The Potential Attacks Against ECDSA: A Raw Public Key Approach
Ethereum’s use of elliptic curve digital signatures (ECDSA) has made it one of the most widely adopted cryptocurrencies. However, this approach to cryptography also leaves room for potential vulnerabilities. In this article, we will explore two types of attacks that could be possible if raw public keys were used as addresses instead of hashed addresses.
Why Hashed Addresses are Secure
Before diving into the potential attacks, let’s quickly review why hashed addresses are considered secure by default in Ethereum. The Ethereum address format is designed to prevent an attacker from using a single address for multiple transactions. Hashing ensures that each address is unique and cannot be used for any transaction.
The use of hashes as addresses provides several benefits:
- Uniqueness
: Each address is hashed, making it virtually impossible to reuse or compromise.
- Determinism
: The hash value of an address always results in the same output, reducing the likelihood of collisions.
- Non-repudiation: With hashed addresses, it’s difficult for an attacker to deny involvement in a transaction.
Potential Attacks Against Raw Public Keys
If raw public keys were used as addresses instead of hashed ones, two types of attacks could be possible:
Attack 1: Hash Collision
A hash collision occurs when two different inputs produce the same output. In this case, if we use raw public keys as addresses, a hash collision could happen if an attacker has a large number of public keys and uses them to try and create a new address.
Why It’s Possible
Hash collisions are possible because there are many possible inputs (public keys) that can produce the same output (hashed value). For example:
- A public key “A” hashing to a specific output.
- Another public key “B” hashing to the same output as “A”.
- And so on.
This could lead to an attacker creating multiple addresses with the same hashed value, potentially allowing them to compromise transactions or steal funds.
Attack 2: Private Key Exposure
If raw public keys are used as addresses, a private key (the secret associated with each address) may also be exposed. This is because hashing only encrypts the output, not the input. An attacker could potentially obtain a copy of your private key by exploiting weaknesses in your wallet or using brute force attacks.
Why It’s Possible
While hashed outputs are secure, it’s possible for an attacker to obtain the associated private keys if they have sufficient resources or expertise. This could allow them to compromise transactions or access sensitive information about your assets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while raw public key addresses may seem like a convenient and simple solution, they also introduce potential security risks. The use of hashed addresses provides robust protection against these types of attacks due to the unique nature of their hashing mechanism. However, it’s essential to remember that even with hashed addresses, there are no guarantees against all possible attacks.
To minimize vulnerabilities, Ethereum developers continue to explore ways to improve the security and resilience of their blockchain network. Whether you prefer hashed or public key addresses, understanding the potential risks associated with each approach is crucial for making informed decisions about your cryptocurrency investments.