known-plaintext attacks

A form of known-plaintext attack — An attack on a cryptosystem that relies on the attacker's knowledge of not just some ciphertexts encrypted with that system and key, but also their corresponding plaintexts (cribs). More powerful than a ciphertext-only attack, but less powerful than a chosen-plaintext attack.

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Meanings

noun
  1. pluralplural of known-plaintext attack
Cite this entry
APA

known-plaintext attacks. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/known-plaintext%20attacks

MLA

“known-plaintext attacks.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/known-plaintext%20attacks. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “known-plaintext attacks,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/known-plaintext%20attacks.

Source: known-plaintext attacks on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.