Initializing, maintaining, updating and recovering secure operation within an integrated system employing a data access control function

• US 7,356,707 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daedalus Blue LLC
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rosu, Marcel Catalin, Hall, William E., Foster, Eric M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Moazzami; Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEDIN, SHANTO
• Application Number:
  US10/691,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20040083375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 713/100, 713/189, 713/193
• US Class Current: 713/189
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/575 Secure boot
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0891 Revocation or update of secret information, e.g. encryption key update or rekeying
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0894 Escrow, recovery or storing of secret information, e.g. secret key escrow or cryptographic key storage

Abstract

Techniques are provided for initializing, maintaining, updating and recovering secure operation within an integrated system. The techniques, which employ a data access control function within the integrated system, include authenticating by a current level of software a next level of software within an integrated system. The authenticating occurs before control is passed to the next level of software. Further, an ability of the next level of software to modify an operational characteristic of the integrated system can be selectively limited via the data access control function. Techniques are also provided for initializing secure operation of the integrated system, for migrating data encrypted using a first key set to data encrypted using a second key set, for updating software and keys within the integrated system, and for recovering integrated system functionality following a trigger event.

Claims

1. A method of recovering integrated system functionality following a trigger event, said method comprising:

automatically establishing a reduced level of functionality within the integrated system;

allowing for full functional recovery of the integrated system by employing a selective recovery procedure;

wherein the recovery procedure includes loading initialization code into the integrated system at a secure physical location;

wherein the loading of initialization code further comprises loading unencrypted initialization code into the integrated system, including restoration initialization code, and wherein the method further comprises;

executing the restoration initialization code to obtain a master key and a substitute initialization address;

encrypting the restoration initialization code with the master key and storing the encrypted initialization code at the substitute initialization address;

reinitializing the integrated system using the stored encrypted initialization code at the substitute initialization address; and

wherein the initialization code further comprises a manufacturer'"'"'s public key, and wherein the method further comprises;

generating at the integrated system a public/private key pair;

securely storing the integrated system'"'"'s private key; and

encrypting the integrated system'"'"'s public key using the manufacturers public key.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the master key and the substitute initialization address in persistent storage associated with a data access control function of the integrated system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically establishing the reduced level of functionality within the integrated system includes limiting access to secure code and data within the integrated system.

4. A method of recovering integrated system functionality following a trigger event, said method comprising:

automatically establishing a reduced level of functionality within the integrated system;

allowing for full functional recovery of the integrated system by employing a selective recovery procedure;

wherein the recovery procedure includes loading initialization code into the integrated system at a secure physical location;

wherein the loading of initialization code further comprises loading unencrypted initialization code into the integrated system, including restoration initialization code, and wherein the method further comprises;

executing the restoration initialization code to obtain a master key and a substitute initialization address;

encrypting the restoration initialization code with the master key and storing the encrypted initialization code at the substitute initialization address;

reinitializing the integrated system using the stored encrypted initialization code at the substitute initialization address; and

further comprising establishing a secure network connection between the integrated system and manufacturer, the establishing employing the generated public/private key pair, and downloading across the secure network connection required code and data to reestablish full functionality of the integrated system.