Generic cryptographic weakness of \(k\)-normal Boolean functions in certain stream ciphers and cryptanalysis of Grain-128 (Q2434149)

The authors have, as a specific objective, the security evaluation of stream cipher Grain-128. They do this once they have introduced a generic algorithm for cryptanalysis of certain stream ciphers based on a security weakness of \(k\)-normal Boolean functions. This algorithm also points to design guidelines for avoiding certain certain weak stream cipher constructions. The proposed methodology for cryptanalysis mainly depends upon the order of normality of Boolean functions used in Grain-128. Their results, therefore, point to data for the cryptographic significance of the normality criteria of Boolean functions