Cryptanalysis of an image encryption algorithm based on combined chaos for a BAN system, and improved scheme using SHA-512 and hyperchaos

Abstract

The issues of identity authentication and privacy protection of individuals in body area network (BAN) systems have raised much concern in past few years. To address the challenges of privacy protection in wireless BAN, an image encryption algorithm has been proposed recently by Wang et al. The encryption algorithm utilized two 1D chaotic maps to generate sub-chaotic matrices which are combined to perform encryption. The algorithm has good statistical encryption performance. However, a cautious inquiry finds that it has some underlying security defects. This paper evaluates the security of the Wang et al. encryption algorithm to show that it is totally breakable under proposed cryptanalysis and hence infeasible for privacy protection in BAN. It has been shown that the plain-image data can be recovered without any prior knowledge of secret key and plain-text. Furthermore, this paper also suggests an improved encryption scheme using secure hash algorithm SHA-512 for one-time keys and a 4D hyperchaotic system to subdue the security insufficiencies of the algorithm under study. The simulation results and analysis demonstrate that the improved image encryption scheme has excellent encryption quality, plain-image sensitivity, and resistance to possible cryptanalytic attacks.