Papers for

security system architects

Papers whose findings have a practical use for this group, as judged from the abstract. Open a paper to read what it means in practice.

Graph vertices that always appear in smallest identifying codes studied

On the Vertices That Belong to All Minimum Identifying Codes

Abstract: Identifying codes in graphs have been widely studied since their introduction by Karpovsky, Chakrabarty and Levitin in 1998. In this paper, we consider the vertices that are in every minimum identifying code in a graph. There are two types of such vertices: \emph{always-forced} vertices that belong to all identifying codes (minimum or not) and \emph{min-forced} vertices that belong to all minimum identifying codes. A vertex is called \emph{proper-min-forced} if it is min-forced but not always-forced. We show an upper bound $2n/3$ for the number of such proper-min-forced vertices in a closed-twin-free graph of order $n$. Moreover, for integers $n$ divisible by three, we construct an infinite family of graphs in which there are $2n/3-1$ such vertices. In addition, we determine the maximum number of edges in a graph of even order such that the graph contains proper-min-forced vertices. We also show that the decision problem of determining whether a given vertex in a graph is proper-min-forced is co-NP-hard.

Wed 9 SeptDiscrete Mathematics
The gist
Some special sets of points in networks, called identifying codes, help uniquely recognize every point by looking at nearby points. The authors study points that must appear in every smallest such set, even if they don't have to be in all bigger sets. They found limits on how many such points can exist and showed that checking if a point has this property is a hard computational problem. They also describe certain graphs that closely reach these limits.
Open 2609.09851v1

ZK-eSIM improves privacy in eSIM profile provisioning from operators

ZK-eSIM: A Privacy-Centric Zero-Knowledge Approach for eSIM Provisioning

Abstract: GSMA Remote SIM Provisioning (RSP) enables over-the-air delivery of eSIM profiles, but it exposes long-lived identifiers during profile ordering and download. In particular, stable device identifiers (e.g., EID), profile identifiers, and long-lived certificate material enable mobile operators and profile-delivery infrastructure to link provisioning events to the same eUICC and, when combined with account records, to the same subscriber. This undermines subscriber anonymity and enables cross-session tracking. We present ZK-eSIM, a privacy-preserving redesign that achieves subscriber anonymity and provisioning-session unlinkability while retaining accountable traceability by exception. ZK-eSIM (i) replaces direct disclosure of device identifiers with a zero-knowledge proof of device validity and eligibility; (ii) enforces session unlinkability through short-lived, one-time pseudonymous credentials and per-session identifiers to prevent cross-session tracking; and (iii) provides privacy-preserving accountable traceability through a jointly authorised escrow mechanism, so that no single entity can unilaterally deanonymise a user. We formalise a multi-entity, honest-but-curious threat model and prove subscriber anonymity and the unlinkability of provisioning sessions under standard cryptographic assumptions. We implement a Java Card applet on a test eUICC to evaluate performance on commodity hardware with a modified LPA and SM-DP+ server. Our experiments quantify end-to-end cryptographic overhead relative to conventional RSP, confirming that ZK-eSIM adds only practical overhead, closing a critical privacy gap while preserving deployability within existing GSMA roles and interfaces.

Mon 7 SeptCryptography and Security
The gist
When you order and download eSIM profiles, your device can share permanent IDs that let mobile operators and infrastructure link different orders to you, reducing your privacy. The authors designed ZK-eSIM, a new method that hides these identifiers using zero-knowledge proofs and temporary credentials, so your identity and activity can’t be easily tracked. It also allows authorized parties to trace users only when necessary through a joint approval process. They tested their approach on standard hardware and found the extra privacy does not add too much delay or complexity.
Open 2609.07654v1