Side-channel Resistant Cryptographic IP for Smartcards

Lead Research Organisation: Newcastle University
Department Name: Electrical, Electronic & Computer Eng

Abstract

Cryptographic IP cores are widely used in smartcards; however, regardless of the mathematical security of a cryptographic algorithm, a hardware implementation of the cryptographic algorithm can leak sensitive information correlated to the secret key(s) being used through side-channels. Next generation standards make it mandatory to protect against such attacks. The project seeks to gain further data to underpin the technical understanding of a technology developed through formal security validation. In turn to allow more detailed assessment of economic feasibility that can be scrutinised by industrial partners and regulatory authorities alike.
 
Description The chip designs implemented two co-processors with a AMBA-APB interface, a AES-128 encrypter (SCRIPT1) and 64-bit Floating Point Unit (SCRIPT2), and proved to be working correctly. They implemented the research conducted and by products of SCRIPT in collaboration with Renesas Labs, Japan.
The chips were a proof-of-concept silicon to support two new patent disclosures to Newcastle's Business Development Directorate Unit.
Exploitation Route The results of the chip and work based on secure HDL
driven design inspired work on building synthesisable clock generators for Provable Unclonable Functions and on-demand clocking.
Sectors Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics
 
Description There have been attempts to commercialise methods for designing crypto-resistance in Galois Encoded Logic on demand.
First Year Of Impact 2009
Sector Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics
 
Company Name i-GXL Limited 
Description Develop electronic platforms for Healthcare applications 
Year Established 2009