- Flash memory now doubles as a safe key storage using hidden-and poverty method
- Encryption key hidden in plain vision in standard commercial 3d nand memory
- Machine learning attacks failed to estimate the keys, showing true ransom and security
Since Digital data volume keeps increasing with the rise of AI, cloud services and connected equipment, it has become difficult to secure that data.
Traditional password-based security is no longer enough, and while hardware security solutions such as physical impure tasks (PUFs) provide strong security, they are struggling with the deployment of the real world.
Most of the puffs require custom hardware and when not in use, there is a lack of ability to hide the keys, which exposes the system.
Unique and unexpected
A research team of Seoul National University has introduced a new hardware security approach called Kansalat PUF. This method uses commercial 3D Nanda Flash Memory, usually found in mainstream storage devices, to create a safe way to store and hide the encryption keys.
Whatever separates is the ability to hide a key under the user data and reveal it only when needed. The technique was recently published Nature communication,
Major innovation involves a weak application to eradicate the process of gidl (gate-inspired drain leak). This memory increases variation between cells, making the characteristics of each chip unique and unpredictable.
These variations can be used to generate puf data that serves as a safe, vague key.
With this approach, no structural or circuit change is required. The method works directly with standard V-nand flash memory, making it easier to scale.
This may potentially allow hardware-level security to apply in consumer electronics without everyday cost or complexity.
The university says the Kansalat PUF passed the stress tests which included a comprehensive temperature range and more than 10 million read cycles. This machine also leaves behind learning-based attacks, which cannot predict the key beyond the level of random estimates.
Impressively, the key could be hidden and was revealed more than 100 times without any error, showing the stability of the system.
Professor Jong-Ho Lee, who led the project, said, “Connivable PUF stands out for its creativity and practicality, as it uses large-scale vertical NAD flash memory technology without modifications.”
Lead writer Sung-Ho Park said, “This research is important because it shows how PUFS can be implemented using the operation of the existing V-nand flash memory without changing the circuitry or design. By enabling the selective risk of the security key, our law opens new possibilities to increase both safety and memory efficiency.”
The team plans to expand this technology into other security-focused hardware solutions, which target industries such as IOT, mobile and automotive electronics.
Through Techxplore
