Hardware Security Module Validation via Data Randomization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data validation processes are computationally intensive and render encrypted confidential information into cleartext, making it vulnerable to attacks and compromising security, especially in high-transaction environments.
Innovation Solution
The use of a hardware security module (HSM) for secure and rapid validation of encrypted information, which includes randomizing the processing and return order of data to obscure associations between inputs and outputs, thereby hardening the system against correlation attacks and improving cryptographic function availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional data validation processes are used to validate confidential information, then data validation can be performed, but the confidential information is rendered into cleartext making it vulnerable to attacks and compromising security
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hardware security module (HSM) as an intermediary component that performs validation operations in a protected environment. The HSM acts as a mediator between the application and the confidential data, allowing validation to occur without exposing cleartext to the host system. This resolves the contradiction by enabling validation functionality while maintaining security through the intermediary HSM boundary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the validation process into separate components: the HSM contains the cryptographic functions and secure validation logic, while the host system handles application-level operations. This segmentation isolates the sensitive cleartext processing within the secure HSM boundary, preventing exposure to the vulnerable host environment while still allowing validation to occur.
2Productivity
If conventional data validation processes are used, then validation can be performed, but the processes are computationally intensive and create unwanted delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading validation data and cryptographic materials into the HSM before they are needed for actual validation operations. The HSM maintains ready-state cryptographic functions and validation rules, so when validation requests arrive, the computationally intensive setup work has already been completed, reducing actual validation time and increasing throughput.
3Ease of operation
If confidential information is rendered into cleartext for validation within applications, then validation can be performed, but the information becomes more accessible to compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The HSM serves as a secure intermediary that enables validation capability while preventing direct access to cleartext by host applications. The validation function is maintained through controlled interfaces with the HSM, which processes the confidential data in its protected environment and returns only validation results, not the exposed cleartext.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specialized secure environment within the HSM that has different security properties than the host system. Inside the HSM, cleartext can exist and be processed because the local security context is hardened, while the same cleartext would be vulnerable if exposed in the host application environment.
4Reliability
If data validation is performed in high-transaction environments, then validation is necessary for security, but conventional processes create delays and reduce efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the software-based validation mechanism in the host system with a dedicated hardware security module. This substitution provides validated cryptographic operations and validation functions that are optimized for high-speed operation, maintaining security requirements while significantly improving transaction processing speed through hardware-accelerated operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is secure decryption and business rule validation of encrypted confidential data within a hardware security module (HSM). The validation may include the use of a Bloom filter stored and executing within the HSM. The return order of encrypted data within the HSM as well as requests for external data relating to validation may be randomized to further harden against correlation attacks.