Quantitative steganalysis of digital images: estimating the secret message length

Abstract.The objective of steganalysis is to detect messages hidden in cover objects, such as digital images. In practice, the steganalyst is frequently interested in more than whether or not a secret message is present. The ultimate goal is to extract and decipher the secret message. However, in the absence of the knowledge of the stego technique and the stego and cipher keys, this task may be extremely time consuming or completely infeasible. Therefore, any additional information, such as the message length or its approximate placement in image features, could prove very valuable to the analyst. In this paper, we present general principles for developing steganalytic methods that can accurately estimate the number of changes to the cover image imposed during embedding. Using those principles, we show how to estimate the secret message length for the most common embedding archetypes, including the F5 and OutGuess algorithms for JPEG, EzStego algorithm with random straddling for palette images, and the classical LSB embedding with random straddling for uncompressed image formats. The paper concludes with an outline of ideas for future research such as estimating the steganographic capacity of embedding algorithms.

[1]  David Chaum,et al.  Advances in Cryptology: Proceedings Of Crypto 83 , 2012 .

[2]  Ralph B. D'Agostino,et al.  Goodness-of-Fit-Techniques , 2020 .

[3]  Christian Cachin,et al.  An information-theoretic model for steganography , 1998, Inf. Comput..

[4]  Ross J. Anderson,et al.  On the limits of steganography , 1998, IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun..

[5]  Stephan Katzenbeisser,et al.  Information Hiding Techniques for Steganography and Digital Watermaking , 1999 .

[6]  Andreas Pfitzmann,et al.  Attacks on Steganographic Systems , 1999, Information Hiding.

[7]  김인택.  [서평]「Information Hiding Techniques for Steganography and Digital Watermarking」 , 2000 .

[8]  Nasir D. Memon,et al.  A distributed detection framework for Steganalysis , 2000, MULTIMEDIA '00.

[9]  Andreas Westfeld,et al.  F5-A Steganographic Algorithm , 2001, Information Hiding.

[10]  Jessica J. Fridrich,et al.  Distortion-Free Data Embedding for Images , 2001, Information Hiding.

[11]  Miroslav Goljan,et al.  Steganalysis based on JPEG compatibility , 2001, SPIE ITCom.

[12]  Nasir D. Memon,et al.  Analysis of LSB based image steganography techniques , 2001, Proceedings 2001 International Conference on Image Processing (Cat. No.01CH37205).

[13]  Niels Provos,et al.  Defending Against Statistical Steganalysis , 2001, USENIX Security Symposium.

[14]  Andreas Westfeld.  Detecting Low Embedding Rates , 2002, Information Hiding.

[15]  Sorina Dumitrescu,et al.  Detection of LSB Steganography via Sample Pair Analysis , 2002, Information Hiding.

[16]  Jessica J. Fridrich,et al.  Steganalysis of JPEG Images: Breaking the F5 Algorithm , 2002, Information Hiding.

[17]  Siwei Lyu,et al.  Detecting Hidden Messages Using Higher-Order Statistics and Support Vector Machines , 2002, Information Hiding.

[18]  Stefan Katzenbeisser,et al.  Defining security in steganographic systems , 2002, IS&T/SPIE Electronic Imaging.

[19]  Niels Provos,et al.  Detecting Steganographic Content on the Internet , 2002, NDSS.

[20]  Nasir D. Memon,et al.  On steganalysis of random LSB embedding in continuous-tone images , 2002, Proceedings. International Conference on Image Processing.

[21]  Peter Wayner,et al.  Disappearing Cryptography: Information Hiding: Steganography and Watermarking (2nd Edition) , 2002 .

[22]  Jessica J. Fridrich,et al.  Higher-order statistical steganalysis of palette images , 2003, IS&T/SPIE Electronic Imaging.