Firmware Boot Sequence Hardware Device Authorization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing platforms are vulnerable during the boot sequence as external hardware devices can be inserted or replaced without validation, potentially leading to security threats by manipulating device information to disable protections.
Innovation Solution
Maintaining an authorized list of identifying information for approved hardware devices in non-volatile storage, which is checked by firmware during the boot sequence to ensure only verified devices are enabled, using hashes or actual device information stored in secure regions like flash ROM or TPM.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hardware devices are enabled during boot sequence without validation, then device compatibility and ease of operation are improved, but security vulnerability increases allowing unauthorized devices to manipulate system protections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements device authorization validation during the firmware boot sequence, before the operating system loads and before hardware protections are fully enabled. This preliminary security check ensures that only authorized devices are enabled before they can potentially manipulate system protections, resolving the contradiction by establishing security validation in advance while maintaining device compatibility through authorized device recognition
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an authorized list of hardware devices is maintained and checked during boot sequence, then security is improved by preventing unauthorized devices from being enabled, but device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores authorized device identifying information (such as device IDs, serial numbers, or cryptographic keys) in a pre-populated authorized list within the firmware. During boot, the firmware retrieves the identifying information from the inserted hardware device and compares it against the stored authorized list. This copying approach simplifies the verification process by using pre-stored reference data rather than implementing complex real-time authorization protocols, thus improving security while minimizing firmware complexity
3Reliability
If device information is validated against stored authorized data during boot, then security reliability is improved, but boot sequence duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential identifying information from hardware devices (such as device IDs, serial numbers, or cryptographic keys) and compares this extracted data against the authorized list during the firmware boot sequence. By taking out only the critical validation data rather than performing comprehensive device analysis, the patent achieves security reliability through accurate authorization verification while minimizing the time added to the boot sequence
Data Source
AI summary
A secure computing platform and method for securely enabling inserted or replacement hardware devices during boot of a computing platform are discussed. More particularly, an authorized list holding identifying information associated with approved insertable or replaceable hardware devices is maintained in non-volatile storage and checked by the firmware during a platform boot sequence against identifying information provided by the inserted or replacement hardware devices. Only devices whose information matches the stored authorized list information are enabled.