CWE-1248: Semiconductor Defects in Hardware Logic with Security-Sensitive Implications

What is Semiconductor Defects in Hardware Logic with Security-Sensitive Implications?

• Overview: Semiconductor defects in hardware logic refer to physical flaws in semiconductor devices that can affect the operation of security-sensitive components. These defects can result from manufacturing issues or arise over time due to stress, leading to unexpected behavior in hardware signals.

• Exploitation Methods:

• Attackers can exploit semiconductor defects by inducing conditions that make the defects manifest in ways that compromise security.
• Common attack patterns include physical tampering, environmental manipulation to accelerate wear, or leveraging defects to bypass security checks.

• Security Impact:

• Direct consequences include unauthorized access, data leakage, or disruption of secure operations.
• Potential cascading effects involve the compromise of other systems relying on the affected hardware for security.
• Business impact may include financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties due to data breaches or system failures.

• Prevention Guidelines:

• Specific code-level fixes are not applicable, but robust error-checking and redundancy can mitigate risks.
• Security best practices include rigorous hardware testing, regular maintenance, and environmental monitoring to detect and address defects early.
• Recommended tools and frameworks include hardware security modules (HSMs) and secure boot processes to ensure integrity and reliability.

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Technical Details

Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified

Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific

Affected Technologies: Not Technology-Specific

Vulnerable Code Example

// Simulated hardware interaction with potential defects in logic
function calculateChecksum(data) {
    let checksum = 0;
    for (let i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
        checksum += data[i]; // Vulnerable: potential for integer overflow if checksum exceeds max value for a byte
    }
    return checksum; // Vulnerable: no integrity check or error correction, checksum might be incorrect if overflow occurs
}

function verifyChecksum(data, expectedChecksum) {
    const calculatedChecksum = calculateChecksum(data);
    return calculatedChecksum === expectedChecksum; // Vulnerable: logic flaw if hardware defect affects checksum calculation
}

// Assumed data from hardware with potential defect implications
const dataFromSensor = [255, 255, 255, 1]; // Potential for overflow and incorrect checksum
const expectedChecksum = 766; // Incorrect due to overflow in calculation
console.log(verifyChecksum(dataFromSensor, expectedChecksum)); // May return false due to defects

How to fix Semiconductor Defects in Hardware Logic with Security-Sensitive Implications?

To address issues stemming from semiconductor defects in hardware logic, it is crucial to incorporate robust error detection and correction mechanisms within the software layer. This includes using checksums or cryptographic hashes that are resistant to minor bit errors. Additionally, implementing boundary checks, input validation, and adopting error-correcting codes (ECC) can mitigate the impact of potential hardware defects. Comprehensive testing against edge cases that may trigger hardware-specific issues is also essential.

Fixed Code Example

// Improved hardware interaction with defect mitigation
function calculateChecksum(data) {
    let checksum = 0;
    for (let i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
        checksum = (checksum + data[i]) & 0xFF; // Fixed: ensure checksum remains within byte range to prevent overflow
    }
    return checksum;
}

function verifyChecksum(data, expectedChecksum) {
    const calculatedChecksum = calculateChecksum(data);
    if (calculatedChecksum !== expectedChecksum) {
        console.warn("Checksum mismatch. Attempting error correction...");
        // Implement ECC logic here (e.g., using Hamming code)
        // Return true/false based on ECC correction success
        return false; // Placeholder for ECC result
    }
    return true;
}

// Assumed data from hardware with potential defect implications
const dataFromSensor = [255, 255, 255, 1]; // Handle potential overflow securely
const expectedChecksum = 255; // Correct checksum with overflow handling
console.log(verifyChecksum(dataFromSensor, expectedChecksum)); // Correctly handles defects

In the fixed code, we ensure the checksum calculation remains within the valid byte range to prevent overflow issues. We also added a placeholder for an error correction mechanism that can be implemented using methods like Hamming code. This approach can help detect and correct single-bit errors that might occur due to hardware defects, providing a more robust solution against semiconductor logic vulnerabilities.