Zero-correlation linear analysis for block ciphers based on the Bernstein–Vazirani and Grover algorithms

With the rapid development of quantum computing technology, the traditional cryptosystem will face a significant threat. It is an urgent security issue to study the security impact of quantum computing on classical cryptosystems and provide reliable cryptographic primitives for the post-quantum era. A powerful way to solve this problem is to quantize the classical cryptanalysis tools and use the improved versions for cryptanalysis. In this paper, we propose a quantum Zero-correlation analysis algorithm based on the Bernstein–Vazirani and Grover algorithms. It can find zero-correlation linear hulls for Feistel and SPN structures. We prove the correctness of the algorithm and analyze its complexity. Compared with the classical algorithms, the proposed quantum algorithm has significant advantages when the number of encryption rounds of block ciphers is large. Moreover, compared with the existing quantum Zero-correlation linear analysis, the proposed algorithm is more efficient and does not depend on the algebraic characteristics of the target cipher, which makes the algorithm has more flexible application scenarios. With the development of quantum computers, we discuss the threat of quantum cryptanalysis algorithms to classical security.