Anthropic's AI System Uncovers Weaknesses in Cryptographic Algorithms, Raising Security Concerns
Anthropic's AI system, Claude Mythos, has identified vulnerabilities in two cryptographic methods, including a post-quantum candidate under review by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The AI discovered a mathematical shortcut in the HAWK digital signature scheme, which could halve its effective key strength, necessitating larger key sizes to maintain security. This finding challenges the viability of HAWK as a candidate for encryption methods resilient to quantum computing attacks. Additionally, Claude Mythos found a flaw in a simplified version of the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), creating a shortcut that significantly speeds up theoretical attacks. Although these discoveries do not affect current software, they highlight potential future risks. 
