Towards Constructing Unclonable Cryptographic Primitives in the Plain Model

Core Concepts

This work aims to make progress towards constructing unclonable cryptographic primitives, such as copy-protection of point functions and unclonable encryption, in the plain model without relying on random oracles or other setup assumptions.

Abstract

The paper focuses on two important open problems in unclonable cryptography:

Copy-protection of point functions in the plain model: Previous constructions for copy-protection of point functions were mostly in the quantum random oracle model, except for one recent work that achieved security for a "less natural" challenge distribution. The authors aim to construct copy-protection schemes for point functions with negligible security and natural challenge distributions in the plain model.

Unclonable encryption with unclonable indistinguishability security in the plain model: Prior works have only achieved unclonable encryption with a weaker "unclonability" security notion in the plain model. The authors aim to construct unclonable encryption schemes satisfying the stronger unclonable indistinguishability security in the plain model.

To address these goals, the authors introduce a new monogamy-of-entanglement game for coset states, which allows them to make progress on the two problems. Specifically, they show that if certain conjectures hold, they can construct copy-protection schemes for point functions secure under natural challenge distributions, as well as unclonable encryption schemes with unclonable indistinguishability security, all in the plain model.

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Towards Unclonable Cryptography in the Plain Model

by Céli... at arxiv.org 04-17-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2311.16663.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

What are the implications of achieving unclonable cryptographic primitives in the plain model beyond the specific applications considered in this work

Achieving unclonable cryptographic primitives in the plain model has significant implications beyond the specific applications considered in this work. Firstly, it would enhance the security of cryptographic systems by providing a higher level of protection against cloning attacks. This is crucial in scenarios where the integrity and confidentiality of data are paramount, such as in secure communication, financial transactions, and data storage.
Secondly, unclonable cryptography in the plain model could pave the way for the development of more robust and secure quantum cryptographic protocols. Quantum technologies are advancing rapidly, and having unclonable primitives in the plain model would ensure that these advancements are leveraged to their full potential without compromising security.
Furthermore, the implications extend to the broader field of cybersecurity, where unclonable cryptographic primitives can be utilized to enhance authentication mechanisms, prevent counterfeiting, and secure IoT devices. By establishing unclonable primitives in the plain model, a foundation is laid for building a more secure and trustworthy digital ecosystem.

What are the potential limitations or drawbacks of relying on the conjectures introduced in this paper to construct the desired unclonable cryptographic primitives

While the conjectures introduced in this paper provide a pathway towards constructing unclonable cryptographic primitives, there are potential limitations and drawbacks to consider.
One limitation is the reliance on assumptions such as the existence of a compute-and-compare obfuscator in a non-local setting. These assumptions may introduce additional complexity and uncertainty into the security guarantees of the constructed primitives. If these assumptions are not met or are later found to be flawed, it could undermine the security of the entire cryptographic system built upon them.
Another drawback is the potential lack of verifiability and transparency in the construction of cryptographic primitives based on conjectures. Without a clear and rigorous proof of the conjectures, there may be doubts about the security and reliability of the resulting cryptographic schemes. This could hinder the adoption of these primitives in real-world applications where trust and assurance are essential.
Additionally, the reliance on conjectures may limit the scalability and interoperability of the constructed primitives. If the conjectures are specific to certain scenarios or conditions, it may be challenging to adapt the primitives to different use cases or integrate them with existing cryptographic systems seamlessly.

How could the new monogamy-of-entanglement game for coset states introduced in this work be useful in other applications beyond unclonable cryptography

The new monogamy-of-entanglement game for coset states introduced in this work has the potential to be useful in various applications beyond unclonable cryptography.
One potential application is in quantum communication protocols where the distribution of entangled states plays a crucial role. The monogamy-of-entanglement property can be leveraged to quantify and optimize the sharing of entanglement between multiple parties in a communication network, leading to more efficient and secure quantum communication.
Furthermore, the concept of monogamy-of-entanglement can be applied in quantum key distribution schemes to enhance the security and resilience of cryptographic keys. By understanding and exploiting the limitations on the distribution of entanglement, it is possible to design key distribution protocols that are more resistant to eavesdropping and tampering.
Moreover, the monogamy-of-entanglement game can find applications in quantum computing algorithms and quantum error correction. By studying the correlations between entangled states in a multi-party setting, new insights can be gained into the behavior of quantum systems and the development of more robust quantum algorithms and error correction techniques.