph - singular

Feedback shift registersExample 2: n=3

x1 x2 x3 g

0 0 0 0

0 0 1 1

0 1 0 0

0 1 1 1

1 0 0 0

1 0 1 1

1 1 0 1

1 1 1 0


Example 2 (cont.)• Algebraic normal form of the function g:

321321 ),,( xxxxxxg


Example 2 (cont.)

The DeBruijn graph – non singular

Problems with NLFSRA systematic method of their analysis

and manipulation does not exist – the mathematical theory is not well developed.

It is possible to obtain the sequences whose period is 2n – De Bruijn sequences.

However, the De Bruijn sequences do not satisfy the Golomb’s G3 postulate.

LFSR

The most important devices for generation of pseudorandom sequences.

Their feedback function is a linear recurrence – linear recurrent sequences of order n.

1,1,0

21 21

ni

n

cc

ntactactacta

LFSRTo avoid the null sequence, the initial

state must be different from the all-zero state.

The largest number of different states is 2n-1.

It is possible to associate the characteristic polynomial to every linear recurrence.

nnxcxcxcxf 2

211

LFSR

Example: A LFSR of length 4.

Generated sequence: 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 ……

1 0 0 0

1 1 0 0

1 1 1 0

1 1 1 1

0 1 1 1

1 0 1 1

0 1 0 1

1 0 1 0

41 tatata

Initial state

Feedback polynomial

Linear recurrence

LFSR

The characteristics of the output sequence of the LFSR depend on the characteristics of the feedback polynomial.

The feedback polynomial can be:• reducible

• irreducible

• primitive

LFSR

The fundamental theorem of arithmetic:• Every positive integer can be represented in a

unique way as a product of prime factors.

Analogue in a GF:• Every polynomial in a GF can be represented

in a unique way as a product of irreducible factors.

LFSR

An irreducible polynomial has no irreducible factors except 1 and itself.

Theorem:• The polynomial in a field GF(pm) has

as factors all the irreducible polynomials whose degree divides k.

xxkmp

LFSR

Thus, if a polynomial f(x) of degree n in GF(pm) does not have common factors with

then it is irreducible. 2

1,modn

kxfxxkmp

LFSR

Example:

GF(2)

11 2422 xxxxxxxx

LFSREuclidean algorithm

• For determining G.C.D. between two integers.

• The same algorithm can be used to determine G.C.D. between two polynomials.

• The divisor from the previous step of the algorithm is iteratively divided by the remainder from the previous step until the remainder is 0.

• The G.C.D. is the remainder obtained in the penultimate step of the algorithm.

LFSR

Example – integers• Find (18,12)

18=112+6

12=26+0

(18,12)=6

LFSR

Example – polynomials in GF(2)• Find (x5+x4+x2+x, x4+x3+x2+x)

(x5+x4+x2+x)=x(x4+x3+x2+x)+(x3+x)

(x4+x3+x2+x)=(x+1)(x3+x)+0

(x5+x4+x2+x, x4+x3+x2+x)=(x3+x)

LFSR

Example - Determine if the polynomial is irreducible.

Then, the given polynomial is not irreducible.

421 xxxf

111,1

1,1mod2242

242422

xxxxxx

xxxxxx

LFSR

Example – Determine if the polynomial

is irreducible.

Then, the given polynomial is irreducible.

41 xxxf

2

4

22

11,1

1,1mod4

4422

n

xx

xxxxxx

LFSRA primitive polynomial of degree n in

GF(pm)• is irreducible

• does not divide

Example:• The polynomial of degree 4 in

GF(2) is irreducible and does not divide any of the polynomials . Because of that, it is primitive.

1,1 nmk pkx

41 xxxf

1,,1,1 142 xxx

LFSR

The reciprocal polynomial of the polynomial f(x) of degree n

If f(x) is primitive, f*(x) is also primitive.

x

fxxf n 1)(*

LFSR

Example: primitive.

primitive.

41 xxxf

434

4 1111

)(* xxxx

xxf

Period of the LFSR (reducible)

000110000100101001010010

4 2 2 21 ( 1)( 1)x x x x x x

0000

011010111101

001110011100111011110111

Generators with reducible feedback polynomials

The length of the output sequence depends on

the initial state.

The period T satisfies with the

possibility of secondary periods whose length

divides the period T.

Not adequate for use in cryptography.

2 1LL T

Period of the LFSR (irreducible)

00011000110001100011

0000

00101001010010100101

11110111101111011110

Generators with irreducible feedback polynomial

The length of the output sequence does not

depend on the initial state.

The period T is a factor of

Not adequate for use in cryptography.

2 1L

Period of the LFSR (primitive)

0000

100011001110111101111011010110101101011000111001010000100001

PN-sequence (m-sequence)

The maximum possible period for this

type of generator 111010110010001 …..

Generators with primitive feedback polynomial

The length of the sequence does not depend on

the initial state

The period is

Adequate for use in cryptography, because the

output sequence satisfies all the Golomb’s

postulates.

2 1LT

How many primitive polynomials of degree L are there?

But not all of them are good. It is not recommended to use the polynomials with very concentrated coefficients. There are attacks against LFSRs with that property.

The period of the sequence must have the smallest possible number of prime factors. These prime factors must be as large as possible.

(2 1) /L L 11 . 176

24 . 276480

L No

L No

Mersenne primes

• Those are prime numbers whose form is 2L-1.

• Example: 261-1=2305843009213693951 is a Mersenne prime.

• Example: 263-1=

=727312733792737649657 is not a Mersenne prime. It is not recommended for LFSRs.

• Thus, the best strategy is to use the LFSRs with a primitive polynomial of degree L such that 2L-1 is a Mersenne prime.

• The numbers 261-1, 289-1, 2107-1, 2127-1, etc. are Mersenne primes.

PN-sequences and Golomb’s postulatesG1:

G2:

2 1LT 1. 0' 2 1LNo s

1.1' 2LNo s Long. Gaps Blocks

1

2

: : :

r

: : :

L-2 1 1

L-1 1 0

L 0 1

Total

32L42L

32L42L

22L r 22L r

22L 22L

PN-sequences and Golomb’s postulates

G3:

1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0

0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1

1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1

(1) (7 8) /15AC

1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0

0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0

1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0

(2) (7 8) /15AC

PN-sequences satisfy the Golomb’s postulates

Linear complexity (unpredictability)

The concept of sequence complexity: quantity of sequence

symbols necessary to determine the rest of it.

General idea: Associate a LFSR to every sequence.

Linear complexity = The length of the smallest LFSR

capable of generating the given sequence.

Berlekamp-Massey algorithm (1969)

• Input: The considered binary sequence

• Output:

and the initial contents( ),P x L

Linear complexity

Sequence 1:

Seq. generated by a LFSR (primitive pol.)

VERY PREDICTABLE

Sequence 2: random

1000111101000011011110100010100

VERY UNPREDICTABLE

31LONG bits

( ), 15, 2 30P x L L L bits

127 382 1 10LONG bits

( ), 127, 2 254P x L L L bits

Linear complexity

Example: The output sequence: 1110… The initial state: a0, a1, a2, a3.

The output bits: y0=1, y1=1, y2=1, y3=0 The equations:

41 xxxf

323

212

101

030

ayy

ayy

ayy

aay

Linear system – easy to solve!

a 3210y0 1100y1 1110y2 1111y3 0111

Linear complexity

A random sequence of length 2L has expected linear complexity L.

When a random sequence of length L is repeated periodically, the value of its linear complexity approaches the length of its period.

The Berlekamp-Massey algorithm Input to one step: n digits of a sequence.Determines the characteristics of the

minimum LFSR capable of generating them. If the digit n+1 of the sequence can be

generated by the current LFSR, the length of the current LFSR is preserved.

Otherwise, a longer LFSR is needed, capable of generating the n+1 digits.

Etc.

The Berlekamp-Massey algorithm

Theorem 1• If <C(D),L> generates the prefix sn of the intercepted

sequence, but does not generate sn+1, then

• Example

LnsLC n 11

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0

0 1 1

1 0 1

1 1 0

0 1 1

Generates 110110, but does not generate

1101100

LC(1101100)6+1-2

Discrepancy


Theorem 2• If <C(D),L> generates sn, but does not generate

sn+1 (discrepancy n0) and <C*(D),L*> generates sm, but does not generate sm+1 (discrepancy m0), where 0mn, then

generates sn+1.

mnLLDCDDC mn

m

n *,max,*


Theorem 3• If <C(D),L> with L=LC(sn) generates sn, but does not

generate sn+1, then

nnn sLCnsLCsLC 1,max1

= n

*= m

X=n-m


Example

N=7, GF(2), s0,…,s6=1,1,0,1,0,0,1

Solution

C(D)=1+D+D3, L=3

0 1 1 1

1 0 1 1

0 1 0 0

0 0 1 1

1 0 0 0

1 1 0 0

1 1 1 1

Session 2: Secret key cryptography – stream ciphers – part 1.

Documents

running key sequences

key stream cipher

transmitterreceiver

key length text length

stream ciphers vernam

ones blocks slide

run of length

stream cipher procedure