Attacks on the DECT Authentication Mechanisms

Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) is a standard for connecting cordless telephones to a fixed telecommunications network over a short range. The cryptographic algorithms used in DECT are not publicly available. In this paper we reveal one of the two algorithms used by DECT, the DECT Standard Authentication Algorithm (DSAA). We give a very detailed security analysis of the DSAA including some very effective attacks on the building blocks used for DSAA as well as a common implementation error that can practically lead to a total break of DECT security. We also present a low cost attack on the DECT protocol, which allows an attacker to impersonate a base station and therefore listen to and reroute all phone calls made by a handset

Interaction of EMS related systems by using the CIM standard

Abstract: Energy distribution companies nowadays use different IT-systems from vendors within their infrastructure. Those systems often use proprietary data exchange formats and must be connected to other systems. Building specialized adaptors for interconnection between the systems is the most common and timeconsuming task for IT-departments at energy companies. The Common Information Model (CIM) establishes a common language and domain model for energy management systems and related data structures. Instead of connecting all systems and building up a meshed net, it is possible to connect the systems to a an integration platform using the CIM as a common language. This paper will discuss the CIM and its benefits and focusses on a current industrial project conducted by the authors which integrates CIM as a standard for data exchange between energy management related systems. Keywords: Common Information Model, CIM/XML, RDF, data exchange, power system modeling

Aqueous Uranium(VI) Complexes with Acetic and Succinic Acid: Speciation and Structure Revisited

We employed density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), extended X-ray absorption fine-structure (EXAFS), and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (IR) spectroscopy analyzed with iterative transformation factor analysis (ITFA) to determine the structures and the pH-speciation of aqueous acetate (ac) and succinate (suc) U­(VI) complexes. In the acetate system, all spectroscopies confirm the thermodynamically predicted pH-speciation by Ahrland (1951), with the hydrated uranyl ion and a 1:1, a 1:2 and a 1:3 U­(VI)-ac complex. In the succinate system, we identified a new 1:3 U­(VI)-suc complex, in addition to the previously known 1:1 and 1:2 U­(VI)-suc complexes, and determined the pH-speciation for all complexes. The IR spectra show absorption bands of the antisymmetric stretching mode of the uranyl mojety (υ₃(UO₂)) at 949, 939, 924 cm^–1 and at 950, 938, 925 cm^–1 for the 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 U­(VI)-ac and U­(VI)-suc complexes, respectively. IR absorption bands at 1535 and 1534 cm^–1 and at 1465 and 1462 cm^–1 are assigned to the antisymmetric υ_3,as(COO) and symmetric υ_3,s(COO) stretching mode of bidentately coordinated carboxylic groups in the U­(VI)-ac and U­(VI)-suc complexes. The assignment of the three IR bands (υ₃(UO₂), υ_3,as(COO), υ_3,s(COO)) and the stoichiometry of the complexes is supported by DFT calculations. The UV–vis spectra of the equivalent U­(VI)-ac and U­(VI)-suc complexes are similar suggesting common structural features. Consistent with IR spectroscopy and DFT calculations, EXAFS showed a bidentate coordination of the carboxylic groups to the equatorial plane of the uranyl moiety for all uranyl ligand complexes except for the newly detected 1:3 U­(VI)-suc complex, where two carboxylic groups coordinate bidentately and one carboxylic group coordinates monodentately. All 1:1 and 1:2 complexes have a U–O_water distance of ∼2.36 Å, which is shorter than the U–O_water distance of ∼2.40 Å of the hydrated uranyl ion. For all complexes the U–O_carboxyl distance of the bidentately coordinated carboxylic group is ∼2.47 Å, while the monodentately coordinated carboxylic group of the 1:3 U­(VI)-suc complex has a U–O_carboxyl distance of ∼2.36 Å, that is, similar to the short U–O_water distance in the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes

Pharmacokinetics of Phenprocoumon in Emergency Situations–Results of the Prospective Observational RADOA-Registry (Reversal Agent Use in Patients Treated with Direct Oral Anticoagulants or Vitamin K Antagonists Registry)

Background: Phenprocoumon has been used as an oral anticoagulant in patients with thromboembolic disease for more than 40 years. So far its pharmacokinetics have not been analyzed in emergency situations. Methods: Phenprocoumon-treated patients with major bleeding or urgent surgery were included in a prospective, observational registry. Phenprocoumon drug concentrations were analyzed in samples, collected as part of routine care using ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Moreover, anticoagulant intensity and drug half-life (t1/2) were calculated. Results: 115 patients were included. Phenprocoumon levels declined over time with a half-life of 5.27 and 5.29 days in patients with major bleedings (n = 82) and with urgent surgery (n = 33). Baseline phenprocoumon levels were 2.2 times higher in the bleeding group compared to the surgery group (1.92 vs. 0.87 ng/mL, p < 0.0001). International normalized ratio (INR) values decreased rapidly during the first 24 h. In 27.6% of patients a rebound of INR (recurrent increase > 1.5) was observed which was associated with significantly increased bleeding rates (22% vs. 4.2% in patients with or without INR rebound, p = 0.012). Conclusions: In emergency situations, the long half-life of phenprocoumon may cause INR rebound and associated recurrent bleedings. Optimal management may need to include repeated vitamin K supplementation over days