Extended abstract: An embedded flash memory vault for software Trojan protection

Author

Wolff, Francis ; Papachristou, Chris ; McIntyre, David ; Weyer, Daniel ; Clay, William

Author_Institution

Case Western Reserve Univ., Cleveland, OH

fYear

2008

fDate

9-9 June 2008

Firstpage

97

Lastpage

99

Abstract

The protection from software Trojans in embedded systems is a difficult problem. The only way a software Trojan can be inserted into an embedded system is if the embedded systems instruction code is behaviorally modified. Trojans can be introduced into the system via new software installation, updates, or application input data such as buffer overflows. Trojans are really nothing more than unauthorized instructions being executed. We introduce an embedded vault architecture that prevents the insertion of Trojans in embedded systems which allow remote updating of the firmware.

Keywords

computer viruses; embedded systems; software architecture; embedded flash memory vault; embedded systems instruction code; embedded vault architecture; firmware remote updating; software Trojan protection; software installation; unauthorized instructions; Buffer overflow; Computer architecture; Embedded software; Embedded system; Flash memory; Hardware; Memory management; Microprogramming; Protection; Read-write memory;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Hardware-Oriented Security and Trust, 2008. HOST 2008. IEEE International Workshop on

Conference_Location

Anaheim, CA

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-2401-6

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/HST.2008.4559063

Filename

4559063