Computational Probabilistic Non-Interference

Michael Backes and Birgit Pfitzmann.
in Proceedings of 7th European Symposium on Research in Computer Security (ESORICS), Lecture Notes in Computer Science vol. 2502, Springer, pp. 1-23, October 2002.

Abstract

In recent times information flow and non-interference have become very popular concepts for expressing both integrity and privacy properties. We present the first general definition of probabilistic non-interference in reactive systems which includes a computational case. This case is essential to cope with real cryptography since non-interference properties can usually only be guaranteed if the underlying cryptographic primitives have not been broken. This might happen, but only with negligible probability. Furthermore, our definition links non-interference with the common approach of simulatability that modern cryptography often uses.We show that our definition is maintained under simulatability, which allows secure composition of systems, and we present a general strategy how cryptographic primitives can be included in information flow proofs. As an example we present an abstract specification and a possible implementation of a cryptographic firewall guarding two honest users from their environment.

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