Cybersecurity of Quantum Key Distribution Implementations
Ittay Alfassi, Ran Gelles, Rotem Liss, Tal Mor

TL;DR
This paper introduces new analysis tools and concepts for quantum cybersecurity, specifically targeting practical vulnerabilities in Quantum Key Distribution implementations, and demonstrates their effectiveness in identifying known attacks.
Contribution
It develops novel methodologies and tools like Quantum Fuzzing and Reversed-Space Attacks, bridging classical and quantum cybersecurity analysis.
Findings
Bright Illumination attack could be detected with minimal device knowledge
New tools reveal vulnerabilities in existing QKD implementations
Enhanced security analysis for practical QKD systems
Abstract
Practical implementations of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) often deviate from the theoretical protocols, exposing the implementations to various attacks even when the underlying (ideal) protocol is proven secure. We present new analysis tools and methodologies for quantum cybersecurity, adapting the concepts of vulnerabilities, attack surfaces, and exploits from classical cybersecurity to QKD implementation attacks. We also present three additional concepts, derived from the connection between classical and quantum cybersecurity: "Quantum Fuzzing", which is the first tool for black-box vulnerability research on QKD implementations; "Reversed-Space Attacks", which are a generic exploit method using the attack surface of imperfect receivers; and concrete quantum-mechanical definitions of "Quantum Side-Channel Attacks" and "Quantum State-Channel Attacks", meaningfully distinguishing them…
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