A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF SOME STANDARD CIPHERS’ CRYPTOGRAPHIC PRIMITIVES
Loading...
Authors
Zillmer, Devon
Subjects
cryptography
cipher
algebra
eStream
cipher
algebra
eStream
Advisors
Stanica, Pantelimon
Bassett, Robert L.
Date of Issue
2021-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Encryption is ubiquitous in the modern environment. While public/private key architecture has provided an amazing and powerful way to encrypt information so that only one intended recipient can decrypt, the computation required for this approach means that this encryption method can quickly grow extremely expensive. With that in mind, there are a variety of open-source stream ciphers that seek to provide relatively inexpensive stream ciphers to securely encrypt information. But these stream ciphers all operate using very different techniques to generate their keystream, as seen in the stark differences in paradigms between ciphers. As such, it is not immediately clear what operations are required to achieve the desired level of encryption. What cryptographic primitives are most common or efficacious in achieving security? Examining the Data Encryption Standard, Advanced Encryption Standard, and the stream cipher winners of the eStream II competition, an underlying trend composed of two operations emerges. Despite observing no clear n-grams defining precise cryptographic primitives, we identify a general structure common to all stream ciphers. Additionally, we identify that substitution boxes or multiplication operations are not necessary for stream ciphers, whereas addition and rotation operations seem to be essential.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Applied Mathematics (MA), Operations Research (OR)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.