Skill v1.0.0
currentAutomated scan100/100version: "1.0.0" name: rsa-attack-techniques description: >- RSA attack playbook for CTF and real-world cryptanalysis. Use when given RSA parameters (n, e, c) and need to recover plaintext by exploiting weak keys, small exponents, shared factors, or padding oracles.
SKILL: RSA Attack Techniques — Expert Cryptanalysis Playbook
AI LOAD INSTRUCTION: Expert RSA attack techniques for CTF and authorized security assessments. Covers factorization attacks, small exponent exploits, lattice-based approaches (Wiener/Boneh-Durfee/Coppersmith), broadcast attacks, common modulus, padding oracles, and fault attacks. Base models often suggest attacks that don't match the given parameters or miss the correct attack selection based on what's known.
0. RELATED ROUTING
- lattice-crypto-attacks for deep lattice theory behind Coppersmith/Boneh-Durfee
- hash-attack-techniques when RSA signature forgery involves hash weaknesses
- symmetric-cipher-attacks when RSA protects a symmetric key (hybrid encryption)
Advanced Reference
Also load RSA_ATTACK_CATALOG.md when you need:
- Detailed SageMath/Python implementation for each attack
- Step-by-step mathematical derivation
- Edge cases and failure conditions per attack
Quick attack selection
| Given / Observable | Attack | Tool | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small n (< 512 bits) | Direct factorization | factordb, yafu, msieve | |
| e = 3, small message | Cube root | gmpy2.iroot | |
| Multiple (n, c) same small e | Hastad broadcast | CRT + iroot | |
| Very large e or very small d | Wiener / Boneh-Durfee | SageMath, RsaCtfTool | |
| Partial p knowledge | Coppersmith small roots | SageMath | |
| Same n, different e | Common modulus | Extended GCD | |
| Multiple n values | Batch GCD (shared factor) | Python/SageMath | |
| Padding error oracle | Bleichenbacher | Custom script | |
| LSB parity oracle | LSB oracle attack | Custom script | |
| Fault in CRT computation | RSA-CRT fault | Single faulty signature |
1. FACTORIZATION ATTACKS
1.1 Direct Factorization (Small n)
from sympy import factorintn = 0x... # small modulusfactors = factorint(n)p, q = list(factors.keys())
When: n < ~512 bits, or known to be in factordb.
1.2 Fermat's Factorization
Works when p and q are close together: |p - q| is small.
from gmpy2 import isqrt, is_squaredef fermat_factor(n):a = isqrt(n) + 1while True:b2 = a * a - nif is_square(b2):b = isqrt(b2)return (a + b, a - b)a += 1
1.3 Pollard's p-1
Works when p-1 has only small prime factors (B-smooth).
from gmpy2 import gcddef pollard_p1(n, B=2**20):a = 2for j in range(2, B):a = pow(a, j, n)d = gcd(a - 1, n)if 1 < d < n:return dreturn None
1.4 Batch GCD (Multiple n share a factor)
from math import gcdfrom functools import reducedef batch_gcd(moduli):"""Find shared factors among multiple RSA moduli."""product = reduce(lambda a, b: a * b, moduli)results = {}for i, n in enumerate(moduli):remainder = product // ng = gcd(n, remainder)if g != 1 and g != n:results[i] = (g, n // g)return results
2. SMALL EXPONENT ATTACKS
2.1 Cube Root Attack (e = 3, small m)
If m^e < n (no modular reduction occurred), simply take the e-th root.
from gmpy2 import irootc = 0x... # ciphertexte = 3m, exact = iroot(c, e)if exact:print(f"Plaintext: {bytes.fromhex(hex(m)[2:])}")
2.2 Hastad Broadcast Attack
Same message encrypted with same small e under different moduli (n₁, n₂, ..., nₑ).
from sympy.ntheory.modular import crtfrom gmpy2 import iroot# e = 3, three ciphertexts under three different nn_list = [n1, n2, n3]c_list = [c1, c2, c3]# CRT: find x such that x ≡ ci (mod ni) for all ir, M = crt(n_list, c_list)m, exact = iroot(r, 3)assert exact
2.3 Related Message Attack (Franklin-Reiter)
Two messages related by a known linear function: m₂ = a·m₁ + b. Same n and e.
# SageMathdef franklin_reiter(n, e, c1, c2, a, b):R.<x> = PolynomialRing(Zmod(n))f1 = x^e - c1f2 = (a*x + b)^e - c2return Integer(n - gcd(f1, f2).coefficients()[0])
3. LARGE e / SMALL d ATTACKS
3.1 Wiener's Attack (Continued Fractions)
When d < n^(1/4) / 3, the continued fraction expansion of e/n reveals d.
def wiener_attack(e, n):"""Recover d when d is small via continued fractions."""cf = continued_fraction(e, n)convergents = get_convergents(cf)for k, d in convergents:if k == 0:continuephi_candidate = (e * d - 1) // k# phi(n) = n - p - q + 1 → p + q = n - phi + 1s = n - phi_candidate + 1# p, q are roots of x^2 - s*x + n = 0discriminant = s * s - 4 * nif discriminant >= 0:from gmpy2 import isqrt, is_squareif is_square(discriminant):return dreturn Nonedef continued_fraction(a, b):cf = []while b:cf.append(a // b)a, b = b, a % breturn cfdef get_convergents(cf):convergents = []h_prev, h_curr = 0, 1k_prev, k_curr = 1, 0for a in cf:h_prev, h_curr = h_curr, a * h_curr + h_prevk_prev, k_curr = k_curr, a * k_curr + k_prevconvergents.append((h_curr, k_curr))return convergents
3.2 Boneh-Durfee Attack (Lattice-Based)
Extends Wiener: works when d < n^0.292. Uses lattice reduction (LLL/BKZ).
Use SageMath implementation — see lattice-crypto-attacks for theory.
4. COPPERSMITH'S METHOD
4.1 Stereotyped Message
Known portion of plaintext, unknown part is small.
# SageMathn = ...e = 3c = ...known_prefix = b"flag{" + b"\x00" * 27 # known prefix, unknown suffixknown_int = int.from_bytes(known_prefix, 'big')R.<x> = PolynomialRing(Zmod(n))f = (known_int + x)^e - croots = f.small_roots(X=2^(27*8), beta=1.0)if roots:m = known_int + int(roots[0])print(bytes.fromhex(hex(m)[2:]))
4.2 Partial Key Exposure
Known MSB or LSB of p → recover full p via Coppersmith.
# SageMath — known MSB of pp_msb = ... # known upper bits of pR.<x> = PolynomialRing(Zmod(n))f = p_msb + xroots = f.small_roots(X=2^unknown_bits, beta=0.5)if roots:p = p_msb + int(roots[0])q = n // p
5. COMMON MODULUS ATTACK
Two ciphertexts of same message under same n but different e₁, e₂ where gcd(e₁, e₂) = 1.
from gmpy2 import gcd, invertdef common_modulus(n, e1, e2, c1, c2):"""Recover m when same message encrypted with two different e under same n."""assert gcd(e1, e2) == 1_, s1, s2 = extended_gcd(e1, e2) # s1*e1 + s2*e2 = 1if s1 < 0:c1 = invert(c1, n)s1 = -s1if s2 < 0:c2 = invert(c2, n)s2 = -s2m = (pow(c1, s1, n) * pow(c2, s2, n)) % nreturn mdef extended_gcd(a, b):if a == 0:return b, 0, 1g, x, y = extended_gcd(b % a, a)return g, y - (b // a) * x, x
6. ORACLE ATTACKS
6.1 LSB Oracle (Parity Oracle)
An oracle reveals whether decrypted message is even or odd.
from gmpy2 import mpzdef lsb_oracle_attack(n, e, c, oracle_func):"""Decrypt using LSB (parity) oracle. oracle_func(c) returns m%2."""from fractions import Fractionlo, hi = Fraction(0), Fraction(n)for _ in range(n.bit_length()):c = (c * pow(2, e, n)) % n # multiply plaintext by 2if oracle_func(c) == 0:hi = (lo + hi) / 2else:lo = (lo + hi) / 2return int(hi)
6.2 Bleichenbacher (PKCS#1 v1.5 Padding Oracle)
Given a padding validity oracle (valid/invalid PKCS#1 v1.5), iteratively narrow down the plaintext range.
Complexity: O(2^16) oracle queries per byte on average.
Target: TLS implementations returning different errors for valid/invalid padding.
6.3 Manger's Attack (PKCS#1 OAEP)
Similar to Bleichenbacher but for OAEP padding. Exploits oracle that distinguishes whether the first byte after unpadding is 0x00.
7. RSA-CRT FAULT ATTACK
If RSA-CRT signing produces a faulty signature (fault in one CRT half):
def rsa_crt_fault(n, e, correct_sig, faulty_sig, msg):"""Factor n from one correct and one faulty CRT signature."""from math import gcddiff = pow(correct_sig, e, n) - pow(faulty_sig, e, n)p = gcd(diff % n, n)if 1 < p < n:q = n // preturn p, qreturn None# Even simpler: only faulty signature needed if message is knowndef rsa_crt_fault_simple(n, e, faulty_sig, msg):p = gcd(pow(faulty_sig, e, n) - msg, n)if 1 < p < n:return p, n // preturn None
8. DECISION TREE
RSA challenge — what information do you have?│├─ Have n and it's small (< 512 bits)?│ └─ Factor directly: factordb.com → yafu → msieve│├─ Have multiple n values?│ └─ Batch GCD — shared factors?│ ├─ Yes → factor all that share factors│ └─ No → analyze each n individually│├─ Know e?│ ├─ e = 3 (or small)?│ │ ├─ Single ciphertext, small message → cube root│ │ ├─ Multiple ciphertexts, different n → Hastad broadcast│ │ ├─ Two related messages → Franklin-Reiter│ │ └─ Partial plaintext known → Coppersmith│ ││ ├─ e is very large?│ │ └─ d is likely small → Wiener → Boneh-Durfee│ ││ └─ Same n, two different e values?│ └─ Common modulus attack (Bezout coefficients)│├─ Know partial factorization info?│ ├─ Know some bits of p → Coppersmith partial key│ ├─ p-1 is B-smooth → Pollard p-1│ └─ p ≈ q (close primes) → Fermat factorization│├─ Have an oracle?│ ├─ Parity oracle (LSB) → LSB oracle attack│ ├─ Padding validity oracle (PKCS#1 v1.5) → Bleichenbacher│ └─ OAEP oracle → Manger's attack│├─ Have faulty signature?│ └─ RSA-CRT fault → factor n from faulty sig│├─ Know e·d relationship?│ └─ e·d ≡ 1 mod φ(n) → factor n from (e,d,n)│└─ None of the above?├─ Check factordb for known factorization├─ Try Pollard rho for medium-size n├─ Look for implementation flaws (weak PRNG for key generation)└─ Consider side-channel if physical access available
9. TOOLS
| Tool | Purpose | Usage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RsaCtfTool | Automated RSA attack suite | python3 RsaCtfTool.py --publickey pub.pem --uncipherfile flag.enc | |
| SageMath | Mathematical computation | Coppersmith, lattice attacks, polynomial arithmetic | |
| factordb.com | Online factor database | Check if n is already factored | |
| yafu | Fast factorization (SIQS/GNFS) | yafu "factor(n)" | |
| msieve | GNFS factorization | Large n factorization | |
| gmpy2 | Fast Python integer library | iroot, invert, gcd | |
| pycryptodome | RSA primitives | Key construction from factors |
RsaCtfTool Quick Commands
# From public keypython3 RsaCtfTool.py --publickey pub.pem -n --private# From parameterspython3 RsaCtfTool.py -n $N -e $E --uncipher $C# Try all attackspython3 RsaCtfTool.py --publickey pub.pem --uncipherfile flag.enc --attack all
Decrypt After Factoring
from Crypto.PublicKey import RSAfrom gmpy2 import invertp, q = ... # factoredn = p * qe = 65537phi = (p - 1) * (q - 1)d = int(invert(e, phi))c = ... # ciphertext as integerm = pow(c, d, n)plaintext = m.to_bytes((m.bit_length() + 7) // 8, 'big')print(plaintext)