Image Encryption Using DNA Encoding, Snake Permutation and Chaotic Substitution Techniques

2025-03-12

AI Summary

To address security vulnerabilities—such as unauthorized access and tampering—of image data transmitted over insecure channels (e.g., IoT networks), this paper proposes a lightweight, high-security image encryption scheme. Methodologically, it introduces a novel synergistic diffusion mechanism integrating DNA encoding with serpentine permutation, employs a Logistic-Tent chaotic map to generate keystreams, and designs a triple-S-box dynamic chaotic substitution strategy to achieve efficient pixel scrambling and grayscale value confusion. Experimental results demonstrate that the ciphertext achieves an information entropy of 7.9895 (close to the theoretical maximum of 8) and an extremely low adjacent-pixel correlation coefficient of −0.001660, outperforming existing comparable schemes. The proposed approach simultaneously ensures strong randomness, robust resistance against statistical and differential attacks, and low computational overhead—making it particularly suitable for resource-constrained IoT edge devices.

Technology Category

• Computer Vision: Segmentation
• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search
• Machine Learning: Learning on the Edge & Model Compression

Application Category

• Security and Privacy: Applications of cryptography
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs

Abstract

Securing image data in IoT networks and other insecure information channels is a matter of critical concern. This paper presents a new image encryption scheme using DNA encoding, snake permutation and chaotic substitution techniques that ensures robust security of the image data with reduced computational overhead. The DNA encoding and snake permutation modules ensure effective scrambling of the pixels and result in efficient diffusion in the plaintext image. For the confusion part, the chaotic substitution technique is implemented, which substitutes the pixel values chosen randomly from 3 S-boxes. Extensive security analysis validate the efficacy of the image encryption algorithm proposed in this paper and results demonstrate that the encrypted images have an ideal information entropy of 7.9895 and an almost zero correlation coefficient of -0.001660. These results indicate a high degree of randomness and no correlation in the encrypted image.

Problem

• Securing image data in IoT networks and insecure channels.
• Proposing a new image encryption scheme using DNA encoding and chaotic techniques.
• Ensuring robust security with reduced computational overhead.

Innovation

• DNA encoding for pixel scrambling
• Snake permutation for efficient diffusion
• Chaotic substitution using random S-boxes