Multimodal Cryptographic Key Establishment for Quantum-Resistant Endpoints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cryptographic systems face challenges in securely distributing encryption keys to a large number of endpoints, particularly due to the threat of quantum computers breaking classical asymmetric cryptography, and existing solutions like pre-shared keys, key distribution centers, and public-key infrastructures suffer from scalability, reliability, and security vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A multimodal key delivery network protocol utilizing a hybrid approach of symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic algorithms, combined with a crypto-agile framework that adapts to evolving security guidelines, allows endpoints to establish secure, quantum-resistant long-term encryption keys without direct quantum key distribution networks, using a multimodal key delivery network (KDN) protocol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-shared keys are used for key distribution, then security is maintained through trusted couriers, but scalability deteriorates as the number of keys grows quadratically with the number of endpoints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a key distribution center (KDC) as an intermediary entity that manages key distribution between endpoints. The KDC generates and distributes pre-shared keys to endpoints, eliminating the need for direct key exchange between all endpoint pairs. This mediator approach reduces the key management complexity from quadratic growth to linear growth with the number of endpoints, while maintaining security through the trusted KDC infrastructure.
2Productivity
If key distribution centers are used to improve scalability, then key distribution efficiency is improved, but security deteriorates due to catastrophic consequences of KDC compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements forward secrecy by generating ephemeral key pairs for each communication session before the actual data transmission. These preliminary key establishment actions ensure that even if the KDC is compromised later, past session keys remain secure because they were derived from ephemeral secrets that are discarded after use. This preliminary action creates a security buffer that protects against future KDC compromises.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static long-term keys to dynamic ephemeral keys for each session. By changing the key parameter from static to dynamic, the system achieves forward secrecy where compromise of the KDC or long-term keys does not expose past communication secrets. This parameter change transforms the security model to be resilient against KDC compromise while maintaining efficient key distribution.
3Ease of operation
If asymmetric cryptography is used to eliminate pre-shared secrets, then authentication is improved without revealing private keys, but security deteriorates due to vulnerability to quantum computer attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hybrid cryptographic approach that combines symmetric cryptography (for quantum-resistant key exchange) with asymmetric cryptography (for convenient authentication). This composite approach uses the strengths of both cryptographic systems: symmetric cryptography provides quantum resistance through information-theoretic security, while asymmetric cryptography provides ease of operation for authentication without requiring pre-shared secrets between all endpoints.
4Reliability
If post-quantum cryptography algorithms are used to achieve quantum resistance, then security is improved against quantum attacks, but device complexity increases due to larger key sizes and computational requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cryptographic operations into different parts: using information-theoretic secure symmetric key exchange (which has minimal computational overhead) for the key establishment phase, and leveraging the KDC's computational resources for any post-quantum cryptographic operations. This segmentation allows mobile endpoints to achieve quantum resistance without bearing the full computational burden, as the heavy lifting is performed by the more powerful KDC infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and computer readable medium for establishment of cryptographic secrets is disclosed. Illustratively, the method includes obtaining a first input share based on a hybrid key establishment method, obtaining a second input share from a key distribution network, and deriving, from the first input share and the second input share, a shared secret for use in cryptographic communication between an initiator and a respondent.