Cryptanalysis of a lightweight image encryption scheme based on random shuffling and XOR operation
Keywords:
Image encryption, Chaos theory, Cryptanalysis, Chosen-plaintext attack, Security evaluation, Lightweight cryptography, Medical image protectionAbstract
The rapid exchange of visual data across open networks has made image security a critical concern, particularly in fields such as healthcare, surveillance, and remote sensing where image integrity and confidentiality are essential. While many chaotic-based encryption schemes have been proposed, their security often relies on statistical metrics without rigorous cryptanalysis, leaving them potentially vulnerable. This study presents a detailed cryptanalysis of a recently proposed lightweight medical image encryption scheme that uses Henon, Brownian motion, and Chen chaotic systems for block-based shuffling, diffusion, and XOR-based confusion. We first reconstruct an equivalent structure of the scheme and perform a chosen-plaintext attack to recover its key components, including the permutation matrix, multiplication masks, and XOR keystream. Our analysis reveals structural weaknesses that allow full key recovery without knowledge of the original secret key. Based on these findings, we propose design improvements to address the identified flaws and enhance resistance to known cryptanalytic techniques. The work underscores the importance of incorporating cryptanalysis during the design phase of image encryption algorithms to ensure robust security in real-world applications.
References
Ali, A. H., Gbashi, E. K., Alaskar, H., & Hussain, A. J. (2024). A lightweight image encryption algorithm based on secure key generation. IEEE Access, 12, 95871–95883. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3414334
Alawida, M. (2024). A novel DNA tree-based chaotic image encryption algorithm. Journal of Information Security and Applications, 83, 103791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jisa.2024.103791
Chen, J., Chen, L., & Zhou, Y. (2020). Cryptanalysis of a DNA-based image encryption scheme. Information Sciences, 520, 130–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2020.02.024
Jackson, J., & Perumal, R. (2025). A robust image encryption technique based on an improved fractional order chaotic map. Nonlinear Dynamics, 113(7), 7277–7296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11071-024-10480-7
Khan, M., Aljuaydi, F., Said, L., & Amin, M. (2025). A secure chaotic cryptosystem for thermal imaging: Logistic map-based encryption with substitution-diffusion and spatial decorrelation. Journal of Radiation Research and Applied Sciences, 18(2), 101546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrras.2025.101546
Kumar, S., & Sharma, D. (2024). A chaotic based image encryption scheme using elliptic curve cryptography and genetic algorithm. Artificial Intelligence Review, 57, 87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10462-024-10719-0
Liu, W., Wang, H., Chen, Y., & Sun, K. (2024). A new image encryption scheme based on block compressive sensing and chaotic laser system for IoT. The European Physical Journal Plus, 139(6), 473. https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-024-05221-z
Liu, X., Zheng, S., & Yang, J. (2026). Color image encryption scheme based on a novel 2D-CLCM chaotic system and RNA encoding. Mathematics and Computers in Simulation, 239, 340–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matcom.2025.06.009
Masood, F., Driss, M., Boulila, W., Ahmad, J., Rehman, S., Jan, S. U., Qayyum, A., & Buchanan, W. J. (2022). A lightweight chaos-based medical image encryption scheme using random shuffling and XOR operations. Wireless Personal Communications, 127, 1405–1432. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-021-08584-z
Mathivanan, P., & Maran, P. (2024). Color image encryption based on novel kolam scrambling and modified 2D logistic cascade map (2D LCM). The Journal of Supercomputing, 80(2), 2164–2195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11227-023-05539-y
Singh, D., Kaur, H., Verma, C., Kumar, N., & Illés, Z. (2025). A novel 3-D image encryption algorithm based on SHA-256 and chaos theory. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 122, 564–577. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aej.2025.03.026
Tiwari, A., Diwan, P., Diwan, T. D., Miroslav, M., & Samal, S. P. (2025). A compressed image encryption algorithm leveraging optimized 3D chaotic maps for secure image communication. Scientific Reports, 15, 14151. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95995-8
Umar, T., Nadeem, M., & Anwer, F. (2024). Chaos based image encryption scheme to secure sensitive multimedia content in cloud storage. Expert Systems with Applications, 257, 125050. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2024.125050
Wen, H., & Lin, Y. (2024). Cryptanalysis of an image encryption algorithm using quantum chaotic map and DNA coding. Expert Systems with Applications, 237, 121514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2023.121514
Zhou, R., & Yu, S. (2025). Cryptanalysis on chaotic image cryptosystem of plaintext-related from multiple perspectives. Nonlinear Dynamics, 113(20), 28397–28412. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11071-025-11582-6
Zhu, S., & Zhu, C. (2024). A visual security multi-key selection image encryption algorithm based on a new four-dimensional chaos and compressed sensing. Scientific Reports, 14, 15496. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66320-6
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Lal Said
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Please click here for details about the Licensing and Copyright policies of NASIJ.
