On the cryptanalysis of an image encryption algorithm with quantum chaotic map and DNA coding

An Image Encryption Algorithm with the Quantum logistic and lorenz Chaotic map, and DNA Coding (IEA-QCDC) was proposed. Relying on some empirical analyzes and experimental results, the designers of IEA-QCDC claimed that this strategy can led to a significant enhancement in reliability and security. However, we investigate the essential properties of IEA-QCDC, and then propose an efficient chosen-plaintext attack to crack its equivalent permutation and diffusion key. By analyzing the encryption effect of continuous DNA encryption operations, the mathematical properties of some DNA codes were summarized. In addition, we find out that the iterative sequence obtained by the non-chaotic state is not even resistant to only-ciphertext attacks by analyzing the Lyapunov exponent and bifurcation diagrams of the quantum Logistic map. Aiming at the security vulnerabilities existing in IEA-QCDC, suggestions are put forward to improve the security and practicability of encryption algorithms, which will promote the development of cryptographic design to a certain extent. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.