Glitch Blocking in Combinational Logic for Side-Channel Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated circuits (ICs) face significant challenges in protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access due to side-channel information leakage through electromagnetic emanations and power consumption variations during cryptographic processes, despite masking techniques, as transients in combinatorial logic can still reveal secret keys or data.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of glitch blockers using multiplexers (MUX) or equivalent logic to replace data-correlated intermediate combinatorial transitions with random, uncorrelated transitions, utilizing Steady to Unpredictable (StU) logic, fixed input/output delay buffers, phase-delayed registers, and high-speed clock registers to generate glitch block enable signals, thereby reducing information leakage by blocking and substituting glitches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If masking techniques are applied to cryptographic circuits, then some information leakage is reduced, but significant side channel information leakage still occurs due to transients in combinatorial logic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful transient signals (glitches) from the combinatorial logic cloud by detecting when transients occur and actively clearing them before they can propagate to outputs. This separates the useful cryptographic computation from the harmful information-leaking transients, addressing the contradiction by removing the specific harmful element while preserving the masking protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary components including transient detection circuits and clearing mechanisms that act as mediators between the combinatorial logic and the outputs. These intermediaries monitor for data-correlated transients and eliminate them before they can leak information, thereby strengthening security protection without compromising the masking technique's information loss reduction.
2Speed
If combinatorial logic is used for cryptographic operations, then processing speed is improved, but transients in the logic cloud reveal secret keys through side channels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of transients into a detectable signal by monitoring for the presence of data-correlated glitches. The very transients that leak information become the indication that clearing action is needed. By detecting and clearing these transients, the system maintains the speed benefits of combinatorial logic while eliminating the security vulnerability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where transient detection circuits continuously monitor the combinatorial logic cloud for data-correlated transients. When transients are detected, the system activates clearing mechanisms to remove them. This closed-loop feedback system maintains processing speed while dynamically eliminating side channel leakage as it occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system and method are disclosed to block and replace intermediate combinatorial transitions that are correlated with secret data, also referred to as glitches, with random intermediate combinatorial transitions that are uncorrelated with the data being processed.