Crii: satc: reliable hardware architectures against side-channel attacks for post-quantum cryptographic algorithms

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Program project grant, awarded to Marymount University, aims to perform a rigorous evaluation of post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) algorithms and design countermeasures against side-channel attacks and environmentally induced faults. The $174,987 award, effective April 15, 2024 through March 31, 2026, will support software simulations to verify mathematical derivations and integrate the developed countermeasures into hardware architectures such as FPGAs or ASICs. This research project seeks to advance the field of PQC by addressing vulnerabilities in the new algorithms recently selected by NIST for standardization, with a focus on compatibility with constrained embedded systems used in military, government, and commercial applications. The project results will be incorporated into graduate-level coursework to support workforce development in this critical area of national technological priority.

Abstract

The rapid developments in quantum computing threaten the security of traditional computer systems, because they use a form of encryption called public-key, that will no longer be secure if quantum computing advances. New approaches developed to avert this security problem are known as post-quantum cryptography (PQC), and the national institute of standards and technology (NIST) led a 2016 effort to standardize quantum-resistant public-key approaches. NIST has recently selected four algorithms for standardization and has chosen three other algorithms as potential candidates. However, these algorithms are not without vulnerabilities, and the majority are susceptible to both certain types of cyber attacks and environmentally induced faults. Such vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information and system failure. This project aims to perform a rigorous evaluation of the PQC algorithms and to design, simulate, and implement tailored countermeasures against these threats. This cutting-edge research will be incorporated into graduate-level courses. This project aims to advance the field of PQC by performing a detailed analysis of existing algorithms, identifying vulnerabilities to scas, and formulating countermeasures against such attacks and environmentally induced faults. Due to the complex nature of deriving such techniques, software simulations will need to be done to verify these mathematical derivations. Following rigorous software simulations, these countermeasures will be integrated into the original hardware architectures such as fgpa or asic to assess their real-world overheads, with a focus on compatibility with deeply constrained embedded systems prevalent in the military, governmental, and commercial sectors. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.