Maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform-based power trace alignment algorithm against random delay countermeasure

Abstract

Random delay countermeasures introduce random delays into the execution flow to break the synchronization and increase the complexity of the side channel attack. A novel method for attacking devices with random delay countermeasures has been proposed by using a maximal overlap discrete wavelet transform (MODWT)-based power trace alignment algorithm. Firstly, the random delay in the power traces is sensitized using MODWT to the captured power traces. Secondly, it is detected using the proposed random delay detection algorithm. Thirdly, random delays are removed by circular shifting in the wavelet domain, and finally, the power analysis attack is successfully mounted in the wavelet domain. Experimental validation of the proposed method with the National Institute of Standards and Technology certified Advanced Encryption Standard-128 cryptographic algorithm and the SAKURA-G platform showed a 7.5X reduction in measurements to disclosure and a 3.14X improvement in maximum correlation value when compared with similar works in the literature.

Keywords

• hardware security
• modwt
• power analysis attack
• random delay countermeasure
• side channel attack