Cryptoprocessor Key Tampering Protection via Word Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryptoprocessors are vulnerable to key tampering attacks, which can lead to severe consequences such as fines, loss of contracts, and diminished brand value, as attackers may overwrite or modify key information and metadata associated with encryption and decryption processes.
Innovation Solution
A cryptoprocessor is configured to write a first word including a first portion of a key and subsequent words each including a portion of the key, with mechanisms to reset the key if the same word is written more than once or out of order, ensuring that each bit of the key and its metadata is written only once, thereby validating the key and its associated metadata against system privileges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If key information is stored in a cryptoprocessor for encryption and decryption, then security functionality is enabled, but the system becomes vulnerable to key tampering attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by validating key integrity before the key is fully loaded and made operational. The system checks for duplicate words during the key loading process itself, preventing tampered keys from being activated. This proactive validation approach ensures that any attempts to overwrite or modify key information are detected and rejected before they can compromise security operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If key validation mechanisms are implemented to detect tampering, then security against attacks is improved, but the complexity of the cryptoprocessor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the key into multiple words and tracking each word's validation status independently. The key validation mechanism checks each word individually to determine if it has been written more than once, rather than requiring complex overall key analysis. This segmented approach enables effective tampering detection while maintaining relatively simple implementation logic within the cryptoprocessor.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus and method to protect against key tampering. A computing device may include a cryptoprocessor that is configured to: write a first word including a first portion of a key; and write a plurality of subsequent words each including a portion of the key. If a same word is written more than once, the key is reset and not validated.