Protecting Fiber-Optic Quantum Key Distribution Sources against Light-Injection Attacks
Issued Date
2022-10-01
Resource Type
eISSN
26913399
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85141925321
Journal Title
PRX Quantum
Volume
3
Issue
4
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
PRX Quantum Vol.3 No.4 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Ponosova A., Ruzhitskaya D., Chaiwongkhot P., Egorov V., Makarov V., Huang A. Protecting Fiber-Optic Quantum Key Distribution Sources against Light-Injection Attacks. PRX Quantum Vol.3 No.4 (2022). doi:10.1103/PRXQuantum.3.040307 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/84249
Title
Protecting Fiber-Optic Quantum Key Distribution Sources against Light-Injection Attacks
Author's Affiliation
Saint Petersburg National Research University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics University ITMO
National University of Science & Technology (MISIS)
National University of Defense Technology China
University of Science and Technology of China
University of Waterloo
Mahidol University
SMARTS-Quanttelecom LLC
Quantum Technology Foundation (Thailand)
National University of Science & Technology (MISIS)
National University of Defense Technology China
University of Science and Technology of China
University of Waterloo
Mahidol University
SMARTS-Quanttelecom LLC
Quantum Technology Foundation (Thailand)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
A well-protected and characterized source in a quantum key distribution system is needed for its security. Unfortunately, the source is vulnerable to light-injection attacks, such as Trojan-horse, laser-seeding, and laser-damage attacks, in which an eavesdropper actively injects bright light to hack the source unit. The hacking laser could be a high-power one that can modify properties of components via the laser-damage attack and also further help the Trojan-horse and other light-injection attacks. Here we propose a countermeasure against the light-injection attacks, consisting of an additional sacrificial component placed at the exit of the source. This component should either withstand high-power incoming light while attenuating it to a safe level that cannot modify the rest of the source, or get destroyed into a permanent high-attenuation state that breaks up the line. We demonstrate experimentally that off-the-shelf fiber-optic isolators and circulators have these desired properties, at least under attack by a continuous-wave high-power laser.
