Design and hardware implementation of LED block cipher for vehicles keyless entry systems

Abstract

Security is paramount in vehicle keyless entry systems, as they are increasingly targeted by various attacks, including relay attacks, theft, and espionage. Keyless entry systems are particularly vulnerable to relay attacks, where attackers intercept and amplify the signal from the key fob, granting unauthorized access to the vehicle. This compromises the integrity of the system, emphasizing the need for robust encryption mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access and safeguard sensitive vehicle data. In this work, we propose an optimized hardware design for the Light Encryption Device (LED) cipher, aimed at enhancing both the security and efficiency of keyless entry systems. The proposed security system is evaluated using security metrics such as NPCR, UACI, entropy, and correlation analysis, demonstrating its robust protection against potential attacks. The obtained results show that the proposed hardware implementation delivers higher efficiency and enhanced security compared to existing designs, making it a promising solution for securing keyless vehicle entry systems. The real-world test scenarios assess the performance of the proposed hardware system, demonstrating its effectiveness in terms of execution time, power consumption, and battery drain time across different platforms, including Dual Core ARM Cortex-A9 and Zynq XC7Z020. The results reveal that the proposed designs offer improved efficiency and security, positioning them as a viable solution for safeguarding keyless entry systems against unauthorized access. This work underscores the potential of lightweight cryptography to tackle both security and performance challenges in modern automotive systems, ensuring the safety and integrity of vehicle access control.