Hybrid Image Encryption Model Based on Zernike Moments Keys Generation and Rubik’s Cube Scrambling

This paper proposes a novel hybrid image encryption model that combines key generation based on Zernike moments and Rubik’s Cube scrambling to achieve a high level of security. The proposed approach uses Zernike moments based on a secret image to generate dynamic cryptography keys. These keys cause an initial diffusion layer to be processed with bitwise XOR, followed by a spatial permutation using a scrambling technique similar to that employed in a Rubik’s Cube, in which row and column transformations are repeatedly applied. Experimental analysis shows that the hybrid model has very good security performance, information entropy 7.9998 bits/pixel, a Number of Pixel Change Rates 99.5995%, and the Unified Average Changing Intensity 32.3631%. Spatial correlation analysis shows that the coefficients are close to zero in the horizontal (−0.0124), vertical (0.0025), and diagonal (−0.0069) directions, indicating a significant break in the relationship between pixels. The results show strong resistance to statistical, differential, and chosen-plaintext attacks, making the proposed model an effective tool for guaranteeing secure image communication in multimedia systems.