Presignature Re-Randomization for Secure Fast Digital Signatures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital signature methods, particularly those using presignatures, are vulnerable to security weaknesses such as the 4-sum attack, and there is a need for enhanced security without significant computational or latency overhead.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method involving the re-randomization of presignatures using a non-predictable public re-randomization value, which can be derived from a random beacon or hash function, to enhance security in digital signature processes, especially in distributed settings like threshold ECDSA.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If presignatures are used to accelerate digital signature computation, then signing speed is improved, but security is worsened due to vulnerability to 4-sum attacks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesigning speedVSAvoidsecurity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the presignature through re-randomization. Specifically, a random value k' is generated and used to transform the original presignature components (r, s) into new components (r', s') through mathematical operations. This changes the parameters of the presignature while maintaining its functional properties, thereby enhancing security against 4-sum attacks while preserving the acceleration benefit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses preliminary action by precomputing the presignature components (r, s) in advance before the actual signing operation. This allows the computationally intensive parts of the signature generation to be performed beforehand, and only the lighter re-randomization and final signature computation are performed when signing is actually needed, thus achieving speed improvement without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If re-randomization is applied to enhance security, then security is improved, but computational overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidcomputational overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The re-randomization process changes the parameters of the presignature by generating new random values and transforming the original components. This provides enhanced security by ensuring that each signature operation uses unique randomized parameters, preventing replay attacks and 4-sum attacks while adding only moderate computational overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the presignature transformation adaptive and randomized rather than static. The re-randomization process dynamically generates new parameters based on fresh random values, making each signature operation unique and secure while keeping the computational steps manageable through efficient mathematical operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If re-randomization is applied to prevent 4-sum attacks, then security is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The parameter changes through re-randomization transform the presignature components using efficiently computable mathematical operations. While this does add some computational steps compared to using presignatures directly, the operations are designed to be lightweight, minimizing the latency increase while achieving the security goal of preventing 4-sum attacks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4406185B1Digital signatures with re-randomized presignatures
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 DFINITY STIFTUNG
  • EP4406185B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4406185B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4406185B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention relate to a computer-implemented method for performing a digital signature. The embodied method comprises steps of computing a presignature, receiving a signing request to perform the digital signature on a message, re-randomizing the presignature and performing the digital signature on the message with the re-randomized presignature.