QIS-Box: Pioneering Ultralightweight S-Box Generation with Quantum Inspiration

Abstract

This paper presents the quantum-inspired substitution box (QIS-Box) algorithm, a novel approach aimed at enhancing the security of cryptographic S-boxes by leveraging quantum-inspired techniques. The QIS-Box algorithm significantly improves key cryptographic metrics, increasing nonlinearity from 102--110 and reducing differential uniformity from 6--4. Nonlinearity, which measures an S-Box's resistance to linear cryptanalysis, is enhanced to provide stronger protection, whereas differential uniformity, which assesses resilience to differential cryptanalysis, is improved to offer greater defence. These advancements highlight the robust security capabilities of the QIS-Box algorithm against prevalent cryptanalytic attacks. Furthermore, the algorithm demonstrates notable efficiency, making it well suited for implementation in resource-constrained environments such as IoT devices. This research contributes substantially to the development of quantum-resistant cryptographic solutions, addressing the challenges posed by emerging quantum computing technologies. Future research will focus on refining the simulation of quantum events within classical computational frameworks and integrating the QIS-Box Algorithm with other cryptographic techniques to further increase security and efficiency. This study paves the way for the development of advanced cryptographic systems capable of withstanding the evolving landscape of digital threats.