Obfuscating Debugging Filenames in BIOS Images
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information handling systems, particularly BIOS, are vulnerable to reverse-engineering due to descriptive filenames in debugging files that reveal critical information, allowing attackers to exploit vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
An information handling system and method that utilize a one-way deterministic function to generate obfuscated filenames for debugging files, making it difficult for attackers to reverse-engineer the code by including these filenames in the compiled BIOS image and using a reverse-lookup file for debugging purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If debugging files include descriptive filenames for easier debugging, then debugging ease is improved, but system security deteriorates due to reverse-engineering vulnerabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (obfuscation layer) between the debugging files and the BIOS image. Debugging files retain their original descriptive filenames for ease of debugging, but when embedded in the BIOS image, they are obfuscated through hashing or encryption. This intermediary transformation allows the system to simultaneously maintain debugging ease while preventing reverse-engineering attacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of filename representation from plaintext to obfuscated form. By applying hash functions or encryption algorithms, the filenames are transformed into unreadable formats that preserve the debugging functionality internally while eliminating the security vulnerability of exposing descriptive names in the BIOS image.
2Loss of information
If original filenames are embedded in BIOS image for debugging purposes, then debugging information completeness is improved, but attack surface exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a copy of the debugging information with obfuscated filenames. The original debugging files maintain complete and accurate filename information for debugging purposes, while a transformed copy with obfuscated filenames is embedded in the BIOS image. This copying approach preserves debugging information completeness while eliminating attack surface exposure.
3Ease of operation
If debugging files use descriptive names revealing functionality, then code understandability is improved, but vulnerability identification by attackers is facilitated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining different filename characteristics in different contexts. Within the debugging environment, filenames remain descriptive and readable for code understandability. In the BIOS image context, filenames are obfuscated to prevent vulnerability detection by attackers. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between understandability and security.
Data Source
AI summary
An information handling system, method, and computer-readable media for obfuscating debugging filenames during a software build are described. The system comprises one or more processors, a memory, and one or more program modules stored on the memory and executable by the one or more processors. The one or more program modules compile a source code file of a plurality of source code files into a program, generate a debugging file including debugging information for the program, utilize a one-way deterministic function to generate an obfuscated filename for the debugging file, and include a link to the debugging file in the program, the link including the obfuscated filename.