On values of vectorial Boolean functions and related problems in APN functions

In this paper we prove that there are only differential 4-uniform functions which are on distance 1 from an APN function. Also we prove that there are no APN functions of distance 1 from another APN functions up to dimension 5. We determine some properties of the set of values of an arbitrary vectorial Boolean function from F_n^2 to F_n^2 in connection to the set of values of its derivatives. These results are connected to several open question concerning metric properties of APN functions

Problems, solutions and experience of the first international student\u27s Olympiad in cryptography

A detailed overview of the problems, solutions and experience of the first international student\u27s Olympiad in cryptography, NSUCRYPTO\u272014, is given. We start with rules of participation and description of rounds. All 15 problems of the Olympiad and their solutions are considered in detail. There are discussed solutions of the mathematical problems related to cipher constructing such as studying of differential characteristics of S-boxes, S-box masking, determining of relations between cyclic rotation and additions modulo $2$ and $2^n$, constructing of special linear subspaces in $\mathbb{F}_2^n$; problems about the number of solutions of the equation $F(x)+F(x+a)=b$ over the finite field $\mathbb{F}_{2^n}$ and APN functions. Some unsolved problems in symmetric cryptography are also considered