Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

High capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted images using multi-MSB data hiding mechanism with elliptic curve cryptography

  • Published:
Multimedia Tools and Applications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Data-hiding technology plays an important role in fields of the image such as copyright identification and annotation. Predicators may be exploited in RDH in the encrypted image (RDHEI); this has become a research interest in recent years because of the development of cloud computing and a need for content owner privacy. The existing algorithms cannot implement large embedding capacity and good reconstructed image quality simultaneously. Consequently, for secure data image transfer, the article suggested the High-Capacity Reversible Data Hiding in Encrypted Images (RDH-EI) approach. The original image was pre-processed by the content owner to free up hiding space in the RRBE scheme, following which the image will be encrypted and transferred to the data hider. Asymmetric encryption is considered to be more secure than symmetric encryption as it uses two keys for the process. Initially, to offer authenticity and integrity, Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is proposed to encrypt, decrypt, and authenticate the cipher image. This requires much shorter key lengths and was highly efficient in the decryption process. Further, the encrypted images are directed to the data hiding process. A considerable amount of data is employed to embed in the image encryption domain to ensure that the embedded data can be extracted error-free. Subsequently, to have high embedding capacity, the research proposed Multi-MSB (Most Significant Bit) data embedding scheme in which secret bits can be directly extracted from the encrypted domain from the pixels without any error. In addition, to retain image quality by employing both reference and context pixels, a near-lossless solution based on the Huffman Coding technique is proposed. With the use of decryption and a data concealing key, the receiver can restore the original image and extract hidden data afterwards. The keys are made in such a way that the decryption key cannot be easily deduced from the public encryption key. The experiment was carried out in MATLAB software using a built-in function. The findings reveal that the suggested method outperforms conventional RDH strategies in terms of PSNR and embedding with 3.6 bpp respectively. In addition, the algorithm can resist steganalysis attacks, and demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ahmed S, Agarwal R, Kumar M (2022) Discrete wavelet transform-based reversible data hiding in encrypted images. In: Advances in intelligent systems and computing. Singapore: Springer Singapore, pp 255–69

  2. Aziz F, Ahmad T, Malik AH, Uddin MI, Ahmad S, Sharaf M (2020) Reversible data hiding techniques with high message embedding capacity in images. PLoS ONE 15(5): e0231602. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0231602

  3. Fatima E, Islam S (2019) A new high capacity and reversible data hiding technique for images. In: Information systems security. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp 290–304.

  4. Fu Y, Kong P, Yao H, Tang Z, Qin C (2019) Effective reversible data hiding in encrypted image with adaptive encoding strategy. Inf Sci (NY) 494:21–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2019.04.043

  5. Hassan FS, Gutub A (2020) Efficient reversible data hiding multimedia technique based on smart image interpolation. Multimed Tools Appl 79(39–40):30087–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-020-09513-1

  6. Hu R, Xiang S (2021) CNN prediction based reversible data hiding. IEEE Signal Process Lett 28:464–8. https://doi.org/10.1109/lsp.2021.3059202

  7. Huang B, Wan C, Chen K (2021) High-capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted images based on adaptive predictor and compression of prediction errors. Mathematics 9(17):2166. https://doi.org/10.3390/math9172166

  8. Kumar R, Jung K-H (2020) Robust reversible data hiding scheme based on two-layer embedding strategy. Inf Sci (NY) 512:96–107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2019.09.062

  9. Kumar R, Jung K-H (2020) Enhanced pairwise IPVO-based reversible data hiding scheme using rhombus context. Inf Sci (NY) 536:101–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2020.05.047

  10. Liu Y, Feng G, Qin C, Lu H, Chang C-C (2021) High-capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted images based on hierarchical quad-tree coding and multi-MSB prediction. Electronics (Basel) 10(6):664. https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10060664

  11. Lv W, Cheng L, Yin Z (2022) High capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted 3D mesh models based on multi-MSB prediction. Signal Process 201:108686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sigpro.2022.108686

  12. Malik A, He P, Wang H, Khan AN, Pirasteh S, Abdullahi SM (2020) High-capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted images using multi-layer embedding. IEEE Access 8:148997–9010. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.3015882

  13. Maniriho P, Ahmad T (2019) Information hiding scheme for digital images using difference expansion and modulus function. J king Saud Univ Comput Inf Sci 31(3):335–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksuci.2018.01.011

  14. Nguyen TS, Chang CC, Lin CC (2022) High capacity reversible data hiding scheme based on AMBTC for encrypted images. J Internet Technol 23(2):55–66

    Google Scholar 

  15. Qiu Y, Qian Z, Zeng H, Lin X, Zhang X (2020) Reversible data hiding in encrypted images using adaptive reversible integer transformation. Signal Process 167(107288):107288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sigpro.2019.107288

  16. Qiu Y, Ying Q, Yang Y, Zeng H, Li S, Qian Z (2022) High-capacity framework for reversible data hiding in encrypted image using pixel prediction and entropy encoding. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst Video Technol 1–1. https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsvt.2022.3163905

  17. Sahu AK, Swain G (2022) High fidelity based reversible data hiding using modified LSB matching and pixel difference. J king Saud Univ Comput Inf Sci 34(4):1395–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksuci.2019.07.004

  18. Sahu A, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Swain G, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (2019) Dual stego-imaging based reversible data hiding using improved LSB matching. Int J Intell Eng Syst 12(5):63–73. https://doi.org/10.22266/ijies2019.1031.07

  19. Tang Z, Xu S, Ye D, Wang J, Zhang X, Yu C (2019) Real-time reversible data hiding with shifting block histogram of pixel differences in encrypted image. J Real Time Image Process 16(3):709–24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11554-018-0838-0

  20. Wang J, Mao N, Chen X, Ni J, Wang C, Shi Y (2019) Multiple histograms based reversible data hiding by using FCM clustering. Signal Process 159:193–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sigpro.2019.02.013

  21. Wang J, Chen X, Ni J, Mao N, Shi Y (2020) Multiple histograms-based reversible data hiding: framework and realization. IEEE Trans Circuits Syst Video Technol 30(8):2313–28. https://doi.org/10.1109/tcsvt.2019.2915584

  22. Wang X, Wang X, Ma B, Li Q, Shi Y-Q (2021) High precision error prediction algorithm based on ridge regression predictor for reversible data hiding. IEEE Signal Process Lett 28:1125–9. https://doi.org/10.1109/lsp.2021.3080181

  23. Wang X, Li LY, Chang CC, Chen CC (2021) High-capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted images based on prediction error compression and block selection. Secur Commun Netw 2021:9606116. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9606116

  24. Weng S, Zhang C, Zhang T, Chen K (2021) High capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted images using SIBRW and GCC. J Vis Commun Image Represent 75(102932):102932. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvcir.2020.102932

  25. Wu X, Yang C-N, Liu Y-W (2020) High capacity partial reversible data hiding by hamming code. Multimed Tools Appl 79(31–32):23425–44. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-020-09098-9

  26. Xiong X, Wang L, Li Z, Ye C, Chen Y, Fan M, et al (2022) An adaptive high capacity reversible data hiding algorithm in interpolation domain. Signal Process 194(108458):108458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sigpro.2022.108458

  27. Xu D, Su S (2019) Separable reversible data hiding in encrypted images based on difference histogram modification. Secur Commun Netw 2019:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/7480147

  28. Xu S, Horng J-H, Chang C-C (2021) Reversible data hiding scheme based on VQ prediction and adaptive parametric binary tree labeling for encrypted images. IEEE Access 9:55191–204. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2021.3071819

  29. Yamac M, Ahishali M, Passalis N, Raitoharju J, Sankur B, Gabbouj M (2021) Multi-level reversible data anonymization via compressive sensing and data hiding. IEEE Trans Inf Forensics Secur 16:1014–28. https://doi.org/10.1109/tifs.2020.3026467

  30. Yu C, Zhang X, Li G, Zhan S, Tang Z (2022) Reversible data hiding with adaptive difference recovery for encrypted images. Inf Sci (NY) 584:89–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2021.10.050

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj College of Engineering, Shegaon, Maharashtra, 444203, India

    Priyanka V. Deshmukh

  2. Department of IT, Anuradha College of Engineering, Chikhali, Maharashtra, 443201, India

    Avinash S. Kapse

  3. Department of CSE, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, 444602, India

    V. M. Thakare

  4. New Horizon College of Engineering, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560103, India

    Arvind S. Kapse

Authors
  1. Priyanka V. Deshmukh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Avinash S. Kapse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. M. Thakare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Arvind S. Kapse
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Priyanka V. Deshmukh.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Deshmukh, P.V., Kapse, A.S., Thakare, V.M. et al. High capacity reversible data hiding in encrypted images using multi-MSB data hiding mechanism with elliptic curve cryptography. Multimed Tools Appl 82, 28087–28115 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-023-14683-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-023-14683-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation