Hardware performance characterization of block cipher structures

Abstract

In this paper, we present a general framework for evaluating the performance characteristics of block cipher structures composed of S-boxes and Maximum Distance Separable (MDS) mappings. In particular, we examine nested Substitution-Permutation Networks (SPNs) and Feistel networks with round functions composed of S-boxes and MDS mappings. Within each cipher structure, many cases are considered based on two types of S-boxes (i.e., 4 x 4 and 8 x 8) and parameterized MDS mappings. In our study of each case, the hardware complexity and performance are analyzed. Cipher security, in the form of resistance to differential, linear, and Square attacks, is used to determine the minimum number of rounds required for a particular parameterized structure. Because the discussed structures are similar to many existing ciphers (e.g., Rijndael, Camellia, Hierocrypt, and Anubis), the analysis provides a meaningful mechanism for seeking efficient ciphers through a wide comparison of performance, complexity, and security. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2003.