Title: HP-CP-ABE scheme against collusion attacks under an attribute-key security model

Authors: Keshuo Sun; Haiying Gao; Chao Ma; Bin Hu; Xiufeng Zhao

Addresses: PLA SSF Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China ' PLA SSF Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China ' PLA SSF Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China ' PLA SSF Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China ' PLA SSF Information Engineering University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China

Abstract: Attribute-based encryption (ABE) is crucial for ciphertext access control in cloud settings. In this paper, we evaluate the resilience of classical ABE schemes to specific attacks, ensuring only robust schemes are employed and informing the design of secure ABE schemes. We demonstrate an attribute-key attack on two ciphertext-policy ABE (CP-ABE) schemes using illegitimate private keys. To quantify the security of private keys against collusion, we propose a novel attribute-key security model. At last, we present a hidden-policy CP-ABE (HP-CP-ABE) scheme, proving its selective security and resistance to collusion attacks.

Keywords: attribute-based encryption; ABE; collusion attack; attribute-key attack; selective security.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICS.2025.146529

International Journal of Information and Computer Security, 2025 Vol.26 No.4, pp.372 - 393

Received: 29 Mar 2024
Accepted: 05 Jul 2024
Published online: 02 Jun 2025 *

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