Abstract
Data security represents an essential task in the present day, in which chaotic models have an excellent role in designing modern cryptosystems. Here, a novel oscillator with chaotic dynamics is presented and its dynamical properties are investigated. Various properties of the oscillator, like equilibria, bifurcations, and Lyapunov exponents (LEs), are discussed. The designed system has a center point equilibrium and an interesting chaotic attractor. The existence of chaotic dynamics is proved by calculating Lyapunov exponents. The region of attraction for the chaotic attractor is investigated by plotting the basin of attraction. The oscillator has a chaotic attractor in which its basin is entangled with the center point. The complexity of the chaotic dynamic and its entangled basin of attraction make it a proper choice for image encryption. Using the effective properties of the chaotic oscillator, a method to construct pseudo-random numbers (PRNGs) is proposed, then utilizing the generated PRNG sequence for designing secure substitution boxes (S-boxes). Finally, a new image cryptosystem is presented using the proposed PRNG mechanism and the suggested S-box approach. The effectiveness of the suggested mechanisms is evaluated using several assessments, in which the outcomes show the characteristics of the presented mechanisms for reliable cryptographic applications.