Hardware Vetting of Ciphertext Using Buffer Access Flags
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data encryption systems face challenges in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of ciphertext before transmission, particularly in high-assurance networks, where errors or inefficiencies can lead to the inclusion of non-encrypted data, compromising security.
Innovation Solution
A system and method involving a secondary processor that inspects and verifies the ciphertext in a hardware-implemented buffer access flag, enforcing read-only and read-write permissions to prevent corruption and ensure accurate encryption, using a dedicated hardware-based rights enforcement device to manage access rights and validate data before transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data encryption is implemented using software algorithms or hardware components, then data transmission security is improved, but errors or inefficiencies can cause non-encrypted data to be transmitted, compromising security assurance
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary vetting system is introduced between the encryption process and data transmission. This system includes a vetting queue that holds ciphertext until it is verified as properly encrypted, and a vetting mechanism that checks each data packet to ensure it contains only encrypted data before allowing transmission. This intermediary layer catches encryption errors without requiring changes to the encryption algorithms or hardware themselves.
2Reliability
If independent hardware vetting is implemented to secure data at high-assurance level, then security assurance is improved, but system complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The vetting system is designed to work with multiple encryption algorithms and hardware components through a universal interface. The vetting queue and verification mechanism are algorithm-agnostic, allowing the same vetting infrastructure to support different encryption methods. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate vetting systems for each encryption implementation, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system includes self-vetting capabilities where the encryption process itself contributes to the verification process. The ciphertext generated by the encryption hardware is automatically placed in the vetting queue and subjected to verification without requiring external intervention. This self-service approach streamlines the process and reduces the operational complexity of managing the vetting system.
3Reliability
If independent hardware vetting is implemented to secure data at high-assurance level, then security assurance is improved, but processing speed and efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The vetting process is initiated immediately after encryption, before the data is ready for transmission. The ciphertext is placed in the vetting queue as soon as it is generated, allowing verification to proceed in parallel with other transmission preparations. This preliminary action ensures that by the time transmission is needed, the vetting is already complete or in progress, minimizing delays to the overall transmission process.
Solution Approach 2:
The vetting system operates continuously without interrupting the encryption or transmission processes. The vetting queue maintains a steady flow of ciphertext verification, and the system is designed to handle verification tasks in a continuous manner rather than batch processing. This continuity ensures that security verification does not create bottlenecks in the data transmission pipeline.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems (100) and methods for vetting data include receiving (106) a notification at a second processor (104) that a first processor (102) has written first output data (114) to an output data buffer (112) in an output device (108). A hardware-implemented buffer access flag (116) controls a permission for the first processor to write data to the output data buffer. The second processor sets (126) the hardware-implemented buffer access flag to a first setting that prevents the first processor from writing additional output data to the output data buffer while the first output data in the output data buffer is being inspected. The second processor has a read-write permission to the hardware-implemented buffer access flag. The first processor has a read-only permission (130) to the hardware-implemented buffer access flag.