Cryptographic Key Registers With Tamper-Resistant Access Attributes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern computing devices face security breaches through malicious software that subverts security measures, leading to issues like identity theft and data compromise, necessitating improved cryptographic key management systems.
Innovation Solution
A cryptographic key management system with an access and tamper-resistant circuit block that stores cryptographic keys and attributes, preventing key exposure and modification, allowing only authorized operations through a limited hardware interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cryptographic keys are stored in traditional software-based key management systems, then key accessibility and operational flexibility are improved, but security against malicious software and intentional breaches deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hardware-based access and tamper resistant circuit block as an intermediary between software applications and cryptographic keys. This hardware module acts as a mediator that enforces security policies and prevents malicious software from accessing or modifying keys, while still allowing authorized cryptographic operations to proceed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces software-based key management mechanisms with a hardware-based cryptographic module. This substitution moves critical security functions from the software realm (vulnerable to malware) to the hardware realm (physically protected and harder to compromise), thereby improving security while maintaining operational capability through standardized hardware interfaces.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cryptographic keys are made accessible to multiple software components, then system versatility and functionality are improved, but risk of unauthorized access and key exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the key management system into distinct functional components: a hardware-protected storage area for keys, an access control module with attribute indicators, and a cryptographic processing unit. This segmentation isolates keys from direct software access while maintaining controlled functionality through defined interfaces and access policies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different access qualities to different keys based on their attribute indicators. Each key can have customized access control properties (e.g., which software components can read/write, key derivation permissions), allowing fine-grained control that balances versatility with security on a per-key basis.
3Adaptability or versatility
If attribute indicators are stored separately from cryptographic keys, then key management flexibility and attribute customization are improved, but system complexity and data management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cryptographic key and its associated attribute indicators into a unified data structure stored together in the hardware module. This combination eliminates the complexity of managing separate key and attribute storage, while still allowing flexible attribute customization. The merged structure is processed as a single unit by the cryptographic module.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal key management structure where the same hardware module handles multiple functions: storing keys, managing attributes, controlling access, and performing cryptographic operations. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity by consolidating what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated solution.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a cryptographic key management system implemented in access and tamper resistant circuitry. The circuitry includes processing circuitry to perform cryptographic processing based cryptographic keys. Cryptographic key registers include key portions and attribute portions. An interface receives commands from exposed circuitry that controls the processing circuitry to perform cryptographic processing based on the keys and associated attributes. The attributes indicate what operations may be performed on, or using, the associated keys. of the associated keys. The attributes indicate intended uses of the keys.