Journal of Frontiers of Computer Science and Technology ›› 2024, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (6): 1438-1456.DOI: 10.3778/j.issn.1673-9418.2311102

• Frontiers·Surveys • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Overview of Covert Channel Research in Blockchain Environment

ZHANG Xuan, LI Leixiao, DU Jinze, SHI Jianping   

  1. 1. College of Data Science and Application, Inner Mongolia University of Technology, Hohhot 010080, China
    2. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Software Service Engineering Technology Research Center Based on Big Data, Hohhot 010080, China
    3. College of Computer Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Technology, Tianjin 300384, China
    4. Ordos Citizen Card Construction Co., Ltd., Ordos, Inner Mongolia 017099, China
  • Online:2024-06-01 Published:2024-05-31

区块链环境下隐蔽信道研究综述

张璇,李雷孝,杜金泽,史建平   

  1. 1. 内蒙古工业大学 数据科学与应用学院,呼和浩特 010080
    2. 内蒙古自治区基于大数据的软件服务工程技术研究中心,呼和浩特 010080
    3. 天津理工大学 计算机科学与工程学院,天津 300384
    4. 鄂尔多斯市市民卡建设有限公司,内蒙古 鄂尔多斯 017099

Abstract: Covert channel is a method to hide information in public communication channels for covert transmission, aiming at ensuring data transmission security and making third parties unaware of the covert communication process. However, with the continuous progress of traffic analysis technology, traditional network covert channels can no longer guarantee their security. Blockchain, as an emerging technology that combines cryptography, consensus algorithms, and P2P networks, has characteristics such as decentralization, traceability, anonymity, immutability, and security, making it an ideal platform for constructing covert channels. This paper first introduces blockchain technology, elaborates on the development process of covert channels, researches and summarizes the existing classification methods of covert channels. Then it summarizes the general model of blockchain covert channel on the basis of traditional network covert channel and divides the process of constructing covert channel into two main stages: information transmission and information extraction. Next, starting from the six-layer architecture of blockchain, the blockchain covert channels are analyzed in depth and the blockchain covert channels are divided into six categories according to different levels and subdivided based on the structure and mechanism of each layer, which can help better understand the construction process of blockchain covert channels and explore potential covert channels. Finally, this paper discusses the limitations of blockchain technology for covert channels and proposes future research directions.

Key words: blockchain, covert channel, covert channel classification, information transmission, information extraction

摘要: 隐蔽信道是将信息隐藏在公开的通信信道中进行隐蔽传输的方法,旨在保证数据传输的安全性,使第三方对隐蔽通信的过程毫无察觉。然而,随着流量分析技术的不断进步,传统的网络隐蔽信道已经无法保证其安全性。区块链作为一种新兴技术,结合了密码学、共识算法和P2P网络,具有去中心化、可追溯性、匿名性、不可变性和安全性等特性,成为了构建隐蔽信道的理想平台。首先,简要介绍了区块链技术,对隐蔽信道的发展历程进行了阐述,并对隐蔽信道现有的分类方式进行了研究和总结;然后,在传统网络隐蔽信道的基础上总结了区块链隐蔽信道的一般模型,将隐蔽信道的构建过程划分为信息传输和信息提取两个主要环节;接着,从区块链的六层架构出发,对区块链隐蔽信道进行了深入分析,按照不同的层次将区块链隐蔽信道分为了六大类,并依据每层的结构和机制进行细分,能够更好地理解区块链隐蔽信道的构建过程,挖掘潜在的隐蔽信道;最后,讨论了区块链技术给隐蔽信道带来的局限性,并提出了未来的研究方向。

关键词: 区块链, 隐蔽信道, 隐蔽信道分类, 信息传输, 信息提取