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Cryptanalysis of a High-Definition Image Encryption Based on AES Modification

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Abstract

Wadi and Zainal recently proposed a high definition image encryption algorithm based on a modified AES-128 block cipher in (Wirel Pers Commun 79(2):811–829, 2014). In this paper, we show that the core component of their image encryption algorithm, a modified AES-128 cipher, is insecure against impossible differential attack. The proposed impossible differential attack on the full rounds of the modified AES-128 cipher has a time complexity of around \(2^{88.74}\) encryptions with \(2^{114.06}\) chosen plaintexts and \(2^{99}\) bytes of memory, in contrast to the expected security of \(2^{128}\). The existence of such an attack disproves the claims made by the designers that their modified AES-128 cipher improves the security of the AES cipher and that it can subsequently be used to construct a secure image encryption scheme. The root cause of this attack, some other issues with the modified AES cipher and possible solutions are described to serve as important remarks in designing a secure image encryption scheme.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for helpful comments. Wun-She Yap would like to acknowledge UTAR for financially funding his research through the UTAR Research Fund number UTARRF 6200/Y43. Raphael Phan acknowledges the financial support by the Ministry of Education’s Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) under the project ProvAdverse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Sungai Long, Malaysia

    Wun-She Yap & Bok-Min Goi

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya, Malaysia

    Raphael C.-W. Phan

Authors
  1. Wun-She Yap
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  2. Raphael C.-W. Phan
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  3. Bok-Min Goi
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Correspondence to Wun-She Yap.

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Yap, WS., Phan, R.CW. & Goi, BM. Cryptanalysis of a High-Definition Image Encryption Based on AES Modification. Wireless Pers Commun 88, 685–699 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-016-3192-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-016-3192-1

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