Optimization of Tree Modes for Parallel Hash Functions: A Case Study

This paper focuses on parallel hash functions based on tree modes of operation for an inner Variable-Input-Length function. This inner function can be either a single-block-length (SBL) and prefix-free MD hash function, or a sponge-based hash function. We discuss the various forms of optimality that can be obtained when designing parallel hash functions based on trees where all leaves have the same depth. The first result is a scheme which optimizes the tree topology in order to decrease the running time. Then, without affecting the optimal running time we show that we can slightly change the corresponding tree topology so as to minimize the number of required processors as well. Consequently, the resulting scheme decreases in the first place the running time and in the second place the number of required processors.Comment: Preprint version. Added citations, IEEE Transactions on Computers, 201

Asymptotic Analysis of Plausible Tree Hash Modes for SHA-3

Discussions about the choice of a tree hash mode of operation for a standardization have recently been undertaken. It appears that a single tree mode cannot address adequately all possible uses and specifications of a system. In this paper, we review the tree modes which have been proposed, we discuss their problems and propose remedies. We make the reasonable assumption that communicating systems have different specifications and that software applications are of different types (securing stored content or live-streamed content). Finally, we propose new modes of operation that address the resource usage problem for the three most representative categories of devices and we analyse their asymptotic behavior

New models for efficient authenticated dictionaries

International audienceWe propose models for data authentication which take into account the behavior of the clients who perform queries. Our models reduce the size of the authenticated proof when the frequency of the query corresponding to a given data is higher. Existing models implicitly assume the frequency distribution of queries to be uniform, but in reality, this distribution generally follows Zipf's law. Our models better reflect reality and the communication cost between clients and the server provider is reduced allowing the server to save bandwidth. The obtained gain on the average proof size compared to existing schemes depends on the parameter of Zipf law. The greater the parameter, the greater the gain. When the frequency distribution follows a perfect Zipf's law, we obtain a gain that can reach 26%. Experiments show the existence of applications for which Zipf parameter is greater than 1, leading to even higher gains

A Cryptanalysis of Two Cancelable Biometric Schemes based on Index-of-Max Hashing

Cancelable biometric schemes generate secure biometric templates by combining user specific tokens and biometric data. The main objective is to create irreversible, unlinkable, and revocable templates, with high accuracy in matching. In this paper, we cryptanalyze two recent cancelable biometric schemes based on a particular locality sensitive hashing function, index-of-max (IoM): Gaussian Random Projection-IoM (GRP-IoM) and Uniformly Random Permutation-IoM (URP-IoM). As originally proposed, these schemes were claimed to be resistant against reversibility, authentication, and linkability attacks under the stolen token scenario. We propose several attacks against GRP-IoM and URP-IoM, and argue that both schemes are severely vulnerable against authentication and linkability attacks. We also propose better, but not yet practical, reversibility attacks against GRP-IoM. The correctness and practical impact of our attacks are verified over the same dataset provided by the authors of these two schemes.Comment: Some revisions and addition of acknowledgement

On the Leakage of Fuzzy Matchers

In a biometric recognition system, the matcher compares an old and a fresh template to decide if it is a match or not. Beyond the binary output (`yes' or `no'), more information is computed. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of information leakage during distance evaluation, with an emphasis on threshold-based obfuscated distance (\textit{i.e.}, Fuzzy Matcher). Leakage can occur due to a malware infection or the use of a weakly privacy-preserving matcher, exemplified by side channel attacks or partially obfuscated designs. We provide an exhaustive catalog of information leakage scenarios as well as their impacts on the security concerning data privacy. Each of the scenarios leads to generic attacks whose impacts are expressed in terms of computational costs, hence allowing the establishment of upper bounds on the security level.Comment: Minor correction

Near-collisions and their Impact on Biometric Security

Biometric recognition encompasses two operating modes. The first one is biometric identification which consists in determining the identity of an individual based on her biometrics and requires browsing the entire database (i.e., a 1:N search). The other one is biometric authentication which corresponds to verifying claimed biometrics of an individual (i.e., a 1:1 search) to authenticate her, or grant her access to some services. The matching process is based on the similarities between a fresh and an enrolled biometric template. Considering the case of binary templates, we investigate how a highly populated database yields near-collisions, impacting the security of both the operating modes. Insight into the security of binary templates is given by establishing a lower bound on the size of templates and an upper bound on the size of a template database depending on security parameters. We provide efficient algorithms for partitioning a leaked template database in order to improve the generation of a master-template-set that can impersonates any enrolled user and possibly some future users. Practical impacts of proposed algorithms are finally emphasized with experimental studies

Contributions à l'efficacité des mécanismes cryptographiques

Les besoins constants d’innovation en matière de performances et d’économie des ressources nous poussent à effectuer des optimisations dans la conception et l’utilisation des outils cryptographiques. Cela nous amène à étudier plusieurs aspects dans cette thèse : les algorithmes cryptographiques parallèles, les algorithmes cryptographiques incrémentaux et les dictionnaires authentifiés.Dans le cadre de la cryptographie parallèle, nous nous intéressons aux fonctions de hachage basées sur des arbres. Nous montrons en particulier quelles structures arborescentes utiliser pour atteindre un temps d’exécution optimum avec un nombre de processeurs que nous cherchons à minimiser dans un second temps. Nous étudions également d'autres formesd'arborescence favorisant l'équité et la scalabilité.Les systèmes cryptographiques incrémentaux permettent, lorsque nous modifions des documents, de mettre à jour leurs formes cryptographiques efficacement. Nous montrons que les systèmes actuels restreignent beaucoup trop les modifications possibles et introduisons de nouveaux algorithmes s’appuyant sur ces derniers, utilisés comme des boites noires, afin de rendre possible une large gamme de modifications aux documents tout en conservant une propriété de secret de l’opération effectuée.Notre intérêt porte ensuite sur les dictionnaires authentifiés, utilisés pour authentifier les réponses aux requêtes des utilisateurs sur un dictionnaire, en leur fournissant une preuve d’authenticité pour chaque réponse. Nous nous focalisons sur des systèmes basés sur des arbres de hachage et proposons une solution pour amoindrir leur principal inconvénient, celui de la taille des preuves.The need for continuing innovation in terms of performances and resource savings impel us to optimize the design and the use of cryptographic mechanisms. This leads us to consider several aspects in this dissertation: parallel cryptographic algorithms, incremental cryptographic algorithms and authenticated dictionaries.In the context of parallel cryptography we are interested in hash functions. In particular, we show which tree structures to use to reach an optimal running time. For this running time, we show how to decrease the amount of involved processors. We also explore alternative (sub-optimal) tree structures which decrease the number of synchronizations in multithreaded implementations while balancing at best the load of the work among the threads.Incremental cryptographic schemes allow the efficient updating of cryptographic forms when we change some blocks of the corresponding documents. We show that the existing incremental schemes restrict too much the possible modification operations. We then introduce new algorithms which use these ones as black boxes to allow a broad range of modification operations, while preserving a privacy property about these operations.We then turn our attention to authenticated dictionaries which are used to authenticate answers to queries on a dictionary, by providing to users an authentication proof for each answer. We focus on authenticated dictionaries based on hash trees and we propose a solution to remedy their main shortcoming, the size of proofs provided to users