Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a cryptographic technique that enables secure private key exchange between geographically distant parties over an insecure channel, protecting confidentiality against potential eavesdroppers. QKD has evolved significantly since its inception with the BB84 protocol p...

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Authors: Brazaola Vicario, Aitor, Ruiz, Alejandra, Lage Serrano, Óscar, Jacob Taquet, Eduardo, Astorga Burgo, Jasone
Format: article
Publication Date:2024
Country:España
Institution:Universidad del País Vasco
Repository:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/75218
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/75218
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:quantum computation
quantum cryptography
quantum key distribution
quantum key distribution networks
quantum light sources
uncertainty principle
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spelling Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risksBrazaola Vicario, AitorRuiz, AlejandraLage Serrano, ÓscarJacob Taquet, EduardoAstorga Burgo, Jasonequantum computationquantum cryptographyquantum key distributionquantum key distribution networksquantum light sourcesuncertainty principleQuantum key distribution (QKD) is a cryptographic technique that enables secure private key exchange between geographically distant parties over an insecure channel, protecting confidentiality against potential eavesdroppers. QKD has evolved significantly since its inception with the BB84 protocol proposed by Bennett and Brassard in 1984. Its theoretical foundation relies on quantum physics, particularly the uncertainty principle, the no-cloning theorem, and particle entanglement, which ensures its information-theoretic security when combined with the one-time-pad cryptographic algorithm. However, certain security loopholes persist in terms of practical implementation in commercial devices. Some vulnerabilities are associated with side-channel vectors linked to commonly used optical subcomponents, while others are more related to how existing protocols handle encoding and communication pipelines. In this work, we aim to comprehensively study the current state of security loopholes affecting QKD technology in commercial devices. We also provide a concise overview of the existing types of QKD implementations. Additionally, we offer insights into current trends and vulnerability countermeasures, paving the way for future research and novel mechanisms to enhance the implementation security of commercial QKD devicesEusko Jaurlaritza (A/20220551, EXP. 2022/01341); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.Optica Publishing Group202520252024info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10810/75218reponame:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigacióninstname:Universidad del País VascoIngléshttps://doi.org/10.1364/OPTCON.530352info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess© 2024 Optica Publishing Group. Users may use, reuse, and build upon the article, or use the article for text or data mining, so long as such uses are for non-commercial purposes and appropriate attribution is maintained. All other rights are reserved.oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/752182026-06-18T09:23:17Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
title Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
spellingShingle Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
Brazaola Vicario, Aitor
quantum computation
quantum cryptography
quantum key distribution
quantum key distribution networks
quantum light sources
uncertainty principle
title_short Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
title_full Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
title_fullStr Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
title_full_unstemmed Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
title_sort Quantum key distribution: a survey on current vulnerability trends and potential implementation risks
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Brazaola Vicario, Aitor
Ruiz, Alejandra
Lage Serrano, Óscar
Jacob Taquet, Eduardo
Astorga Burgo, Jasone
author Brazaola Vicario, Aitor
author_facet Brazaola Vicario, Aitor
Ruiz, Alejandra
Lage Serrano, Óscar
Jacob Taquet, Eduardo
Astorga Burgo, Jasone
author_role author
author2 Ruiz, Alejandra
Lage Serrano, Óscar
Jacob Taquet, Eduardo
Astorga Burgo, Jasone
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv quantum computation
quantum cryptography
quantum key distribution
quantum key distribution networks
quantum light sources
uncertainty principle
topic quantum computation
quantum cryptography
quantum key distribution
quantum key distribution networks
quantum light sources
uncertainty principle
description Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a cryptographic technique that enables secure private key exchange between geographically distant parties over an insecure channel, protecting confidentiality against potential eavesdroppers. QKD has evolved significantly since its inception with the BB84 protocol proposed by Bennett and Brassard in 1984. Its theoretical foundation relies on quantum physics, particularly the uncertainty principle, the no-cloning theorem, and particle entanglement, which ensures its information-theoretic security when combined with the one-time-pad cryptographic algorithm. However, certain security loopholes persist in terms of practical implementation in commercial devices. Some vulnerabilities are associated with side-channel vectors linked to commonly used optical subcomponents, while others are more related to how existing protocols handle encoding and communication pipelines. In this work, we aim to comprehensively study the current state of security loopholes affecting QKD technology in commercial devices. We also provide a concise overview of the existing types of QKD implementations. Additionally, we offer insights into current trends and vulnerability countermeasures, paving the way for future research and novel mechanisms to enhance the implementation security of commercial QKD devices
publishDate 2024
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10810/75218
url http://hdl.handle.net/10810/75218
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://doi.org/10.1364/OPTCON.530352
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Optica Publishing Group
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Optica Publishing Group
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
instname:Universidad del País Vasco
instname_str Universidad del País Vasco
reponame_str Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
collection Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
_version_ 1869422224734158848
score 15,812429

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