ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm (FIPS 204))

Also known as: Dilithium, CRYSTALS-Dilithium

ML-DSA is the NIST post-quantum digital signature standard (FIPS 204, August 2024), formerly CRYSTALS-Dilithium. It provides EUF-CMA security based on Module-LWE/Module-SIS problems and is the recommended replacement for ECDSA/RSA signatures in X.509 certificates, TLS 1.3, code signing and long-lived telecom PKIs facing harvest-now-decrypt-later threat models.

Categories: Security ControlsProtocols and StandardsInternet and Routing

ML-DSA in context

Security controls span signaling firewalls (SS7/Diameter/GTP screening), transport encryption (IPsec, TLS, PRINS), identity and access on OSS/BSS, and monitoring at both packet and log level. Controls are audited against GSMA FS.11/FS.19/FS.20/FS.36.

Telecom security is written into standards from 3GPP, GSMA, ETSI, IETF and ITU-T. Understanding which body owns which specification, and how they interlock, is essential for both design and audit work.

To place ML-DSA in the wider telecom-security picture, review Digital Signature, SLH-DSA, SHA, SIRT, Suricata and HMAC-SHA256: each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

Related topic hubs

  • 6G Security Emerging 6G threat model, AI/ML surfaces and post-quantum concerns.
  • SEPP Security N32-c/N32-f, PRINS, JWE and OAuth 2.0 at the 5G roaming edge.

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