Graph-theoretic approaches to lightweight block cipher design
Hemlata Uday Karnehemlata.karne@vupune.ac.inFaculty of Science and TechnologyVishwakarma UniversityPune, Maharashtra, 411048, IndiaView full profile → , Puneet Kumar Yadavpuneet.yadav1@niu.edu.inDepartment of Computer Science & EngineeringNoida International UniversityGreater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 203201, IndiaView full profile → , *Vipulkumar M. DabhiCorresponding authordean.tech@gokuluniversity.ac.inFaculty of EngineeringGokul Global UniversitySidhpur, Gujarat, 384151, IndiaView full profile → , R. Snehaasnehaa.avmt032@avit.ac.inDepartment of Humanities and Sciences (Mathematics Division)Aarupadai Veedu Institute of TechnologyVinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University)Paiyanoor, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 603104, IndiaView full profile → , M. Vinithavinitham@maher.ac.inDepartment of Computer ScienceMeenakshi College of Arts and ScienceMeenakshi Academy of Higher Education and ResearchChennai, Tamil Nadu, 600078, IndiaView full profile → , Manish Chhabrachmanish1610@vardhaman.orgDepartment of Computer Science and EngineeringVardhaman College of EngineeringShamshabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, 501218, IndiaView full profile →
* Corresponding author · click or hover a name for details
- Received:
- 01 Apr 2026
- Published Online:
- 31 Oct 2026
- Article type:
- Research Article
- Language:
- EN
- Article no.:
- JDMSC-3014
- Pages:
- 3851–3862
Abstract
In IoT and embedded systems, small devices require lightweight block ciphers to provide security without being too costly in terms of computation. In this paper, a graph-theoretic lightweight block cipher scheme combining graph based substitution mapping, graph evolution based on dynamic key and traversal based permutation operations is proposed to secure block cipher system. The proposed cipher is based on light weight substitution–permutation network which provides the efficient nonlinear transformation and better diffusion–confusion characteristics. The random graph topology generation makes resistance to differential, linear and related-key cryptanalysis attacks stronger. The experimental results performed with the Python implementation and light-weight hardware emulation reveal a significant advantage over the conventional light-weight ciphers, in terms of 24.9% faster encryption speed, 25.5% less memory occupation and 26.6% lower energy consumption. It offers scalable, secure and energy-efficient cryptographic protection for next-generation IoT and embedded security applications.
Keywords
Subject Classifications
References
[1] M. Rana, Q. Mamun, and R. Islam, “Balancing security and efficiency: A power consumption analysis of a lightweight block cipher,” Electronics, vol. 13, no. 21, Art. no. 4325 (2024), doi: 10.3390/electronics13214325.
[2] N. Ibrahim and J. Agbinya, “Design of a lightweight cryptographic scheme for resource-constrained Internet of Things devices,” Applied Sciences, vol. 13, no. 7, Art. no. 4398 (2023), doi: 10.3390/app13074398.
[3] H. Kim, S. Lim, Y. Kang, W. Kim, D. Kim, S. Yoon, and H. Seo, “Deep-learning-based cryptanalysis of lightweight block ciphers revisited,” Entropy, vol. 25, no. 7, Art. no. 986 (2023), doi: 10.3390/e25070986.
[4] S. Aziz, I. A. Shoukat, M. Iftikhar, M. Murtaza, A. M. Alenezi, C.-C. Lee, and I. Taj, “Next-generation block ciphers: Achieving superior memory efficiency and cryptographic robustness for IoT devices,” Cryptography, vol. 8, no. 4, Art. no. 47 (2024), doi: 10.3390/cryptography8040047.
[5] D. Kwon and J. Song, “Computing the differential probability of a word-based block cipher,” Cryptography, vol. 9, no. 2, Art. no. 42 (2025), doi: 10.3390/cryptography9020042.
[6] M. El-hajj, H. Mousawi, and A. Fadlallah, “Analysis of lightweight cryptographic algorithms on IoT hardware platform,” Future Internet, vol. 15, no. 2, Art. no. 54 (2023), doi: 10.3390/fi15020054.
[7] G. S. Shyaa and M. Al-Zubaidie, “Utilizing trusted lightweight ciphers to support electronic-commerce transaction cryptography,” Applied Sciences, vol. 13, no. 12, Art. no. 7085 (2023), doi: 10.3390/app13127085.
[8] P. Sahane, M. Gulhane, N. Rakesh, S. M. M. Naidu, M. Grover, and V. Mahajan, “Evaluating lightweight encryption schemes for resource-constrained devices in wireless sensor networks,” Journal of Discrete Mathematical Sciences and Cryptography, vol. 28, no. 5-A, pp. 1803–1812 (2025), doi: 10.47974/JDMSC-2180.
[9] J. Xue, X. Jiang, P. Li, W. Xi, C. Xu, and K. Huang, “Side-channel attack of lightweight cryptography based on MixColumn: Case study of PRINCE,” Electronics, vol. 12, no. 3, Art. no. 544 (2023), doi: 10.3390/electronics12030544.
[10] D. S. Malik, T. Shah, S. Tehsin, I. M. Nasir, N. L. Fitriyani, and M. Syafrudin, “Block cipher nonlinear component generation via hybrid pseudo-random binary sequence for image encryption,” Mathematics, vol. 12, no. 15, Art. no. 2302 (2024), doi: 10.3390/math12152302.
[11] M. A. Abdelaal, A. I. Moustafa, H. Kasban, H. Saleh, H. A. Abdallah, and M. Y. I. Afifi, “DNA-inspired lightweight cryptographic algorithm for secure and efficient image encryption,” Sensors, vol. 25, no. 7, Art. no. 2322 (2025), doi: 10.3390/s25072322.
[12] R. C. Poonia, T. Singh, C. K. Rajashri, D. Mondal, and S. M. Patil, “Optimizing communication system security through comprehensive testing and intelligent network configurations,” Journal of Information and Optimization Sciences, vol. 47, no. 5-A, pp. 1709–1717 (2026), doi: 10.47974/JIOS-2261.
[13] Z. Wei, L. Wang, S. C. Sun, B. Li, and W. Guo, “Graph layer security: Encrypting information via common networked physics,” Sensors, vol. 22, no. 10, Art. no. 3951 (2022), doi: 10.3390/s22103951.
[14] M. Rana, Q. Mamun, and R. Islam, “Enhancing IoT security: An innovative key management system for lightweight block ciphers,” Sensors, vol. 23, no. 18, Art. no. 7678 (2023), doi: 10.3390/s23187678.
[15] W. N. Anandpwar, S. M. Barhate, and M. P. Dhore, “Designing an efficient machine learning-based intrusion detection system for enhanced cyber security in modern networks,” International Journal on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 70–75 (Apr. 2025).
