Hybrid AES-LEA encryption: a performance and security analysis

Abstract

The advanced encryption standard-lightweight encryption algorithm (AESLEA) hybrid algorithm (ALESA) addresses a critical gap in cryptographic systems by solving the inherent trade-off between high security and computational efficiency. While the AES offers robust security, its complex operations result in high latency and energy costs, making it less suitable for resource-constrained environments. Conversely, lightweight alternatives like the LEA provide high speed but potentially weaker diffusion properties. This paper proposes a novel hybrid encryption model that strategically integrates AES and LEA by replacing AES’s computationally intensive MixColumns transformation with a streamlined LEA-based operation. This solution delivers the best of both paradigms: the security strength of AES and the operational efficiency of LEA, while also demonstrating superior statistical security by passing all NIST tests with higher p-values and maintaining near-optimal entropy. The hybrid ALESA algorithm thus presents an ideal, balanced solution for applications requiring both strong security guarantees and high performance, particularly in IoT and large-scale data encryption scenarios.