NICE-PAKE: On the Security of KEM-Based PAKE Constructions without Ideal Ciphers
Abstract
We present the No IC Encryption (NICE)-PAKE, a (semi)-generic symmetric Password Authenticated Key Exchange (PAKE) framework providing a quantum-safe alternative for the Ideal Cipher (IC), utilizing simpler cryptographic components for the authentication step. To give a formal proof, we introduce the notions of A-Part Secrecy (A-SEC-CCA), Splittable Collision Freeness (A-CFR-CCA) and Public Key Uniformity (SPLIT-PKU) for splittable LWE KEMs. We show the relation of the former to the Non-uniform LWE and the Weak-Hint LWE assumptions, as well as its application to Ring and Module LWE. Finally, we show how to obtain a secure PAKE from our construction with concrete parameter choices for lattice KEMs.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Cryptography and Data Security
Cryptographic Implementations and Security
Coding theory and cryptography
Publication details
- Journal / source
- IACR Communications in Cryptology
- Publisher
- International Association for Cryptologic Research
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 4 May 2026
- Language
- EN