Tunable Asymmetric Delay Attack in Quantum Clock Synchronization

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2510.21101v1
• Date: Fri, 24 Oct 2025 02:30:01 GMT
• Title: Tunable Asymmetric Delay Attack in Quantum Clock Synchronization
• Authors: Hui Han, Haotian Teng, Hailong Xu, Jinquan Huang, Yuanmei Xie, Yichen Zhang, Bo Liu, Wanrong Yu, Baokang Zhao, Shuhui Chen,
• Abstract summary: Current attack strategies rely on static delays, limiting their ability to target application-specific stability requirements.<n>We propose a tunable asymmetric delay attack (T-ADA) that dynamically controls delay parameters to induce manipulate synchronization accuracy.
• Score: 6.742670890660517
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: Quantum clock synchronization underpins modern secure communications and critical infrastructure, yet its fundamental dependence on channel reciprocity introduces an exploitable vulnerability to asymmetric delay attacks. Current attack strategies rely on static delays, limiting their ability to target application-specific stability requirements. Here, we propose a tunable asymmetric delay attack (T-ADA) that dynamically controls delay parameters to induce manipulate synchronization accuracy. Through experimental implementation, we demonstrate how tailored attack trajectories can selectively compromise system stability across different scenarios. This work uncovers key vulnerabilities in synchronization protocols under customizable attacks and provide a foundation for developing secure and resilient quantum clock synchronization systems.

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