Frequency Scaling as a Security Threat on Multicore Systems
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Date
2018-11
Publication Type
Conference Paper
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yes
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Abstract
Most modern processors use Dynamic Voltage and Frequency Scaling (DVFS) for power management. DVFS allows to optimize power consumption by scaling voltage and frequency depending on performance demand. Previous research has indicated that this frequency scaling might pose a security threat in the form of a covert channel, which could leak sensitive information. However, an analysis able to determine whether DVFS is a serious security issue is still missing.
In this paper, we conduct a detailed analysis of the threat potential of a DVFS-based covert channel. We investigate two multicore platforms representative of modern laptops and hand-held devices. Furthermore, we develop a channel model to determine an upper bound to the channel capacity, which is in the order of 1 bit per channel use. Last, we perform an experimental analysis using a novel transceiver implementation. The neural network based receiver yields packet error rates between 1% and 8% at average throughputs of up to 1.83 and 1.20 bits per second for platforms representative of laptops and hand-held devices, respectively. Considering the well-known small message criterion, our results show that a relevant covert channel can be established by exploiting the behaviour of computing systems with DVFS.
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Publication status
published
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Book title
Volume
37 (11)
Pages / Article No.
2497 - 2508
Publisher
IEEE
Event
International Conference on Compilers, Architecture, and Synthesis for Embedded Systems (CASES 2018) parallel to the Embedded Systems Week (ESWEEK 2018)
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Methods
Software
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Date created
Subject
Covert Channel; DVFS; Neuronal networks; Data leakage
Organisational unit
03429 - Thiele, Lothar (emeritus) / Thiele, Lothar (emeritus)
02640 - Inst. f. Technische Informatik und Komm. / Computer Eng. and Networks Lab.
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Related publications and datasets
Is supplemented by: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000292800