Asynchronous data collection and classification for RF side-channel analysis

James Graham; Samuel V. Mantravadi; Ashwin Fisher

doi:10.1117/12.2518712

17 May 2019 Asynchronous data collection and classification for RF side-channel analysis

James Graham, Samuel V. Mantravadi, Ashwin Fisher

Proceedings Volume 11011, Cyber Sensing 2019; 110110D (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2518712
Event: SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing, 2019, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

Side-channel analysis (SCA) provides an independent, non-invasive remote monitoring solution to determine the digital state of a programmable electronic device. In our work, we have conducted near-field SCA on various devices to determine how well different programs running on devices can be differentiated. We have tested devices ranging from the relatively simple Arduino Uno to the much more complex Samsung Galaxy S8. The antennas used for radio frequency (RF) collection have also varied from the self-contained ~500MHz Riscure probe to a 40mm Triarchy Loop antenna with attached amplifier. Our study implemented various collection techniques; however, all of them relied on the constraint of a trigger signal. The trigger signal was needed to initiate the data collection process and to act as a reference for sequencing the various blocks within a code execution. However, a trigger signal is not always available or even feasible to obtain from a device for remote monitoring applications. This work investigates potential methods for triggerless detection and alignment of digital code blocks on measured analog RF data. Methods for performing the detection range from boosting codes that generate easily aligned RF pulses, to correlation methods for signal alignment. The varying quality of RF data generated between the devices and the amount of noise embedded in the signals from the measurement schemes negatively impact triggerless collection. We estimate our probability of success at aligning signals to exceed 90% for the devices tested.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

James Graham, Samuel V. Mantravadi, and Ashwin Fisher "Asynchronous data collection and classification for RF side-channel analysis", Proc. SPIE 11011, Cyber Sensing 2019, 110110D (17 May 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2518712

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