New Weak Keys with Parity Patterns in the RC4 Stream Cipher
The RC4 cryptographic algorithm is the most extensively studied stream cipher of the past two decades. This extensive research has resulted in numerous publications, many of which identify various vulnerabilities. Although these vulnerabilities do not preclude the correct use of the algorithm, they...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Cryptography |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-387X/8/4/54 |
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| author | Evaristo José Madarro-Capó Carlos Miguel Legón-Pérez Guillermo Sosa-Gómez Omar Rojas |
| author_facet | Evaristo José Madarro-Capó Carlos Miguel Legón-Pérez Guillermo Sosa-Gómez Omar Rojas |
| author_sort | Evaristo José Madarro-Capó |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The RC4 cryptographic algorithm is the most extensively studied stream cipher of the past two decades. This extensive research has resulted in numerous publications, many of which identify various vulnerabilities. Although these vulnerabilities do not preclude the correct use of the algorithm, they complicate its practical implementation. In this paper, we present a novel weakness in the RC4 cipher. Our findings indicate that, for input keys exhibiting certain patterns, the parity of the values in the output permutation of the KSA can be determined with high probability from the parity of its position in the output permutation. Furthermore, the use of keys with these specific patterns leads to noticeable distortions in several bytes of the RC4 output. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5737d6878fd4e4cbdd81779c6dac0b6 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2410-387X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cryptography |
| spelling | doaj-art-c5737d6878fd4e4cbdd81779c6dac0b62025-08-20T02:00:26ZengMDPI AGCryptography2410-387X2024-11-01845410.3390/cryptography8040054New Weak Keys with Parity Patterns in the RC4 Stream CipherEvaristo José Madarro-Capó0Carlos Miguel Legón-Pérez 1Guillermo Sosa-Gómez2Omar Rojas3Instituto de Criptografía, Facultad de Matemática y Computación, Universidad de la Habana, Habana 10400, CubaInstituto de Criptografía, Facultad de Matemática y Computación, Universidad de la Habana, Habana 10400, CubaFacultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad Panamericana, Álvaro del Portillo 49, Zapopan 45010, Jalisco, MexicoFacultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad Panamericana, Álvaro del Portillo 49, Zapopan 45010, Jalisco, MexicoThe RC4 cryptographic algorithm is the most extensively studied stream cipher of the past two decades. This extensive research has resulted in numerous publications, many of which identify various vulnerabilities. Although these vulnerabilities do not preclude the correct use of the algorithm, they complicate its practical implementation. In this paper, we present a novel weakness in the RC4 cipher. Our findings indicate that, for input keys exhibiting certain patterns, the parity of the values in the output permutation of the KSA can be determined with high probability from the parity of its position in the output permutation. Furthermore, the use of keys with these specific patterns leads to noticeable distortions in several bytes of the RC4 output.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-387X/8/4/54RC4weak keysstream ciphercryptographycybersecurity |
| spellingShingle | Evaristo José Madarro-Capó Carlos Miguel Legón-Pérez Guillermo Sosa-Gómez Omar Rojas New Weak Keys with Parity Patterns in the RC4 Stream Cipher Cryptography RC4 weak keys stream cipher cryptography cybersecurity |
| title | New Weak Keys with Parity Patterns in the RC4 Stream Cipher |
| title_full | New Weak Keys with Parity Patterns in the RC4 Stream Cipher |
| title_fullStr | New Weak Keys with Parity Patterns in the RC4 Stream Cipher |
| title_full_unstemmed | New Weak Keys with Parity Patterns in the RC4 Stream Cipher |
| title_short | New Weak Keys with Parity Patterns in the RC4 Stream Cipher |
| title_sort | new weak keys with parity patterns in the rc4 stream cipher |
| topic | RC4 weak keys stream cipher cryptography cybersecurity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-387X/8/4/54 |
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