Topology-Hiding Connectivity-Assurance for QKD Inter-Networking
Fuente:
arXiv
Salvato in:
| Autori principali: | , , |
|---|---|
| Natura: | Preprint |
| Pubblicazione: |
2026
|
| Soggetti: | |
| Accesso online: | |
| Tags: |
Aggiungi Tag
Nessun Tag, puoi essere il primo ad aggiungerne!!
|
| _version_ | 1866917380197711872 |
|---|---|
| author | Cozzolino, Margherita Krenn, Stephan Lorünser, Thomas |
| author_facet | Cozzolino, Margherita Krenn, Stephan Lorünser, Thomas |
| contents | While QKD ensures information-theoretic security at the link level, real-world deployments depend on trusted repeaters, creating potential vulnerabilities. In this paper, we thus introduce a topology-hiding connectivity assurance protocol to enhance trust in quantum key distribution (QKD) network infrastructures. Our protocol allows network providers to jointly prove the existence of a secure connection between endpoints without revealing internal topology details. By extending graph-signature techniques to support multi-graphs and hidden endpoints, we enable zero-knowledge proofs of connectivity that ensure both soundness and topology hiding. We further discuss how our approach can certify, e.g., multiple disjoint paths, supporting multi-path QKD scenarios. This work bridges cryptographic assurance methods with the operational requirements of QKD networks, promoting verifiable and privacy-preserving inter-network connectivity. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_01876 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Topology-Hiding Connectivity-Assurance for QKD Inter-Networking Cozzolino, Margherita Krenn, Stephan Lorünser, Thomas Cryptography and Security Quantum Physics While QKD ensures information-theoretic security at the link level, real-world deployments depend on trusted repeaters, creating potential vulnerabilities. In this paper, we thus introduce a topology-hiding connectivity assurance protocol to enhance trust in quantum key distribution (QKD) network infrastructures. Our protocol allows network providers to jointly prove the existence of a secure connection between endpoints without revealing internal topology details. By extending graph-signature techniques to support multi-graphs and hidden endpoints, we enable zero-knowledge proofs of connectivity that ensure both soundness and topology hiding. We further discuss how our approach can certify, e.g., multiple disjoint paths, supporting multi-path QKD scenarios. This work bridges cryptographic assurance methods with the operational requirements of QKD networks, promoting verifiable and privacy-preserving inter-network connectivity. |
| title | Topology-Hiding Connectivity-Assurance for QKD Inter-Networking |
| topic | Cryptography and Security Quantum Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.01876 |