Firmware validation from an external channel
US8971538B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 2009 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L67/34
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The state of firmware for devices on a provisioned host machine can be validated independent of the host CPU(s) or other components exposed to the user. A port that is not fully exposed or accessible to the user can be used to perform a validation process on firmware without accessing a CPU of the host device. The firmware can be scanned and a hashing or similar algorithm can be used to determine validation information, such as hash values, for the firmware, which can be compared to validation information stored in a secure location. If the current and stored validation information do not match, one or more remedial actions can be taken to address the firmware being in an unknown or unintended state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.