Securing A Cryptographic Device Against Implementation Attacks

• Main Authors: VENTZISLAV NIKOV, MARCEL MEDWED, FELDHOFER MARTIN
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 16.03.2016
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHICCOMMUNICATION

Methods of securing a cryptographic device against implementation attacks, are described. A disclosed method comprises the steps of obtaining a key (230) from memory of the cryptographic device; providing the key and a constant input (210) to an encryption module (240); deriving an output (250) of encrypted data bits using the encryption module (240); providing the output (250), the key (230) and an input vector (270) to a key update module (260); and using said key update module (260) to modify the key based on at least a part (270 a ) of the input vector (270) to derive an updated key (230 a ). This prevents the value of the key from being derived using the updated key or by using side-channel attacks because the input is constant for all keys. Additionally, by altering the input vector, the updated key is also altered.