Classification of security challenges and mitigation approaches in the quantum software engineering
Badhon Rahman, Majid Haghparast, Tommi Mikkonen · Journal of Systems and Software · 2026
Quantum Software Engineering (QSE) is an emerging discipline devoted to specifying, designing, implementing, and deploying software for quantum computers. As quantum mechanics and hybrid architecture are evolving at a rapid pace, security challenges are also emerging. This paper investigates the key QSE security concerns, classifying them into four major families: crosstalk, side-channel, fault injection, and pulse-level attacks. For each of these threats, we explore their place of origin, consequences, and available specimens. In response, we map mitigation approaches such as dynamical decoupling, randomized compiling, transpilation masking, secure lifecycle models, frameworks, and associated tools.