Multidimensional zero-correlation linear cryptanalysis on PRINCE

Abstract

The PRINCE is a light-weight block cipher with the 64-bit block size and 128-bit key size. It is characterized by low power-consumption and low latency. PRINCEcore is the PRINCE cipher without key-whiting. For evaluating its security, a statistical testing on linear transformation is performed, and a statistical character matrix is given. By using the “miss-in-the-middle” technique, we construct 5-round zero-correlation linear approximations. Based on the 5-round distinguisher, a 9-round attack on the PRINCEcore is performed. The data complexity is 262.9 known plaintexts and the time complexity is 255.14 9-round encryptions. The testing result shows that the PRINCEcore reduced to 9 rounds is not immune to multidimensional zero-correlation linear analysis.