An Overview of DRAM-Based Security Primitives

Nikolaos Anagnostopoulos,Stefan Katzenbeisser,Fatemeh Tehranipoor,John Chandy

doi:10.3390/cryptography2020007

Nikolaos Anagnostopoulos, Stefan Katzenbeisser + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/cryptography2020007

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Abstract

Recent developments have increased the demand for adequate security solutions, based on primitives that cannot be easily manipulated or altered, such as hardware-based primitives. Security primitives based on Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) can provide cost-efficient and practical security solutions, especially for resource-constrained devices, such as hardware used in the Internet of Things (IoT), as DRAMs are an intrinsic part of most contemporary computer systems. In this work, we present a comprehensive overview of the literature regarding DRAM-based security primitives and an extended classification of it, based on a number of different criteria. In particular, first, we demonstrate the way in which DRAMs work and present the characteristics being exploited for the implementation of security primitives. Then, we introduce the primitives that can be implemented using DRAM, namely Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) and True Random Number Generators (TRNGs), and present the applications of each of the two types of DRAM-based security primitives. We additionally proceed to assess the security such primitives can provide, by discussing potential attacks and defences, as well as the proposed security metrics. Subsequently, we also compare these primitives to other hardware-based security primitives, noting their advantages and shortcomings, and proceed to demonstrate their potential for commercial adoption. Finally, we analyse our classification methodology, by reviewing the criteria employed in our classification and examining their significance.

Highlights

Recent events have served to amplify the need for more adequate security and privacy solutions for modern computer systems
The Hamming weight of a Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) decay Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) refers to the number of bit flips that have occured, while the Hamming weight of a DRAM PUF based on the startup values of the DRAM refers to the number of cells whose startup value is equal to logical one
We have presented a comprehensive overview and an extended classification of DRAM-based security primitives

Summary

Introduction

Recent events have served to amplify the need for more adequate security and privacy solutions for modern computer systems Such events include the disclosure of a state-organised system of online surveillance covering the whole world [1], as well as newly reported software and hardware vulnerabilities that affect systems used every day by normal users. As these events affect the vast majority of the public, there has been significant pressure to address them in a thorough and transparent manner. As an increasing number of vulnerabilities is being found in current security mechanisms and implementations, there is a growing demand for better security primitives that will prove more resistant to existing attacks

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