Tamper Sensor Circuit for Fault Injection Detection in ICs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current security measures for cryptographic integrated circuits are inadequate against fault injection attacks, such as laser, voltage spike, and electromagnetic pulse (EM) injections, which can disrupt logic circuit behavior and compromise secure data.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a tamper sensor circuit with hold time and setup time violation detection capabilities to identify and respond to fault injections, such as electromagnetic pulse disruptions, by triggering a tamper response to secure the protected circuit and prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional security measures are used in cryptographic integrated circuits, then device complexity is kept low, but the circuits become vulnerable to fault injection attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The circuit is divided into functional blocks with dedicated tamper sensors monitoring specific regions. Each sensor independently monitors its assigned region for fault injection attempts, allowing distributed security monitoring that scales with circuit complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Tamper sensors are pre-positioned in critical regions before fault injection attempts occur. The sensors continuously monitor for anomalies and are ready to detect and respond to attacks before they can compromise cryptographic operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more metal layers are added for routing signals, then routing capability improves, but susceptibility to laser fault injection increases
Solution Approach 1:
Tamper sensors act as intermediary monitoring elements between potential fault injection sources and critical circuit regions. These sensors detect anomalies caused by laser injection or other attack methods before they can disrupt cryptographic operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The tamper sensors provide real-time feedback about circuit behavior anomalies to a control mechanism. When fault conditions are detected through changes in logic states, the system responds by triggering security responses to prevent compromise.
3Reliability
If voltage spike injection is used to create ground bounces, then fault injection effectiveness improves, but detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
Tamper sensors continuously monitor circuit behavior and provide feedback about anomalies. The sensors detect changes in logic states caused by voltage spikes and ground bounces, enabling real-time detection of fault injection attempts despite their effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical monitoring methods with electronic field-based monitoring. Tamper sensors use electronic field detection to monitor for anomalies caused by voltage spikes, replacing mechanical or direct measurement approaches with more sensitive electronic detection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively detects and mitigates fault injections, ensuring the integrity of cryptographic authentication and protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access by dynamically responding to detected disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnetic pulse (EM) injections, which can disrupt logic circuit behavior
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated circuit includes a tamper sensor that has plurality of state circuits. Each of the plurality of state circuits has a respective output that provides a respective logic state. When operating properly, the respective logic state is toggled in response to a clock signal. The respective logic state fails to toggle in response to a respective fault injection. The tamper sensor has an output that provides a fault signal in response to a difference in the respective logic state of the plurality of state circuits. Additionally, the integrated circuit includes a protected circuit, as well as a tamper response circuit. The tamper response circuit is connected to the tamper sensor and to the protected circuit. The tamper response circuit executes a protection operation to secure the protected circuit in response to the fault signal.