Interface Controller for Commodity Device Code Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computer systems face security concerns due to potential compromises in control code of commodity devices, such as power supplies, which can be altered or maliciously embedded, posing risks like denial-of-service attacks, especially in critical infrastructure networks.
Innovation Solution
An interface controller is used to validate and authenticate control code by loading it into volatile memory, employing cryptographic hashes and digital signatures to ensure the code's integrity and authenticity, thereby mitigating security risks and enabling secure operation of commodity devices within computer systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control code of commodity devices is not validated, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but security reliability deteriorates due to potential malicious or altered code
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interface controller as an intermediary component between the commodity device and the computer system. This interface controller validates control code before executing it, acting as a mediator that ensures security without requiring validation logic within the commodity device itself. The interface controller stores authorized control code versions and verifies integrity using cryptographic hashes, thereby improving security reliability while maintaining device simplicity.
2Reliability
If control code validation is performed at runtime, then security reliability is improved, but boot time increases due to additional validation steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by validating control code before the computer system boots up and before the commodity device is activated. The interface controller pre-loads and verifies authorized control code versions during system initialization, so that when the commodity device needs to operate, the validated code is already in place. This eliminates the need for runtime validation delays during normal operation while maintaining security reliability.
3Reliability
If third-party control code is accepted without validation, then ease of manufacture and adaptability are improved, but security reliability deteriorates due to potential malicious code
Solution Approach 1:
The interface controller serves as a mediator that accepts third-party control code from various manufacturers while maintaining security. It validates the code against stored authorized versions using cryptographic hashes before execution. This approach preserves ease of manufacture by allowing different third-party devices to be supported without requiring manufacturer-specific validation logic, while simultaneously ensuring security reliability through centralized validation.
4Reliability
If control code is stored in volatile memory without validation, then device complexity is reduced, but security reliability deteriorates due to potential code alteration
Solution Approach 1:
The interface controller acts as an intermediary that manages the storage and validation of control code in volatile memory. It verifies the integrity of control code using cryptographic hashes before loading it into volatile memory for execution. This ensures that only authorized and unaltered code is stored in volatile memory, improving security reliability without requiring the commodity device itself to implement complex validation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and device for using an interface controller to validate and authenticate controller code for a commodity device to be included within a computer system (e.g., a power supply) are provided. In one example, a commodity device controller includes dynamic memory for control software (e.g., control code to control operation of the commodity device) that may be validated (and/or updated) using an interface controller. The interface controller may perform this update/validation at startup (or run-time) to ensure secure control over aspects of the computer device including the commodity device control code. If a security risk is detected it may be mitigated in various ways, including disabling of the commodity device. Control code provided by third-parties (e.g., supplier of commodity device) may be validated and secured using disclosed techniques.