Hybrid ML-KEM in TLS 1.3: Performance Analysis on ARM64 Under Network Stress

Abstract

In the post-quantum era, it is predicted that secure encryption algorithms like RSA and ECC will be broken within microseconds. In response, NIST has made the transition to post-quantum cryptography necessary by completing the ML-KEM standard (FIPS 203) in August 2024. However, integrating these new algorithms into the existing TLS 1.3 infrastructure raises some concerns, particularly in resource-constrained IoT devices where computing power and memory are limited. This paper evaluates the TLS 1.3 handshake performance of ML-KEM-512, ML-KEM-768, ML-KEM-1024, and hybrid X25519+ML-KEM-768 on a Raspberry Pi 4 (ARM Cortex-A72) in five different network scenarios (loopback, LAN (10 ms RTT), WAN (50 ms RTT), and packet loss rates of 1% and 5%). Experiments were performed using OpenSSL 3.x integrated with liboqs, with 100 iterations for each configuration. The results show that ML-KEM algorithms, which have high computational costs, introduce negligible computational overhead compared to the classic X25519 under low latency conditions, and base-state 1-RTT handshake times range from 11.3 to 13.3 ms. The ML-KEM 512 algorithm showed the best performance, particularly due to its small packet size. ML-KEM reached 180 ms with 5% loss, while X25519 reached 281 ms. It was also observed that session restart times consistently reduced handshake latency for all algorithms. In algorithm tests, ML-KEM 512 provided a 4.16-fold speedup at the base level. In WAN conditions, network RTT becomes the dominant bottleneck, and the choice of KEM algorithm becomes practically irrelevant. This demonstrates that ML-KEM algorithms are a usable standard even with limited hardware and that session restart is a significant example of optimization in IoT applications.

Keywords

• Post-Quantum Cryptography
• ML-KEM
• TLS 1.3
• IoT Security
• Raspberry Pi
• Network Performance.

TLS 1.3'te Hibrit ML-KEM: Ağ Stresi Altında ARM64 Üzerinde Performans Analizi

Abstract

Kuantum sonrası çağda, RSA ve ECC gibi güvenli şifreleme algoritmalarının mikrosaniyeler içinde kırılacağı tahmin ediliyor. Buna karşılık, NIST, Ağustos 2024'te ML-KEM standardını (FIPS 203) tamamlayarak kuantum sonrası kriptografiye geçişi gerekli kılmıştır. Bununla birlikte, bu yeni algoritmaların mevcut TLS 1.3 altyapısına entegre edilmesi, özellikle işlem gücü ve belleğin sınırlı olduğu kaynak kısıtlı IoT cihazlarında bazı endişeleri gündeme getiriyor. Bu makale, ML-KEM-512, ML-KEM-768, ML-KEM-1024 ve hibrit X25519+ML-KEM-768'in TLS 1.3 el sıkışma performansını, beş farklı ağ senaryosunda (geri döngü, LAN (10 ms RTT), WAN (50 ms RTT) ve %1 ve %5 paket kaybı oranları) bir Raspberry Pi 4 (ARM Cortex-A72) üzerinde değerlendirmektedir. Deneyler, her konfigürasyon için 100 yineleme ile liboqs ile entegre edilmiş OpenSSL 3.x kullanılarak gerçekleştirildi. Sonuçlar, yüksek hesaplama maliyetine sahip ML-KEM algoritmalarının, düşük gecikme koşullarında klasik X25519'a kıyasla ihmal edilebilir bir hesaplama yükü getirdiğini ve temel durum 1-RTT el sıkışma sürelerinin 11,3 ila 13,3 ms arasında değiştiğini göstermektedir. ML-KEM 512 algoritması, özellikle küçük paket boyutu nedeniyle en iyi performansı gösterdi. ML-KEM %5 kayıpla 180 ms'ye ulaşırken, X25519 281 ms'ye ulaştı. Ayrıca, oturum yeniden başlatma sürelerinin tüm algoritmalar için el sıkışma gecikmesini sürekli olarak azalttığı gözlemlendi. Algoritma testlerinde, ML-KEM 512 temel seviyede 4,16 kat hızlanma sağladı. WAN koşullarında, ağ RTT'si baskın darboğaz haline gelir ve KEM algoritmasının seçimi pratikte önemsiz hale gelir. Bu durum, ML-KEM algoritmalarının sınırlı donanım koşullarında bile kullanılabilir bir standart olduğunu ve oturum yeniden başlatmanın IoT uygulamalarında önemli bir optimizasyon örneği olduğunu göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Kuantum Sonrası Kriptografi
• ML-KEM
• TLS 1.3
• IoT Güvenliği
• Raspberry Pi
• Ağ Performansı.

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