Analysis of probabilistic contract signing

Norman, G. and Shmatikov, V. (2006) Analysis of probabilistic contract signing. Journal of Computer Security, 14(6), pp. 561-589.

Abstract

<p>We present three case studies, investigating the use of probabilistic model checking to automatically analyse properties of probabilistic contract signing protocols. We use the probabilistic model checker PRISM to analyse three protocols: Rabin's probabilistic protocol for fair commitment exchange; the probabilistic contract signing protocol of Ben-Or, Goldreich, Micali, and Rivest; and a randomised protocol for signing contracts of Even, Goldreich, and Lempel. These case studies illustrate the general methodology for applying probabilistic model checking to formal verification of probabilistic security protocols. </p> <p>For the Ben-Or et al. protocol, we demonstrate the difficulty of combining fairness with timeliness. If, as required by timeliness, the judge responds to participants' messages immediately upon receiving them, then there exists a strategy for a misbehaving participant that brings the protocol to an unfair state with arbitrarily high probability, unless unusually strong assumptions are made about the quality of the communication channels between the judge and honest participants. We quantify the tradeoffs involved in the attack strategy, and discuss possible modifications of the protocol that ensure both fairness and timeliness. </p> <p>For the Even et al. protocol, we demonstrate that the responder enjoys a distinct advantage. With probability 1, the protocol reaches a state in which the responder possesses the initiator's commitment, but the initiator does not possess the responder's commitment. We then analyse several variants of the protocol, exploring the tradeoff between fairness and the number of messages that must be exchanged between participants.</p>

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Norman, Dr Gethin
• Authors: Norman, G., and Shmatikov, V.
• Subjects: Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Computing Science
• Journal Name: Journal of Computer Security
• Publisher: IOS Press
• ISSN: 0926-227X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2006 IOS Press
• First Published: First published in Journal of Computer Security 14(6):561-589
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher