Security Analysis of the Rainbow-eta Signature Scheme

Digital signatures are used as electronic alternatives to handwritten signatures, and are built upon mathematical problems. Such problems are computationally unfeasible to solve with classical computers, and give the security basis for signature schemes. With the possible advent of quantum computers, conventional signatures created by currently used schemes cannot be considered secure. Thus, the need for quantum-safe digital signature schemes arises. We focus on Rainbow, which is based on multivariate quadratic equations. Some problems connected to such equations are not known to be solved more efficiently with quantum computers. It generates and verifies signatures very efficiently, but the key generation step is slow and produces large keys. We have proposed a variant of the scheme, called Rainbow-eta, which employs a novel method to reduce private keys. We expect to provide a detailed security analysis of the scheme, as well as a constant-time reference implementation, which does not leak information through physical means.

Faculty Supervisor:

Karen Schwartz;Daniel Panario

Student:

Partner:

Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina

Discipline:

Mathematics

Sector:

Education

University:

Carleton University

Program: