Backflash Attack on Coherent One-Way Quantum Key Distribution

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Singh, Ashutosh Kumar, Sharma, Nilesh, Singh, Vaibhav Pratap, Prabhakar, Anil
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2025
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author Singh, Ashutosh Kumar
Sharma, Nilesh
Singh, Vaibhav Pratap
Prabhakar, Anil
author_facet Singh, Ashutosh Kumar
Sharma, Nilesh
Singh, Vaibhav Pratap
Prabhakar, Anil
contents In this article, we experimentally demonstrate an eavesdropper's (Eve's) information gain by exploiting the breakdown flash generated by the single photon avalanche detector (SPAD) used in coherent one-way quantum key distribution (COW-QKD) setup. Unlike prior studies focusing on the device-level characterization of backflash photons, this work quantifies Eve's learning with a QKD system that includes a key distillation engine (KDE). Eve's learning is quantified using the backflash photons emitted by SPAD and the information available on the classical channel. Experimentally observed data are in good agreement with theoretical simulations. Some mitigation strategies against the backflash attack are also discussed.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_04081
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Backflash Attack on Coherent One-Way Quantum Key Distribution
Singh, Ashutosh Kumar
Sharma, Nilesh
Singh, Vaibhav Pratap
Prabhakar, Anil
Quantum Physics
In this article, we experimentally demonstrate an eavesdropper's (Eve's) information gain by exploiting the breakdown flash generated by the single photon avalanche detector (SPAD) used in coherent one-way quantum key distribution (COW-QKD) setup. Unlike prior studies focusing on the device-level characterization of backflash photons, this work quantifies Eve's learning with a QKD system that includes a key distillation engine (KDE). Eve's learning is quantified using the backflash photons emitted by SPAD and the information available on the classical channel. Experimentally observed data are in good agreement with theoretical simulations. Some mitigation strategies against the backflash attack are also discussed.
title Backflash Attack on Coherent One-Way Quantum Key Distribution
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.04081