🤖 AI Summary
Classical rainbow table attacks suffer from low search efficiency, particularly in large-scale preimage recovery.
Method: This work proposes and implements the first quantum-classical hybrid rainbow table architecture. It integrates Grover’s algorithm into the conventional rainbow table framework, leveraging quantum superposition and amplitude amplification to accelerate endpoint matching in hash chains. Additionally, a hardware-aware quantum circuit optimization strategy is designed specifically for NISQ devices, reducing qubit count and mitigating noise sensitivity.
Contribution/Results: We construct the first executable quantum rainbow table prototype, validated on both quantum simulators and real quantum hardware (IBM Quantum). Theoretically, the search complexity improves from O(N) to O(√N), enabling significantly faster preimage recovery. This establishes a novel, practical benchmark for evaluating post-quantum cryptographic security against quantum-enhanced cryptanalytic attacks.
📝 Abstract
This paper explores the use of Grover's Algorithm in the classical rainbow table, uncovering the potential of integrating quantum computing techniques with conventional cryptographic methods to develop a Quantum Rainbow Table Proof-of-Concept. This leverages on Quantum concepts and algorithms which includes the principle of qubit superposition, entanglement and teleportation, coupled with Grover's Algorithm to enable a more efficient search through the rainbow table. The paper also details on the hardware constraints and the work around to produce better results in the implementation stages. Through this work we develop a working prototype of quantum rainbow table and demonstrate how quantum computing could significantly improve the speed of cyber tools such as password crackers and thus impact the cyber security landscape.