Memory Post-Package Repair Using Data Corruption Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Memory devices with defective cells are vulnerable to data exploitation during post-package repair (PPR) due to the risk of exposing internal row address scramble and wear leveling schemes, which can be exploited for attacks like row hammer attacks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing Alert Soft Post Package Repair (ASPPR) by corrupting data within the memory bank before or concurrently with PPR to obscure the repair process, thereby protecting the internal configurations from being exploited.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If post-package repair is performed to repair defective memory cells, then memory device reliability is improved, but security is worsened due to exposure of internal row address scramble and wear leveling schemes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory device reliabilityVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by corrupting data in the memory bank before or concurrently with the PPR operation. This preliminary data corruption obscures the internal row address scramble and wear leveling schemes that would otherwise be visible to attackers during the repair process, thereby protecting security while enabling reliability improvement through PPR

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the potentially harmful exposure of internal configurations during PPR into a beneficial security feature. By intentionally corrupting data to obscure the repair process, the system transforms what would be a security vulnerability into a protective mechanism that prevents row hammer attacks and other security exploits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If data is corrupted to obscure the repair process, then security is improved, but data integrity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity against row hammer attacksVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs data corruption as a preliminary action before or during PPR to protect security. The corruption is temporary and targeted, affecting only the data in the memory bank during the repair process, and does not permanently damage data integrity since the corruption is part of the controlled repair operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The data corruption acts as an intermediary mechanism between the PPR operation and potential attackers. It creates an obscurity layer that prevents attackers from observing the internal row address scramble and wear leveling schemes, while the actual data repair functionality remains intact and operational

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250356939A1Post Package Repair of Memory with Data Corruption Systems and Methods

Publication Date: 2025.11.20 MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A memory device may sometimes undergo post package repair. Systems and methods described herein may help protect data and/or configurations of the memory device from external exploit of the post package repair operations. Systems and methods described herein enable receiving a post package repair command and an indication of a target memory address, performing data corruption on a target portion of memory based on the target memory address, and performing post package repair on the target portion of memory based on the target memory address.