Rubik's Encryption Lab

An experimental playground for visualizing cryptographic permutations using a 3x3 Rubik's Cube.

Features

• Shared Secret Initialization: Scrambles the cube based on a seed phrase.
• Data Stream Encryption: Maps ASCII characters to cube rotations, obfuscating data dependent on the dynamic cube state.
• Mechanical Visualization: Satisfying, step-by-step 3D animations of the encryption process using Three.js.
• Analysis Tools: Real-time state hashing and operation logs.

Technical Specifications

1. The Permutation Engine

The system utilizes a 3D permutation group (Rubik's Cube) as its internal state machine. Unlike traditional cryptography which relies on bitwise operations, Project Cube relies on geometric permutations.

• State Space: Approximately 4.3 × 10¹⁹ unique states.
• Initialization: The "Secret Key" acts as a seed to perform an initial shuffle, setting the machine's baseline lattice.

2. Sensor-Based Key Extraction

To extract a stream key (K) from the 3D state, we sample a fixed coordinate in the lattice: the Front-Top-Right (1, 1, 1) cubie. The index of this specific piece represents the "Secret Value" used for the current character's transformation.

3. Stream Cipher & CFB Mode

The machine implements a Polyalphabetic Cipher using Cipher Feedback (CFB) mode and Key-Dependent Round Constants. The transformation logic follows:

Cᵢ = (Pᵢ + Kᵢ + RCᵢ) mod 53

• Kᵢ: The Sensor Key extracted from the 3D lattice.
• RCᵢ: A deterministic Step Constant generated from the initial secret key (similar to AES Round Constants).

After each character is encrypted, the resulting Ciphertext (C) is fed back into the machine. The character code determines a mechanical move (e.g., 'A' -> U move), which permutes the cube and generates a new, unpredictable Sensor Key (K) for the next step. This design breaks linearity and ensures that identical messages result in different ciphertext streams if keys differ.

4. Character Mapping

The system maps characters [A-Z, a-z, and space] across an index of 0-52. This ensures that even simple text results in complex mechanical state changes that are visually auditable.

Development Details

• Stack: Vite + Vanilla JS + Three.js
• Aesthetic: Academic / Retro-technical (IBM Plex Mono, Dark Mode)
• State: The cube acts as a state machine where Output = f(Input, CubeState).

Setup

1. npm install
2. npm run dev
3. Open http://localhost:5173

Controls

• Key: Enter a secret passphrase to set the initial permutation state.
• Encrypt: Process text input.
• Step Mode: Toggle for manual step-by-step execution analysis.
• Manual: Use keys U, D, L, R, F, B to manually manipulate the state.