Constant-round Dynamic Group Key Exchange from RLWE Assumption

In this paper, we propose a novel lattice-based group key exchange protocol with dynamic membership. Our protocol is constructed by generalizing Dutta-Barua protocol to RLWE setting, inspired by Apon et al.’s recent paper in PQCrypto 2019. We describe our (static) group key exchange protocol from Apon et al.’s paper by modifying its third round and computation step. Then, we present both authenticated and dynamic group key exchange protocol with Join and Leave algorithms. The number of rounds for authenticated group key exchange remains the same as unauthenticated one. Our protocol also supports the scalable property so that the number of rounds does not change depending on the number of group participants. By assuming the hardness of RLWE assumption and unforgeability of digital signatures, we give a full security proof for (un-)authenticated (dynamic) group key exchange protocols

Password-based group key exchange in a constant number of rounds

Abstract. With the development of grids, distributed applications are spread across multiple computing resources and require efficient security mechanisms among the processes. Although protocols for authenticated group Diffie-Hellman key exchange protocols seem to be the natural mechanisms for supporting these applications, current solutions are either limited by the use of public key infrastructures or by their scalability, requiring a number of rounds linear in the number of group members. To overcome these shortcomings, we propose in this paper the first provably-secure password-based constant-round group key exchange protocol. It is based on the protocol of Burmester and Desmedt and is provably-secure in the random-oracle and ideal-cipher models, under the Decisional Diffie-Hellman assumption. The new protocol is very efficient and fully scalable since it only requires four rounds of communication and four multi-exponentiations per user. Moreover, the new protocol avoids intricate authentication infrastructures by relying on passwords for authentication.

Constant-Round Group Key Exchange from the Ring-LWE Assumption

Group key-exchange protocols allow a set of N parties to agree on a shared, secret key by communicating over a public network. A number of solutions to this problem have been proposed over the years, mostly based on variants of Diffie-Hellman (two-party) key exchange. There has been relatively little work, however, looking at candidate post-quantum group key-exchange protocols. Here, we propose a constant-round protocol for unauthenticated group key exchange (i.e., with security against a passive eavesdropper) based on the hardness of the Ring-LWE problem. By applying the Katz-Yung compiler using any post-quantum signature scheme, we obtain a (scalable) protocol for authenticated group key exchange with post-quantum security. Our protocol is constructed by generalizing the Burmester-Desmedt protocol to the Ring-LWE setting, which requires addressing several technical challenges

Scalable Compilers for Group Key Establishment : Two/Three Party to Group

This work presents the first scalable, efficient and generic compilers to construct group key exchange (GKE) protocols from two/three party key exchange (2-KE/3-KE) protocols. We propose three different compilers where the first one is a 2-KE to GKE compiler (2-TGKE) for tree topology, the second one is also for tree topology but from 3-KE to GKE (3-TGKE) and the third one is a compiler that constructs a GKE from 3-KE for circular topology. Our compilers 2-TGKE and 3-TGKE are first of their kind and are efficient due to the underlying tree topology. For the circular topology, we design a compiler called 3-CGKE. 2-TGKE and 3-TGKE compilers require a total of $\mathcal{O}\left(n\lg n \right)$ communication, when compared to the existing compiler for circular topology, where the communication cost is $\mathcal{O}\left(n^2 \right)$. By extending the compilers 2-TGKE and 3-TGKE using the techniques in \cite{DLB07}, scalable compilers for tree based authenticated group key exchange protocols (2-TAGKE/3-TAGKE), which are secure against active adversaries can be constructed. As an added advantage our compilers can be used in a setting where there is asymmetric distribution of computing power. Finally, we present a constant round authenticated group key exchange (2-TAGKE) obtained by applying Diffie-Hellman protocol and the technique in \cite{DLB07} to our compiler 2-TGKE. We prove the security of our compilers in a stronger Real or Random model and do not assume the existence of random oracles

A Survey on Wireless Sensor Network Security

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have recently attracted a lot of interest in the research community due their wide range of applications. Due to distributed nature of these networks and their deployment in remote areas, these networks are vulnerable to numerous security threats that can adversely affect their proper functioning. This problem is more critical if the network is deployed for some mission-critical applications such as in a tactical battlefield. Random failure of nodes is also very likely in real-life deployment scenarios. Due to resource constraints in the sensor nodes, traditional security mechanisms with large overhead of computation and communication are infeasible in WSNs. Security in sensor networks is, therefore, a particularly challenging task. This paper discusses the current state of the art in security mechanisms for WSNs. Various types of attacks are discussed and their countermeasures presented. A brief discussion on the future direction of research in WSN security is also included.Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures, 2 table

A survey on cyber security for smart grid communications

A smart grid is a new form of electricity network with high fidelity power-flow control, self-healing, and energy reliability and energy security using digital communications and control technology. To upgrade an existing power grid into a smart grid, it requires significant dependence on intelligent and secure communication infrastructures. It requires security frameworks for distributed communications, pervasive computing and sensing technologies in smart grid. However, as many of the communication technologies currently recommended to use by a smart grid is vulnerable in cyber security, it could lead to unreliable system operations, causing unnecessary expenditure, even consequential disaster to both utilities and consumers. In this paper, we summarize the cyber security requirements and the possible vulnerabilities in smart grid communications and survey the current solutions on cyber security for smart grid communications. © 2012 IEEE