In the context of public key cryptography, what are the differences between key agreement and key transport methods for establishing a shared secret, and how do they mitigate the risk of MITM attacks?
In the realm of public key cryptography, the establishment of a shared secret between communicating parties is a fundamental requirement for secure communication. This can be achieved through two primary methods: key agreement and key transport. Both methods serve the purpose of enabling two parties to securely exchange cryptographic keys, but they do so in
What role does a Certificate Authority (CA) play in the authentication process, and how does it ensure the validity of public keys exchanged between two parties?
A Certificate Authority (CA) plays a pivotal role in the authentication process within the realm of cybersecurity, particularly in the context of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The CA is a trusted entity that issues digital certificates, which serve as electronic credentials to verify the authenticity of public keys exchanged between parties. This mechanism is important
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/ACC Advanced Classical Cryptography, Man-in-the-middle attack, Man-in-the-middle attack, certificates and PKI, Examination review
How does the use of certificates and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) prevent man-in-the-middle attacks in public key cryptography?
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and the use of digital certificates play a pivotal role in mitigating man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks in public key cryptography. To understand this, it is essential to consider the mechanics of PKI, the function of digital certificates, and the nature of MITM attacks. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) PKI is a framework that
What is a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack, and how can it compromise the security of the Diffie-Hellman key exchange?
A Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack is a form of cyberattack where an attacker intercepts and potentially alters the communication between two parties who believe they are directly communicating with each other. This type of attack can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of the data being exchanged. In the context of cryptographic protocols, such as the
How does the Diffie-Hellman key exchange mechanism work to establish a shared secret between two parties over an unsecured channel, and what are the steps involved?
The Diffie-Hellman key exchange mechanism is a fundamental cryptographic protocol that allows two parties to establish a shared secret over an unsecured communication channel. This shared secret can subsequently be used to encrypt further communications using symmetric key cryptography. The protocol is named after its inventors, Whitfield Diffie and Martin Hellman, who introduced it in
Is the Diffie Hellman protocol vulnerable to the Man-in-the-Middle attack?
A Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack is a form of cyber attack where the attacker intercepts communication between two parties without their knowledge. This attack allows the attacker to eavesdrop on the communication, manipulate the data being exchanged, and in some cases, impersonate one or both parties involved. One of the vulnerabilities that can be exploited by
Is there a security sevice that verifies that the receiver (Bob) is the right one and not someone else (Eve)?
In the field of cybersecurity, specifically in the realm of cryptography, there exists a problem of authentication, implemented for example as digital signatures, that can verify the identity of the receiver. Digital signatures provide a means to ensure that the intended recipient, in this case Bob, is indeed the correct individual and not someone else,
Is the exchange of keys in DHEC done over any kind of channel or over a secure channel?
In the field of cybersecurity, specifically in advanced classical cryptography, the exchange of keys in Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is typically done over a secure channel rather than any kind of channel. The use of a secure channel ensures the confidentiality and integrity of the exchanged keys, which is important for the security of the
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/ACC Advanced Classical Cryptography, Elliptic Curve Cryptography, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
In EC starting with a primitive element (x,y) with x,y integers we get all the elements as integers pairs. Is this a general feature of all ellipitic curves or only of the ones we choose to use?
In the realm of Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), the property mentioned, where starting with a primitive element (x,y) with x and y as integers, all subsequent elements are also integer pairs, is not a general feature of all elliptic curves. Instead, it is a characteristic specific to certain types of elliptic curves that are chosen
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/ACC Advanced Classical Cryptography, Elliptic Curve Cryptography, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)
How are the standarized curves defined by NIST and are they public?
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) plays a important role in defining standardized curves for use in elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). These standardized curves are publicly available and widely used in various cryptographic applications. Let us consider the process of how NIST defines these curves and discuss their public availability. NIST defines standardized
- Published in Cybersecurity, EITC/IS/ACC Advanced Classical Cryptography, Elliptic Curve Cryptography, Introduction to elliptic curves