Hash Channels

Abstract

It is believed that in authentication protocols where no random numbers are involved, it is hard to introduce subliminal channels. In this paper we show that subliminal channels exist in digital signature schemes where no random numbers are used. The source where the subliminal channels exist is widely acceptable hash functions with their outputs being of some randomness. Because the subliminal channels are established by using hash functions, the subliminal channels are called hash channels in this paper. This indicates that there exist subliminal channels in any authentication protocols that use hash functions. Show more