Paper 2016/198

Optimizing S-box Implementations for Several Criteria using SAT Solvers

Ko Stoffelen

Abstract

We explore the feasibility of applying SAT solvers to optimizing implementations of small functions such as S-boxes for multiple optimization criteria, e.g., the number of nonlinear gates and the number of gates. We provide optimized implementations for the S-boxes used in Ascon, ICEPOLE, Joltik/Piccolo, Keccak/Ketje/Keyak, LAC, Minalpher, PRIMATEs, Pr\o st, and RECTANGLE, most of which are candidates in the secound round of the CAESAR competition. We then suggest a new method to optimize for circuit depth and we make tooling publicly available to find efficient implementations for several criteria. Furthermore, we illustrate with the 5-bit S-box of PRIMATEs how multiple optimization criteria can be combined.

Note: Added DOI