Security loophole in free-space quantum key distribution due to spatial-mode detector-efficiency mismatch
arXiv:1502.02785 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.91.062301
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 is an effective countermeasure.
7 pages, 4 figures
References in corpus (12)
- Free-Space distribution of entanglement and single photons over 144 km
- Hacking commercial quantum cryptography systems by tailored bright illumination
- Quantum key distribution over 122 km of standard telecom fiber
- Quantum Eavesdropping without Interception: An Attack Exploiting the Dead Time of Single Photon Detectors
- Trojan-horse attacks threaten the security of practical quantum cryptography
- Breaking a quantum key distribution system through a timing side channel
- Squashing Models for Optical Measurements in Quantum Communication
- Daylight operation of a free space, entanglement-based quantum key distribution system
- Security proof for QKD systems with threshold detectors
- Passive faraday mirror attack in practical two-way quantum key distribution system
- Attacks exploiting deviation of mean photon number in quantum key distribution and coin tossing
- Quantum key distribution over a 72 dB channel loss using ultralow dark count superconducting single-photon detectors
Cited by in corpus (9)
- Micius quantum experiments in space
- Insecurity of detector-device-independent quantum key distribution
- Eavesdropper's ability to attack a free-space quantum-key-distribution receiver in atmospheric turbulence
- Robust countermeasure against detector control attack in practical quantum key distribution system
- Quantum Key Distribution with a Hand-held Sender Unit
- Randomized ancillary qubit overcomes detector-control and intercept-resend hacking of quantum key distribution
- Perspective -- On the thermodynamics of perfect unconditional security
- Random Number Generator Attack against the Kirchhoff-Law-Johnson-Noise Secure Key Exchange Protocol
- Nonlinearity Attack against the Kirchhoff-Law-Johnson-Noise (KLJN) Secure Key Exchange Protocol