A theoretical framework for securing device-to-router communications using YubiKeys as hardware security modules, providing robust encryption, mutual authentication, and tamper resistance.
This repository presents a comprehensive theoretical framework for implementing advanced security measures in device-to-router communications. The system leverages YubiKeys as hardware security modules to create an autonomous network of cryptographic sub-keys, managed by a central server running gpg-agent.
The system's architecture makes wireless communication interception theoretically impossible through several key mechanisms:
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🛡️ Hardware-Based Key Protection: All private keys are stored in YubiKey hardware security modules, making key extraction physically impossible without tampering detection.
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🔄 Dynamic Session Keys: Each communication session uses unique ephemeral keys derived from the hardware-protected master keys, ensuring that even if one session is compromised (which is highly unlikely), other sessions remain secure.
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🔒 End-to-End Hardware Encryption: All data is encrypted and decrypted directly within the YubiKey hardware on both device and router sides, never exposing keys or plaintext in system memory.
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🤝 Zero-Knowledge Protocol: The system employs a zero-knowledge proof mechanism where devices and routers can authenticate each other without transmitting any sensitive key material.
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🔮 Quantum-Resistant Design: The framework is designed to be compatible with post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, providing protection against future quantum computing threats.
- 🔑 Hardware-Enforced Key Isolation: Private keys remain secured within YubiKeys
- 🔄 Session-Based Encryption: Unique ephemeral keys for each communication session
- 🤝 Mutual Authentication: Cryptographic verification between devices and routers
- 🕵️ Encrypted Metadata: Protection of DNS queries and traffic patterns
- 🛡️ Replay/Tampering Prevention: Nonce-based protection against packet manipulation
- 💪 Advanced Threat Resilience: Hardware-based protection against side-channel attacks
- ⏱️ Perfect Forward Secrecy: Compromise of current keys cannot affect past communications
- 🔮 Quantum-Safe Options: Support for post-quantum cryptographic algorithms
- 🏰 Zero Trust Architecture: Every network request is fully authenticated and encrypted
The system is built around four core components:
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👑 Master YubiKey (Root of Trust)
- 🔐 Stores the master private key in tamper-resistant hardware
- ✍️ Signs and manages cryptographic sub-keys using secure algorithms
- 🖥️ Operates through a secure local server with strict access controls
- 🎲 Provides hardware-based random number generation
- 💾 Implements key backup and recovery mechanisms
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📱 Device YubiKeys
- 🔑 Hold unique sub-keys for each network device
- 🔒 Perform encryption operations for outbound traffic
- 🤝 Enable mutual authentication with routers
- 🎲 Implement local entropy generation
- 🔄 Support secure key rotation and updates
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📡 Router YubiKeys
- 🔑 Contain router-specific sub-keys
- 🔓 Decrypt and validate incoming device traffic
- 🌐 Establish secure tunnels for external communications
- ⏱️ Manage session key lifecycle
- 👀 Monitor for security anomalies
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🖥️ Local Server with gpg-agent
- 🔄 Manages key lifecycle operations
- 🔍 Monitors for security anomalies
- 📦 Handles key distribution and revocation
- 📝 Implements audit logging
- 💾 Provides backup and recovery services
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🕵️ Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks
- 🔐 Hardware-verified mutual authentication
- 🔑 Session-specific encryption keys
- 📌 Certificate pinning
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👀 Packet Sniffing and Traffic Analysis
- 🔒 Full packet encryption
- 🎭 Metadata obfuscation
- 📦 Traffic padding
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🦹 Session Hijacking
- 🔐 Hardware-bound session tokens
- 👀 Continuous session verification
- ⏱️ Automatic session termination
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📡 Rogue Access Points
- 🔐 Hardware-based AP verification
- 🤝 Mutual authentication
- ✅ Trust chain validation
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🔄 Replay Attacks
- 🎲 Unique nonces per packet
- ⏱️ Timestamp verification
- 🔢 Session-specific counters
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🔍 Side-Channel Attacks
- 🛡️ Hardware-isolated key operations
- ⏱️ Timing attack mitigation
- ⚡ Power analysis protection
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🕵️ Metadata Leakage
- 🔒 Encrypted DNS queries
- 🎭 Traffic pattern obfuscation
- 📝 Header encryption
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📡 Signal Exploitation
- 🔄 Frequency hopping
- ⚡ Power level management
- 🎲 Channel randomization
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🦹 Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
- 👀 Continuous monitoring
- 🧮 Behavior analysis
- ⚡ Automatic threat response
Detailed documentation is organized in the following sections:
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- 🌐 Network topology
- 🔄 Component interaction
- 🛡️ Security boundaries
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- 📊 Key hierarchy
- 📦 Distribution process
- 🔄 Rotation policies
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- 📝 Protocol details
- ➡️ Data flow
- 🛡️ Security measures
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- 🔒 Threat mitigation
- 🚪 Access controls
- 👀 Monitoring systems
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- 📝 Installation steps
- ⚙️ Configuration
- ✨ Best practices
The /research directory contains in-depth analysis of:
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- 🔍 Threat modeling
- ⚖️ Risk assessment
- 🛡️ Mitigation strategies
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- 🔒 Protection measures
- 📝 Implementation details
- ✅ Validation methods
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- 📈 Planned improvements
- 🔬 Research areas
- 💡 Enhancement proposals
This is a theoretical framework open for discussion and improvement. Please read our Contributing Guidelines for details on how to participate in enhancing this concept.
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
This is a theoretical concept and has not been implemented in practice. While the security measures described are based on sound principles, any actual implementation would require thorough testing and validation. Performance metrics and benchmarks in the research documentation are simulated for demonstration purposes - please refer to research/DISCLAIMER.md for more information.