International Group of Researchers have achieved a breakthrough in computer security by developing a highly effective cipher for cache radiation. This new innovative method, created by Associate Professor Ray Weno from the Japanese Research Institute of Electric Science Tokhoku, provides increased protection and exceptional performance, countering the threat of attacks through side cash channels.
Attacks through side channels pose a significant threat to modern computer systems as they can extract confidential information, including secret keys and passwords, without the victims suspecting anything. Today, we wrote about one such attack.
These attacks exploit fundamental vulnerabilities in the principles of how modern computers work, making it an extremely difficult task to counteract them.
Cash radiation has emerged as a promising countermeasure, but the selection of a reliable and effective mathematical function for this purpose remained an unresolved problem.
In order to overcome this limitation, Weno and his colleagues created SCARF. This method is based on a comprehensive mathematical formulation and modeling of attacks through cache channels, providing reliable protection. Additionally, SCARF demonstrates remarkable performance, completing the randomization process in only half the latency of existing cryptographic methods.
The practicality and performance of the new cipher were rigorously tested through strict hardware assessments and system-level simulations.
The team responsible for developing SCARF includes members of the Tokhok University, the CASA unit of the University of Bochum, and researchers from the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation.
“We are delighted to announce Scarf, a powerful tool to enhance computer security,” said Weno. “Our innovative cipher is designed to be compatible with various modern computer architectures, ensuring wide applicability and the potential to significantly strengthen computer security.”
The potential impact of SCARF extends beyond individual computers, as its implementation can contribute to the construction of a safer information society. By mitigating the vulnerability of attacks through cache channels, SCARF takes an important step towards protecting confidential data and user privacy.
A detailed article describing all aspects of SCARF’s functionality will be presented at the USENIX security symposium on August 9, 2023.