A novel multi remote sensing image encryption scheme exploiting modified zigzag transformation and S-Box

Abstract This paper proposed a novel multi-image remote sensing image encryption algorithm. The proposed algorithm leverages a novel fractional-order chaotic system, an enhanced Zigzag scanning technique, and a refined S-box for robust encryption. Initially, the plain remote sensing images are transformed into a one-dimensional sequence using an extended Zigzag transformation. Subsequently, chaotic sequence indices, generated by the advanced fractional-order chaotic system, are utilized for pixel position scrambling. During the diffusion phase, two differently ordered diffusions were performed to enhance the algorithm’s resistance to chosen-plaintext attacks after the S-box based encryption. To further augment the security of the proposed scheme, an XOR operation is executed on each color channel of the encrypted images. Additionally, to expand the key space and strengthen resistance to chosen-plaintext attacks, the initial values and parameters involved in the algorithm are intricately tied to the SHA3–512 hash value of the plaintext image. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm not only meet the demand of efficiency, but also could resist commonly used security attacks.