Security loophole in free-space quantum key distribution due to spatial-mode detector-efficiency mismatch

2015/02/28 by Shihan Sajeed, Poompong Chaiwongkhot, Jean-Philippe Bourgoin +5 · 3 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Detector #Electronic engineering #Free space #Optics #Photon #Physics #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum key distribution #Quantum optics and atomic interactions #Sensitivity (control systems) #Spatial filter #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreva.91.062301

published as Phys. Rev. A 91, 062301 (2015) · 7 pages, 4 figures

openalex publication_date 2015/06/02 · arxiv created 2015/06/10 · arxiv updated 2015/06/11 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

In free-space quantum key distribution (QKD), the sensitivity of the receiver's detector channels may depend differently on the spatial mode of incoming photons. Consequently, an attacker can control the spatial mode to break security. We experimentally investigate a standard polarization QKD receiver and identify sources of efficiency mismatch in its optical scheme. We model a practical intercept-and-resend attack and show that it would break security in most situations. We show experimentally that adding an appropriately chosen spatial filter at the receiver's entrance may be an effective countermeasure.

Citations

• Security proof for quantum-key-distribution systems with threshold detectors
• Unconditional Security of Quantum Key Distribution over Arbitrarily Long Distances
• Information-theoretic security proof for quantum-key-distribution protocols
• Unconditional security of practical quantum key distribution
• Practical Free-Space Quantum Key Distribution over 1 km
• Squashing model for detectors and applications to quantum-key-distribution protocols
• Quantum cryptography based on Bell’s theorem
• Quantum key distribution over 122 km of standard telecom fiber
• Quantum Key Distribution with High Loss: Toward Global Secure Communication
• Entanglement-based quantum communication over 144 km
• Breaking a quantum key distribution system through a timing side channel
• Tight finite-key analysis for quantum cryptography

Cited by

• A Binary Classifier-Based Wire Resistance Attack on the KLJN Secure Key Exchanger
• Binary Classifier Wire-Resistance Attack on KLJN: Impact of Narrowing the Resistor Gap
• Homodyne-detector-blinding attack in continuous-variable quantum key distribution

Related

• Security Assumptions in Dispersive-Optics QKD
• Reversed Space Attacks
• Randomized Ancillary Qubit Overcomes Detector-Control and Intercept-Resend Hacking of Quantum Key Distribution
• Eavesdropping Attack with Hong-Ou-Mandel Interferometer and Random Basis Shuffling in Quantum Key Distribution
• A generalized efficiency mismatch attack to bypass detection-scrambling countermeasure