New Updatable Encryption Scheme Leverages FrodoPKE for Quantum-Resistant Security

Global: New Updatable Encryption Scheme Leverages FrodoPKE for Quantum-Resistant Security

A research team led by Mariusz Jurkiewicz and K. Prabucka has introduced an efficient updatable encryption (UE) construction that utilizes the FrodoPKE learning‑with‑errors key encapsulation mechanism. The paper, titled “Unidirectional Key Update in Updatable Encryption, Revisited,” was first submitted to arXiv on October 4, 2024 and most recently revised on December 29, 2025. The authors aim to improve key‑update efficiency while preserving security in a backward‑leak, unidirectional setting.

Scheme Overview

The proposed UE scheme builds on the FrodoPKE primitive, which is based on the hardness of the Learning With Errors (LWE) problem. By integrating FrodoPKE, the authors claim to achieve compact ciphertexts and low computational overhead during key rotations, addressing performance bottlenecks observed in earlier UE constructions.

Security Evaluation

Security is analyzed within the random‑indistinguishability under chosen‑plaintext attack (rand‑ind‑eu‑cpa) model, specifically targeting the backward‑leak, uni‑directional scenario. The authors provide proofs that the scheme resists both classical and quantum adversaries, citing the LWE problem’s established resistance to known quantum algorithms.

Quantum‑Resistance Claim

Because the underlying hardness assumption is LWE, the paper asserts that the construction remains secure against attacks leveraging quantum computers. This claim aligns with broader efforts in post‑quantum cryptography to develop primitives that can withstand future quantum capabilities.

Publication Timeline

The manuscript underwent four versions on arXiv: the initial submission (v1) on October 4, 2024; a minor update (v2) on October 8, 2024; a substantive revision (v3) on August 9, 2025; and the latest version (v4) on December 29, 2025, which refined proofs and clarified performance metrics.

Implications for Cryptographic Practice

If validated by peer review, the scheme could streamline key management in environments where frequent updates are required, such as cloud storage services and IoT deployments. Its claimed quantum resistance may also make it attractive for long‑term data protection strategies.

Future Directions

The authors suggest extending the framework to support bidirectional key updates and exploring integration with other post‑quantum primitives. Further empirical benchmarking against existing UE schemes is anticipated to quantify real‑world performance gains.

This report is based on information from arXiv, licensed under Academic Preprint / Open Access. Based on the abstract of the research paper. Full text available via ArXiv.