A novel encryption algorithm using multiple semifield S-boxes based on permutation of symmetric group

Abstract: With the tremendous benefits of internet and advanced communications, there is a serious threat from the data security perspective. There is a need of secure and robust encryption algorithm that can be implemented on each and diverse software and hardware platforms. Also, in block symmetric encryption algorithms, substitution boxes are the most vital part. In this paper, we investigate semifield substitution boxes using permutation of symmetric group on a set of size 8 S_8 and establish an effective procedure for generating S_8 semifield substitution boxes having same algebraic properties. Further, the strength analysis of the generated substitution boxes is carried out using the well-known standards namely bijectivity, nonlinearity, strict avalanche criterion, bit independence criterion, XOR table and differential invariant. Based on the analysis results, it is shown that the cryptographic strength of generated substitution boxes is on par with the best known $8\times 8$ substitution boxes. As application, an encryption algorithm is proposed that can be employed to strengthen any kind of secure communication. The presented algorithm is mainly based on the Shannon idea of (S-P) network where the process of substitution is performed by the proposed S_8 semifield substitution boxes and permutation operation is performed by the binary cyclic shift of substitution box transformed data. In addition, the proposed encryption algorithm utilizes two different chaotic maps. In order to ensure the appropriate utilization of these chaotic maps, we carry out in-depth analyses of their behavior in the context of secure communication and apply the pseudo-random sequences of chaotic maps in the proposed image encryption algorithm accordingly. The statistical and simulation results imply that our encryption scheme is secure against different attacks and can resist linear and differential cryptanalysis.