(2026-02) Round-Based Approximation of (Higher-Order) Differential-Linear Correlation
2026-02-22
This paper presents a new method for approximating the correlations of differential-linear distinguishers. From the perspective of Beyne's geometric approach, the differential-linear correlation is a corresponding coordinate of the \textit{correlation vector} associated with the ciphertext multiset, which can be obtained by using the correlation matrix of the \textit{2-wise form} of the cipher. The composite nature of the correlation matrix leads to a round-based approach to approximate the correlation vector. This simple approximation is remarkably precise, yielding the most accurate estimation for differential-linear correlations in \ascon thus far and the first DL distinguishers for 6-round \ascon-128a initialization. For \present, we present 17-round DL distinguishers, 4 rounds longer than the current record. To apply the round-based approach to ciphers with the large Chi () function as nonlinear functions, we derive theorems to handle the correlation propagation for and its 2-wise form. Strong DL distinguishers for up to 6 rounds of \subterranean and \koala- are provided, 2 rounds longer than the previous differential and linear distinguishers. Furthermore, the round-based approximation idea is also extended to the higher-order differential-linear distinguishers. We give the first second-order DL distinguisher for 6-round \ascon-128 initialization and the first second-order DL distinguishers for up to 7 rounds of \subterranean and \koala-.