Attestation key memory device and bus

• US 7,194,634 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Thakkar, Shreekant S., Neiger, Gilbert, Ellison, Carl M., Mittal, Millind, Reneris, Ken, Lin, Derrick C., McKeen, Francis X., Sutton, James A., Herbert, Howard C., Golliver, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh; Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abrishamkar; Kaveh
• Application Number:
  US09/672,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,213 Days
• Field of Search: 713/190, 713/8, 713/153, 713/164, 711/153, 709/213, 726/21, 726/26
• US Class Current: 713/190
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/1491 in a hierarchical protection system, e.g. privilege levels, memory rings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/57 Certifying or maintaining trusted computer platforms, e.g. secure boots or power-downs, version controls, system software checks, secure updates or assessing vulnerabilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2105 Dual mode as a secondary aspect

Abstract

In an embodiment of the present invention, a technique is provided for remote attestation. An interface maps a device via a bus to an address space of a chipset in a secure environment for an isolated execution mode. The secure environment is associated with an isolated memory area accessible by at least one processor. The at least one processor operates in one of a normal execution mode and the isolated execution mode. A communication storage corresponding to the address space allows the device to exchange security information with the at least one processor in the isolated execution mode in a remote attestation.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a digest memory to store an isolated digest in a secure environment for an isolated execution mode, the secure environment being associated with an isolated memory area accessible by at least one processor, the at least one processor operating in one of a normal execution mode and the isolated execution mode; and

an attestation key memory (AKM) device coupled to the digest memory to attest the isolated execution mode and prove validity of a program loaded into the isolated memory area using the isolated digest;

wherein the isolated digest includes at least a digest of one of a processor nub loader, a processor nub, an operating system nub, and a supervisory module loaded in an isolated execution space.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an interface to map the device to an address space of a chipset in the secure environment; and

a communication storage corresponding to the address space to allow the AKM device to exchange security information with the at least one processor, the security information including at least one of a static public key and a static key certificate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the device accesses a chipset storage via the address space.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the communication storage comprises:

a configuration storage to store device configuration information.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the communication storage further comprises:

a status register to store device status of the device,

a command register to store a device command for a command interface set; and

an input/output block (IOB) to store input and output data corresponding to the command.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the configuration storage comprises:

a public key storage to store the static public key;

a key certificate storage to store the static key certificate; and

an interface set storage to store an interface set identifier, the interface set identifier identifying a command interface set supported by the device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the configuration storage further comprises:

a manufacturer identifier storage to store a manufacturer identifier; and

a revision storage to store a revision identifier.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the command interface set is an initialization set, the initialization set supporting a reset command and a connect command.

9. The apparatus or claim 6 wherein the command interface set is an attestation set, the attestation set performing at least one of a public key enumeration, a key certificate enumeration, and a signing operation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the status register comprises:

a connection field to provide a connection status to indicate that the device is responsive to the connect command; and

an estimate field to provide an estimate of processing time for an operation specified in the command.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the status register further comprises:

a self-test field to indicate status of a self test in response to the reset command.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the public key enumeration enumerates an additional public key other than the static public key.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the key certificate enumeration enumerates an additional key certificate other than the static key certificate.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the sign operation generates a signature to attest validity of the secure environment using a private key provided by the chipset.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the signature corresponds to signing a chipset parameter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the chipset parameter is one of a processor nub loader hash, a chipset hash log, a software hash, and a nonce.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor nub loader hash and the chipset hash Jog are stored in the chipset storage.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the software hash and the nonce are provided by a processor nub.

19. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the device accesses a remote server via the address space.

20. A method comprising:

storing an isolated digest in a digest memory in a secure environment for an isolated execution mode, the secure environment being associated with an isolated memory area accessible by at least one processor, the at least one processor operating in one of a normal execution mode and the isolated execution mode; and

attesting the isolated execution mode and proving validity of a program loaded into the isolated memory area using an attestation key memory (AKM) device and the isolated digest;

wherein the isolated digest includes at least a digest of one of a processor nub loader, a processor nub, an operating system nub, and a supervisory module loaded in an isolated execution space.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

mapping the AKM device to an address space of a chipset in the same environment; and

exchanging security information between the AKM device and the at least one processor via a communication storage corresponding to the address space, the security information including at least one of a static public key and a static key certificate.

22. The method or claim 21 wherein the device accesses a chipset storage via the address space.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein exchanging comprises:

storing device configuration information in a configuration storage.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein exchanging further comprises:

storing device status of the device in a status register;

performing a device command corresponding to a command interface set to a command register; and

storing input and output data corresponding to the command in an input/output block (IOB).

25. The method of claim 24 wherein storing in the configuration storage comprises:

storing the static public key in a public key storage;

storing the static key certificate in a key certificate storage; and

storing an interface set identifier in an interface set storage, the interface set identifier identifying a command interface set supported by the device.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein storing in the configuration storage further comprises:

storing a manufacturer identifier in a manufacturer identifier storage; and

storing a revision identifier in a revision, storage.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein performing the device command comprises performing a reset command and a connect command corresponding to an initialization set.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein performing the device command comprises performing at least one of a public key enumeration, a key certificate enumeration, and a signing operation, the public key enumeration, the key certificate enumeration, and the signing operation corresponding to an attestation set.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein storing the device status comprises:

providing a connection status to indicate that the device is responsive to the connect command; and

providing an estimate of processing time for an operation specified in the command.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein storing the device status further comprises:

indicating status of a self test in response to the reset command.

31. The method of claim 28 wherein performing the public key enumeration comprises enumerating an additional public key other than the static public key.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein performing the key certificate enumeration comprises enumerating an additional key certificate other than the static key certificate.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein performing the sign operation comprises generating a signature to attest validity of the secure environment using a private key provided by the chipset.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the signature corresponds to signing a chipset parameter.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the chipset parameter is one of a processor nub loader hash, a chipset hash log, a software hash, and a nonce.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the processor nub loader hash and the chipset hash log are stored in the chipset storage.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the software hash and the nonce arc provided by a processor nub.

38. The method of claim 21 wherein the device accesses a remote server via the address space.

39. A computer program product comprising:

a machine readable medium having program code embedded therein, the computer program product comprising;

computer readable program code to store an isolated digest in a digest memory in a secure environment for an isolated execution mode, the secure environment being associated with an isolated memory area accessible by at least one processor, the at least one processor operating in one of a normal execution mode and the isolated execution mode; and

computer readable program code to attest the isolated execution mode and proving validity of a program loaded into the isolated memory area using an attestation key memory (AKM) device and the isolated digest;

wherein the isolated digest includes at least a digest of one of a processor nub loader, a processor nub, an operating system nub, and a supervisory module loaded in an isolated execution space.

40. The computer program product of claim 39 wherein the computer program product further comprising:

computer readable program code to map the AKM device to an address space of a chipset; and

computer readable program code to exchange security information between the AKM device and the at least one processor via a communication storage corresponding to the address space, the security information including at least one of a static public key and a static key certificate.

41. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein the device accesses a chipset storage via the address space.

42. The computer program product of claim 41 wherein the computer readable program code to exchange comprises:

computer readable program code to store device configuration information in a configuration storage.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein the computer readable program code to exchange further comprises:

computer readable program code to store device status of the device in a status register;

computer readable program code to perform a device command corresponding to a command interface set to a command register; and

computer readable program code to store input and output data corresponding to the command in an input/output block (IOB).

44. The computer program product of claim 43 wherein the computer readable program code to store in the configuration storage comprises:

computer readable program code to store the static public key in a public key storage;

computer readable program code to store the static key certificate in a key certificate storage; and

computer readable program code to store an interface set identifier in an interface set storage, the interface set identifier identifying a command interface set supported by the device.

45. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the computer readable program code to store in the configuration storage further comprises:

computer readable program code to store a manufacturer identifier in a manufacturer identifier storage; and

computer readable program code to store a revision identifier in a revision storage.

46. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the computer readable program code to perform the device command comprises computer readable program code to perform a reset command and a connect command corresponding to an initialization set.

47. The computer program product of claim 44 wherein the computer readable program code for to perform the device command comprises computer readable program code to perform at least one of a public key enumeration, a key certificate enumeration, and a signing operation, the public key enumeration, the key certificate enumeration, and the signing operation corresponding to an attestation set.

48. The computer program product of claim 47 wherein the computer readable program code to store the device status comprises:

computer readable program code to provide a connection status to indicate that the device is responsive to the connect command; and

computer readable program code to provide an estimate of processing time for an operation specified in the command.

49. The computer program product of claim 48 wherein the computer readable program code to store the device status further comprises:

computer readable program code to indicate status of a self test in response to the reset command.

50. The computer program product of claim 47 wherein the computer readable program code to perform the public key enumeration comprises computer readable program code to enumerate an additional public key other than the static public key.

51. The computer program product of claim 47 wherein the computer readable program code to perform the key certificate enumeration comprises computer readable program code to enumerate an additional key certificate other than the static key certificate.

52. The computer program product of claim 47 wherein the computer readable program code to perform the sign operation comprises computer readable program code to generate a signature to attest validity of the secure environment using a private key provided by the chipset.

53. The computer program product of claim 52 wherein the signature corresponds to signing a chipset parameter.

54. The computer program product of claim 53 wherein the chipset parameter is one of a processor nub loader hash, a chipset hash log, a software hash, and a nonce.

55. The computer program product of claim 54 wherein the processor nub loader hash and the chipset hash log are stored in the chipset storage.

56. The computer program product of claim 55 wherein the software hash and the nonce are provided by a processor nub.

57. The computer program product of claim 40 wherein the device accesses a remote server via the address space.

58. A system comprising:

an attestation key memory (AKM) device;

at least one processor operating in a secure environment, the at least one processor having one of a normal execution mode and an isolated execution mode;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory having an isolated memory area accessible to the at least one processor in the isolated execution mode; and

a chipset coupled to the at least one processor and the memory, the chipset having a circuit, the circuit comprising;

a digest memory to store an isolated digest used with the device to attest the isolated execution mode and prove validity of a program loaded into the isolated memory area;

wherein the isolated digest includes at least a digest of one of a processor nub loader, a processor nub, an operating system nub, and a supervisory module loaded in an isolated execution space.

59. The system of claim 58 wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface to map the device to an address space of the chipset; and

a communication storage corresponding to the address space to allow the AKM device to exchange security information with the at least one processor, the security information including at least one of a static public key and a static key certificate.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the device accesses a chipset storage via the address space.

61. The system of claim 60 wherein the communication storage comprises:

a configuration storage to store device configuration information.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the communication storage further comprises:

a status register to store device status of the device;

a command register to store a device command for a command interface set; and

an input/output block (IOB) to store input and output data corresponding to the command.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein the configuration storage comprises:

a public key storage to store the static public key;

a key certificate storage to store the static key certificate; and

an interface set storage to store an interface set identifier, the interface set identifier identifying a command interface set supported by the device.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the configuration storage further comprises:

a manufacturer identifier storage to store a manufacturer identifier; and

a revision storage to store a revision identifier.

65. The system of claim 63 wherein the command interface set is an initialization set, the initialization set supporting a reset command and a connect command.

66. The system of claim 63 wherein the command interface set is an attestation set, the attestation set performing at least one of a public key enumeration, a key certificate enumeration, and a signing operation.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the status register comprises:

a connection field to provide a connection status to indicate that the device is responsive to the connect command; and

an estimate field to provide an estimate of processing time for an operation specified in the command.

68. The system of claim 67 wherein the status register further comprises:

a self-test field to indicate status of a self test in response to the reset command.

69. The system of claim 66 wherein the public key enumeration enumerates an additional public key other than the static public key.

70. The system of claim 66 wherein the key certificate enumeration enumerates an additional key certificate other than the static key certificate.

71. The system of claim 66 wherein the sign operation generates a signature to attest validity of the secure environment using a private key provided by the chipset.

72. The system of claim 71 wherein the signature corresponds to signing a chipset parameter.

73. The system of claim 72 wherein the chipset parameter is one of a processor nub loader hash, a chipset hash log, a software hash, and a nonce.

74. The system of claim 73 wherein the processor nub loader hash and the chipset hash log are stored in the chipset storage.

75. The system of claim 74 wherein the software hash and the nonce are provided by a processor nub.

76. The system of claim 59 wherein the device accesses a remote server via the address space.