Trace Message Authentication Using Timestamp-Based Nonce Encryption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional debugging and tracing tools transmit trace data in unencrypted form, making it susceptible to interception and misuse for reverse engineering or malicious purposes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a secure trace data architecture that uses a nonce value for encryption, leveraging time stamp and additional data fields, and symmetric encryption algorithms like AES-GCM or ChaCha-Poly to encrypt trace data instances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If trace data is transmitted in unencrypted form, then debugging and tracing operations can be performed efficiently, but the trace data becomes susceptible to interception and misuse by third parties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating and establishing encryption keys and authentication tags before trace data transmission occurs. The cryptographic circuitry pre-configures the encryption mechanism using symmetric keys, and the system prepares the authentication framework in advance so that when trace data needs to be transmitted, the security infrastructure is already in place and operational, eliminating the need for complex real-time key generation during data transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cryptographic circuitry as an intermediary component between the trace data generation system and the transmission channel. This intermediary layer handles the encryption and authentication of trace data, acting as a mediator that protects the trace data without requiring the debugging or tracing tools themselves to become more complex. The intermediary cryptographic layer absorbs the complexity while presenting a simple secure interface to the rest of the system
2Reliability
If encryption is implemented on trace data, then security against interception is improved, but the processing and transmission overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the trace data transmission process into distinct segments: unencrypted trace data generation, cryptographic encryption processing, authentication tag generation, and encrypted transmission. By segmenting the process, the system can optimize each segment independently - the trace generation continues at full speed producing unencrypted data, while the cryptographic segment processes data at its own optimized pace, allowing parallel operation and minimizing overall overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating an authentication tag as a separate copy of verification data that accompanies the encrypted trace data. Instead of embedding authentication checks within the main data stream (which would slow down transmission), the system creates a separate authentication tag copy that can be verified independently and in parallel with data reception, thus maintaining transmission efficiency while ensuring security
Data Source
AI summary
The described techniques address issues associated with current implementations of debugging and tracing tools, which transmit trace data from tracing processes in an unencrypted form. The techniques include providing a secure means by which to convey the trace data instances outside of a monitored system utilizing an encryption scheme that leverages a number used only once (nonce) value for the encryption of the trace data instances. Advantageously, a time stamp value identified with one or more of the trace messages may be used to generate the nonce value to facilitate the encryption of the trace data instances.