Cybersecurity Symmetry: Encryption, AI, and Attack Patterns

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cybersecurity currently exists in a dynamic state of symmetry, where both attackers and defenders leverage similar technologies—particularly encryption and artificial intelligence (AI)—in a constant strategic tug-of-war. Encryption remains a foundational tool for securing data, but emerging threats like quantum computing and AI-generated attack patterns challenge its integrity. AI plays a dual role—enhancing defense through automated threat detection and prediction, while also enabling sophisticated attacks such as data poisoning and zero-day exploit discovery. The concept of symmetry is further explored in mirrored tactics used by ethical hackers and malicious actors, raising ethical questions about autonomous defensive systems. Although there is a theoretical balance, in practice, cybersecurity often remains asymmetric, with attackers holding the advantage of surprise and agility. Future solutions may rely on privacy-preserving technologies like homomorphic encryption and more resilient AI models to restore equilibrium in the digital battlefield.

Prof. Dr. Mobyen Uddin Ahmed
Dr. Azidine Guezzaz
Topic Editors

Keywords

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
AI ai	5.0	6.9	2020	20.7 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Future Internet futureinternet	3.6	8.3	2009	17 Days	CHF 1600	Submit
Micromachines micromachines	3.0	6.0	2010	17.2 Days	CHF 2100	Submit
Symmetry symmetry	2.2	5.3	2009	17.1 Days	CHF 2400	Submit
Cryptography cryptography	2.1	5.0	2017	23.1 Days	CHF 1800	Submit

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All AI Future Internet Micromachines Symmetry Cryptography

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Open AccessArticle

Formal Analysis of EAP-TLS Protocol Based on Logic of Events

by Meihua Xiao, Weili Cheng, Hongming Fan, Huaibin Shao, Zehuan Li and Yingqiang Zhong

Symmetry 2025, 17(9), 1456; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17091456 - 4 Sep 2025

Abstract

The Extensible Authentication Protocol–Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS) is a critical authentication protocol for wireless networks and secure IoT communications. However, it faces significant challenges from man-in-the-middle attacks, including message tampering, replay, and certificate forgery. Although model checking techniques have been applied to verify [...] Read more.

The Extensible Authentication Protocol–Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS) is a critical authentication protocol for wireless networks and secure IoT communications. However, it faces significant challenges from man-in-the-middle attacks, including message tampering, replay, and certificate forgery. Although model checking techniques have been applied to verify its security properties, the complexity of the EAP-TLS handshake often prevents accurate formal modeling; existing studies rarely assess the communication overhead of protocol enhancements. Moreover, traditional Logic of Events Theory (LoET) struggles to handle transport-layer protocols like EAP-TLS due to their intricate interaction processes. This study proposes a novel formal analysis approach, extending LoET by expanding five event classes, formulating corresponding rules, and introducing new axioms. Formal verification reveals attack paths involving plaintext theft, message tampering, and entity impersonation. The research proposes an enhanced strategy to mitigate these vulnerabilities through hash merging, encryption, and signature methods, alongside analyzing their communication costs to ensure feasibility. Using the extended LoET, the improved protocol is rigorously proven to satisfy strong authentication, thereby enhancing practical security. The proposed method achieves a time complexity of O(n²) and demonstrates superior performance in resisting state explosion compared with related approaches, thus establishing a more efficient and robust framework for EAP-TLS security analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Cybersecurity Symmetry: Encryption, AI, and Attack Patterns)

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