Date of Submission
5-13-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Department
Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science
Advisor
Liberty Page, M.S.
Keywords
Ransomware, Cryptographic Vulnerabilities, Encryption Type, Key Generation, Implementation Flaws, Defensive Strategies
LCSH
Ransomware (Computer software), Cryptography, Data encryption (Computer science), Computer Security
Abstract
Ransomware continues to pose a severe and escalating threat to individuals, organizations, and critical infrastructure by leveraging increasingly sophisticated encryption techniques to extort victims. Although the cryptographic methods used in modern ransomware are often robust, implementation flaws, particularly in key generation and entropy management, can expose exploitable weaknesses. This research analyzes how ransomware families implement encryption, key generation, and decryption routines, identifying common vulnerabilities that support the development of effective defensive strategies and decryption tools. Through a descriptive and comparative study of 3–5 widely studied ransomware families, this thesis synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed literature, technical whitepapers, and malware analysis reports. Data was collected and categorized based on encryption type, key generation methods, and observed implementation flaws. Thematic and quantitative analysis identifies trends and evaluates the success of existing decryption tools. Ultimately, the study bridges the gap between isolated technical reports and a broader understanding of cryptographic vulnerabilities, offering actionable insights for cybersecurity professionals and informing future mitigation efforts.
Recommended Citation
Pita, Raquel Gabriel, "Cracking the Code: Investigating Ransomware Encryption and Key Generation Weaknesses" (2026). Honors Theses. 129.
https://digitalcommons.newhaven.edu/honorstheses/129