Description
With the growing prevalence of software-based cryptographic implementations in high-level languages, understanding the role of architectural and micro-architectural components in side-channel security is critical. The role of compilers in case of software implementations towards contribution to side-channel leaks is not investigated. While timing-based side-channel leakage due to compiler effects has been extensively studied, the impact of compiler optimizations on power-based leakage remains underexplored, primarily due to challenges in isolating the architectural power component. In this work, we present ARCHER, an architecture-level tool for side-channel analysis and root cause identification of cryptographic software on RISC-V processors. ARCHER integrates two key functionalities: (1) Side-Channel Analysis using TVLA and its variants to detect leakage, and (2) Data Flow Analysis to track intermediate values and explain observed leaks. ARCHER supports pre-silicon analysis of high-level and assembly code, offering algorithm-agnostic insights through interactive visualizations and detailed reports on execution statistics, leakage points, and their causes.
Using ARCHER, we analyze binary transformations across five optimization levels (-O0, -O1, -O2, -O3, -Os) to isolate the architectural effects of compiler optimizations from the micro-architectural influences of the target device. This study, spanning both unprotected and masked AES implementations, reveals actionable insights into how optimizations affect power-based leakage. Notably, we identify a previously undocumented vulnerability in the ShiftRow operation of masked AES, introduced by compiler optimizations. This vulnerability, confirmed through correlation analysis on simulated power traces, is validated on physical hardware using an ASIC implementation of the PicoRV32 core, confirming that architectural-level vulnerabilities translate to real-world leakage.
Prochains exposés
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Fine-grained dynamic partitioning against cache-based side channel attacks
Orateur : Nicolas Gaudin - Trasna
The growth of embedded systems takes advantage of architectural advances from modern processors to increase performance while maintaining a low power consumption. Among these advances is the introduction of cache memory into embedded systems. These memories speed up the memory accesses by temporarily storing data close to the execution core. Furthermore, data from different applications share the[…]-
SemSecuElec
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Micro-architectural vulnerabilities
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Hardware architecture
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Side-Channel Based Disassembly on Complex Processors: From Microachitectural Characterization to Probabilistic Models
Orateur : Julien Maillard - CEA
Side-Channel Based Disassembly (SCBD) is a category of Side-Channel Analysis (SCA) that aims at recovering information on the code executed by a processor through the observation of physical side-channels such as power consumption or electromagnetic radiations. While traditional SCA often targets cryptographic keys, SCBD focuses on retrieving assembly code that can hardly be extracted via other[…]-
SemSecuElec
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Side-channel
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Hardware reverse
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PhaseSCA: Exploiting Phase-Modulated Emanations in Side Channels
Orateur : Pierre Ayoub - LAAS-CNRS
In recent years, the limits of electromagnetic side-channel attacks have been significantly expanded.However, while there is a growing literature on increasing attack distance or performance, the discovery of new phenomenons about compromising electromagnetic emanations remains limited. In this work, we identify a novel form of modulation produced by unintentional electromagnetic emanations: phase[…]-
Side-channel
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