Secure Boot
Definition
Implement secure boot mechanisms to verify the integrity of the boot process and prevent unauthorized or malicious
code execution.
How it works
Secure Boot is a security feature that ensures only trusted and digitally signed software components are loaded
during a device's boot process. It utilizes cryptographic signatures and a chain of trust to verify the integrity
and authenticity of firmware, bootloader, and operating system components. During boot, the system checks each
component against pre-approved digital signatures, preventing the execution of unauthorized or tampered code. Secure
Boot protects against boot-level attacks, rootkits, and unauthorized firmware modifications, contributing to a more
secure and trustworthy computing environment.
In robotics
In the realm of robotics, a secure boot process plays a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and authenticity of
the software that runs on robotic systems. Secure boot is a mechanism designed to protect against unauthorized or
malicious code execution during the system startup. It verifies the authenticity and integrity of each component in
the boot chain before allowing the system to proceed.
During a secure boot, the robot's firmware and software are signed with cryptographic keys. These keys are used to
generate digital signatures for each piece of code involved in the boot process. The secure boot process begins by
verifying the signature of the initial bootloader or firmware component using a trusted key stored in a secure
location, typically within a hardware security module (HSM) or a secure enclave.
If the signature is valid, the boot process continues to the next stage, where the signature of the subsequent
component is verified. This chain of trust continues until the operating system kernel and other critical system
components are loaded. If at any point the verification fails, the system halts, preventing the execution of
potentially compromised or unauthorized code.
Secure boot helps safeguard robotic systems against various threats, including malicious firmware modifications,
unauthorized access, and tampering. It provides a robust defense mechanism against boot-time attacks that might
attempt to compromise the system's integrity. Additionally, secure boot is often complemented by other security
measures, such as hardware-based root of trust, to establish a foundation of trust from the hardware level upward.
Overall, secure boot is a fundamental security feature in robotics that contributes to the resilience and
trustworthiness of robotic systems by ensuring that only authenticated and unmodified software is executed during
the boot process.
Considerations
- Ensure firmware and bootloader components are signed with trusted keys.
- Protect cryptographic keys used in secure boot processes.
- Regularly update the list of trusted keys to revoke compromised ones.
Related ATTACK Techniques
References
SECURE DEVELOPER BOOT OF
ROBOT CONTROLLER
Secure Boot: A Must-Have for
Modern Devices
Performance of Secure Boot in
Embedded Systems