Memory Post-Package Repair with 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, obscuring the repair size granularity and protecting logical-to-physical address mapping, thereby reducing the likelihood of exploiting PPR operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If post package repair (PPR) is performed on memory devices with defective cells, then the reliability and lifetime of the memory device is extended, but the security of the memory device is compromised due to exposure of internal row address scramble and wear leveling schemes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing data corruption on the memory bank before executing the PPR operation. This proactive measure ensures that sensitive information is obscured before the repair process begins, preventing potential security exploits while maintaining the reliability benefits of PPR.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of data exposure during PPR into a benefit by intentionally corrupting the data as a protective measure. This data corruption, which would normally be harmful, actually serves to protect the memory device by obscuring sensitive information from potential attackers while allowing the PPR operation to proceed safely.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If data is corrupted before PPR to protect security, then the security against row hammer and wear leveling attacks is improved, but the data integrity is temporarily compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs data corruption as a preliminary action before PPR to establish security protection. This proactive data corruption creates a protective barrier that prevents attackers from exploiting the PPR process, while the temporary loss of data integrity is acceptable since the data will be restored or replaced during the repair operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by corrupting data in advance of the PPR operation as a protective measure. This pre-corruption acts as a cushion or buffer that absorbs potential security threats, ensuring that even if an attacker intercepts the data during PPR, the corrupted data provides no useful information for exploitation.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If PPR operations are performed on memory banks, then defective cells are repaired and device lifetime is extended, but the repair configurations become vulnerable to exploitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by corrupting data before the PPR operation to protect the repair configuration from exploitation. This pre-corruption measure ensures that the detailed repair information, which would normally be exposed during PPR, is obscured and cannot be exploited by attackers, while still allowing the lifespan-extending repair to proceed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the vulnerability of exposed repair configurations into a security feature by intentionally corrupting the data. The data corruption, which might seem harmful, actually benefits security by making the repair configuration invisible to attackers, thereby protecting the extended device lifespan from being compromised by security exploits.
Data Source
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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.