Symmetric Encryption in Theory and Practice

The 4th BIU Winter School, 2014

Organized by Yehuda Lindell and Benny Pinkas, Department of Computer Science, Bar-Ilan University, Israel

This winter school is graciously sponsored by the European Research Council under the European UnionÍs Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013) / ERC Grant Agreement n. 239868 (LAST), the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n. 609611 (PRACTICE), Bar-Ilan University, and the Check Point Institute for Information Security.

School Overview

The winter school will study symmetric encryption in theory and in practice. The school will include a study of the theoretical foundations of symmetric encryption on the one hand, and practical constructions and cryptanalysis on the other hand. These two topics will provide a broad basis for all participants. The school will then proceed to study advanced constructions like tweakable block ciphers, format preserving encryption, disk encryption and advanced types of authenticated encryption. Finally, the school will conclude with advanced and recent attacks on symmetric encryption in SSL/TLS, IPsec, SSH and more. The school program includes approximately 24 hours of lectures and a social dinner.

The target audience for the school is graduate students and postdocs in cryptography (we will assume that participants have taken at least one university-level course in cryptography). However, faculty, undergrads and professionals with the necessary background are all welcome. The winter school is open to participants from all over the world; all talks will be in English.

School Lecturers

Talks

Theoretical Foundations

Benny Applebaum and Iftach Haitner

Cryptanalysis

Eli Biham and Orr Dunkelman

Encryption Modes and Attacks

Kenny Patterson (slides)

  • Introduction: Secure Channels, Generic Composition, Basic Attacks (video)
  • Symmetric Encryption in IPsec and ASP.NET: The perils of unauthenticated encryption (video)
  • Symmetric encryption in TLS and DTLS: BEAST, Lucky13 and RC4 attacks; security proofs for TLS (video)
  • Symmetric encryption in SSH: attacks and new security models for fragmented decryption (video)

Advanced Symmetric Schemes

Thomas Ristenpart (slides)

  • Tweakable PRP ad PRFs, shuffling constructions (video)
  • Format-preserving encryption and special cases: disk sector encryption (video)
  • Authenticated encryption: generic composition (video)
  • Misuse-resistant AE / deterministic AE (video)

Information for Participants

  • Where: Wohl Centre, Bar Ilan University
  • When: Monday 27/1/2014 to Thursday 30/1/2014
  • Registration: Participation is free, but registration is required. Please register by 31/12/2010 by sending an email to: mpcschool.biu@gmail.com. Registration includes school participation, lunch and refreshment, a social event, and transportation to and from the school hotel. (Accommodation is not included).
  • Hotel: We have arranged a special rate at the Leonardo Boutique Hotel, in Ramat Hahayal, Tel Aviv. There are restaurants in the area of the hotel, and there will also be transportation to the center of Tel Aviv in the evening. In addition, we provide transportation to and from the Winter School location. The rate is $165 a night for a single room and $185 a night for a double room (with two occupants). The rate includes breakfast.
  • Support: Some stipends of $800 each (for flight and accommodation) are available for overseas students needing support. Please have your advisor send a letter justifying the need for financial support before 1/12/2013.