On the security of a modified paillier public-key primitive

Abstract

Choi et al. proposed the modified Paillier cryptosystem (M-Paillier cryptosystem). They use a special public-key g ∈ ZZ/nZZ such that gϕ(n) = 1+n mod n2, where n is the RSA modulus. The distribution of the public key g is different from that of the original one. In this paper, we study the security of the usage of the public key. Firstly, we prove that the one-wayness of the M-Paillier cryptosystem is as intractable as factoring the modulus n, if the public key g can be generated only by the public modulus n. Secondly, we prove that the oracle that can generate the public-key factors the modulus n. Thus the public keys cannot be generated without knowing the factoring of n. The Paillier cryptosystem can use the public key g = 1+n, which is generated only from the public modulus n. Thirdly, we propose a chosen ciphertext attack against the M-Paillier cryptosystem. Our attack can factor the modulus n by only one query to the decryption oracle. This type of total breaking attack has not been reported for the original Paillier cryptosystem. Finally, we discuss the relationship between the M-Paillier cryptosystem and the Okamoto-Uchiyama scheme.