High Dimensional Quantum Eavesdropping: A Hypothetical Attack on BB84 & SSP

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel high-dimensional eavesdropping attack on quantum key distribution protocols like BB84 and SSP, demonstrating its undetectability through simulations, which challenges the assumed security of these systems.

Contribution

It introduces a new high-dimensional measurement attack strategy and evaluates its effectiveness using quantum simulation tools, highlighting potential vulnerabilities.

Findings

The attack can be undetectable via error rate analysis in simulated environments.

High-dimensional measurements can collapse quantum states without detection.

The results suggest the need for enhanced security analysis in quantum key distribution.

Abstract

Quantum key distribution algorithms are considered secure because they leverage quantum phenomena to provide security. As such, eavesdroppers can be detected by analyzing the error rate in the shared key obtained by the parties performing the key exchange. Nevertheless, this paper developed and investigated a novel attack strategy capable of being undetected through error analysis of the shared key. Said attack entails an eavesdropper measuring the quantum channel (i.e., the channel used to transmit quantum particles between two parties) using a higher dimension than that used by the legitimate parties. By measuring a particle in a dimension that spans all possible states in a given quantum key distribution algorithm, the collapsed state of the measured particle should be undetectable when measured in the lower dimension. To analyze the proposed high-dimensional eavesdropping attack, the simulator Cirq was used to model the attack on BB84, a four-dimensional variant of BB84, and the Six-State Protocol. The results of these simulations show the efficiency of this attack, with an eavesdropper being undetectable through quantum bit error rate analysis in each algorithm This promotes the need for further analysis of the high-dimensional eavesdropping attack on physical hardware and other quantum key distribution algorithms