A Logic Resistive Memory Chip for Embedded Key Storage With Physical Security

Abstract

A 64-kB logic resistive random access memory (RRAM) chip for physically secure key storage is presented. The chip has security features of resisting fully invasive attacks such as deprocessing and microscopy observation, resisting side-channel attacks by providing symmetrical power and timing read signals, resisting malicious writing by a reduced write protection scheme with feedback, and resisting data interception attack across pin boundary by the ability of on-chip integration with logic platform. The chip is fabricated in a 0.13-μm standard logic process and implemented as the key storage for a demonstrative information security platform with a MIPS-based cryptoprocessor. Experiments of reverse engineering and mechanism investigation proved the fully invasive attack-resistant features, and experiments emulating side-channel attacks revealed no difference between 0 and 1. Experiments also showed that the information security platform could correctly encrypt and decrypt with the RRAM key storage. The proposed chip has obvious advantage on area, power, and security features for embedded key storage compared with its Antifuse counterpart.