Scalar Multiplication Apparatus for DFA Attack Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cryptographic systems, particularly those using Elliptic Curve Cryptography, are vulnerable to Side-Channel Analysis (SCA) attacks like Differential Fault Analysis (DFA), where attackers can induce faults to obtain secret keys by analyzing faulty output points, leading to potential leaks of confidential information.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a scalar multiplication apparatus with multiple encryptors and XOR circuits that perform logic operations on input points and secret keys, generating modified output points to counter DFA attacks by diffusing faults and maintaining the secrecy of the original secret key, even under induced faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If parallel EC operation units are used to generate encrypted output points, then productivity is improved, but security is worsened because attackers can analyze faulty output points to obtain secret keys
Solution Approach 1:
The encryption process is divided into multiple segments (first and second EC operation units) that operate in parallel but produce intermediate results that are combined through XOR operations. This segmentation prevents attackers from directly analyzing complete faulty output points while maintaining high encryption speed through parallel processing.
Solution Approach 2:
XOR circuits are introduced as intermediary components between the parallel EC operation units and the final output. These intermediaries transform the direct output points into modified output points through logical operations, preventing direct analysis by attackers while preserving the benefits of parallel computation.
2Reliability
If output points are compared and selectively transmitted, then security is improved by preventing leaks, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Fault prevention is performed preliminarily by transforming the encryption process itself rather than by post-encryption comparison and selection. The XOR operations are applied during the encryption process to inherently prevent fault analysis, eliminating the need for separate comparing and outputting units.
3Reliability
If XOR operations are performed on encrypted output points, then security is improved by diffusing faults, but device complexity is worsened due to additional logic circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The XOR operations are merged with the existing parallel EC operation structure rather than being added as separate post-processing stages. The logic circuits are integrated into the encryption flow, combining fault diffusion functionality with the existing computational architecture to minimize additional complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A scalar multiplication apparatus may include at least two encryptors, each adapted to receive an input point and a changed secret key to generate an encrypted output point; a first logic circuit adapted to receive the encrypted output points to perform a first logic operation; a second logic circuit adapted to receive a first logic operation result and a secret key to perform a second logic operation and generate the changed secret key; and a random number generator adapted to generate random number data. A scalar multiplication method may include receiving an input point and a changed secret key, generating first and second encrypted output points from the input point and changed secret key, performing a first logic operation on the first and second encrypted output points, and performing a second logic operation on a first logic operation result and a secret key and generating the changed secret key.