Indonesian Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Vol 41, No 2: February 2026

Hybrid AES-LEA encryption: a performance and security analysis

Hala Shaker Mehdy (Mustansiriya University)
Mohd Ezanee Rusli (Universiti Tenaga Nasional)
Haider Kadhim Hoomod (Universiti Tenaga Nasional)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Feb 2026

Abstract

The advanced encryption standard-lightweight encryption algorithm (AESLEA) hybrid algorithm (ALESA) addresses a critical gap in cryptographic systems by solving the inherent trade-off between high security and computational efficiency. While the AES offers robust security, its complex operations result in high latency and energy costs, making it less suitable for resource-constrained environments. Conversely, lightweight alternatives like the LEA provide high speed but potentially weaker diffusion properties. This paper proposes a novel hybrid encryption model that strategically integrates AES and LEA by replacing AES’s computationally intensive MixColumns transformation with a streamlined LEA-based operation. This solution delivers the best of both paradigms: the security strength of AES and the operational efficiency of LEA, while also demonstrating superior statistical security by passing all NIST tests with higher p-values and maintaining near-optimal entropy. The hybrid ALESA algorithm thus presents an ideal, balanced solution for applications requiring both strong security guarantees and high performance, particularly in IoT and large-scale data encryption scenarios.

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