Action-Triggered Public-Key cryptography for GSM systems with Phone-Dependent end-to-end encryption

 Rehab El Nemr¹, Imane Aly Saroit Ismail², S. H. Ahmed³

¹Computer Science department, Faculty of Media Engineering, German University in Cairo, Egypt

²Information Technology department, Faculty of Computers and information, Cairo University

³Vice dean, Faculty of Computers and information, Cairo University

Abstract

Security is a burning issue and intelligent security will remain relevant, as it is important in all types of applications. GSM Security flaws have been identified several years ago. Some of these flaws have been fixed by the 3GPP but others are left to discussion. In this paper we will integrate a very well known technique in the system, namely Public-key technique. Yet, we will introduce the solutions in a different point of view. These solutions are Action-Triggered, meaning; it will work only if the flaw occurs. That will leave the original system working in normal cases. End-to-End security will be discussed also and a mechanism of Key management is proposed if this service is requested by the customer. Phone-Dependent technique is conducted to consider Service provider attacks.

 Keywords: Authentication, Ciphering, SIM, Ki, VLR, A3/5/8, Public key and Digital Certificate

Biographies:

• Rehab Khaled EL-Nemr. She is graduated from Faculty of Computers and Information, Cairo University, 2001. She will soon finish her Master thesis in the field of Mobile Network Security. She is currently a teaching assistant in Computer Science department, Faculty of Media Engineering, German University in Cairo.

• Imane Aly Saroit Ismail. She obtained her B.Sc in 1985, M.Sc in 1990 and Ph.D in 1994, all from Faculty of Engineering, Communication department, Cairo University. She worked in Cairo University since 1989, She is currently an associate professor in Information Technology department, Faculty of Computers and Information, Cairo University.

• S.H. Ahmed. She obtained her Ph.D in 1980 from university of Toulouse, France, M.SC in 1977 and B.SC in 1971 both from Faculty of Engineering, Communication department, Cairo University.  She is a professor and currently a vice dean, in Faculty of Computers and Information, Cairo University.

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