Detector Control by Exploiting Superlinearity

The Detector Control, by Exploiting Superlinearity attack, targets QKD systems by leveraging the unexpected behaviour of single-photon detectors, specifically gated Avalanche Photodiodes (APDs) and Superconducting Nanowire Single-Photon Detectors (SNSPDs), where detection efficiency anomalously increases with multiple simultaneous photon impacts. This superlinear detection window allows an attacker to manipulate detection outcomes using carefully timed faint light pulses, subtly influencing the QKD process.


Literature

[KoehlerSidki2019] A. Koehler-Sidki, J. Dynes, A. Martinez, M. Lucamarini, G. Roberts, A. Sharpe, Z. Yuan, and A. Shields. "Intrinsic Mitigation of the After-Gate Attack in Quantum Key Distribution through Fast-Gated Delayed Detection" In: Phys. Rev. Applied 12, 024050. (2019) 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.12.024050.
[Lydersen2011b] L. Lydersen, N. Jain, C. Wittmann, . Mary, J. Skaar, C. Marquardt, V. Makarov, and G. Leuchs. "Superlinear threshold detectors in quantum cryptography" In: Phys. Rev. A 84, 032320. (2011) 10.1103/PhysRevA.84.032320.
[Qian2018] Y. Qian, D. He, S. Wang, W. Chen, Z. Yin, G. Guo, and Z. Han. "Hacking the Quantum Key Distribution System by Exploiting the Avalanche-Transition Region of Single-Photon Detectors" In: Phys. Rev. Appl. 10, 064062. (2018) 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.10.064062.
[Ye2020] M. Ye, J. Li, Y. Wang, P. Gao, X. Lu, and Y. Qian. "Quantum key distribution system against the probabilistic faint after-gate attack" In: Commun. Theor. Phys. 72 115102. (2022) 10.1088/1572-9494/abb7d8.

QID: A-0075
Tier: T0
Type: Quantum
Tactic: Execution
Created: 2024-04-11
Updated: 2024-08-20

Technique → Countermeasures

List of countermeasures applicable to this technique.

Items: 4
Description Countermeasure

Use of other protocols, such as MDI-QKD.

Employment of bit-mapped gating.

Employ the upconversion technique.

Include this attack in your security proof (because it is just a partial key leakage).