Doctoral student in Remote Fault Attacks on Cryptographic Algorithms Full-time NEW

Doctoral Student In Remote Fault Attacks On Cryptographic Algorithms

KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Project description: Third-cycle subject: Information and Communication Technology

Currently, there are no effective methods for protecting implementations of cryptographic algorithms from fault attacks, where an adversary deliberately injects faults into cryptographic computations to extract sensitive information. This project aims to address this important open problem, with a particular focus on remote attacks. We intend to take into account the impact of fault attacks on cryptographic implementation security from both an offensive perspective (by devising new types of attacks) and a defensive perspective (by designing countermeasures). The overarching challenge is to create defense mechanisms that can withstand fault attacks as the adversary's capabilities grow. By considering mathematical and electrical engineering problems together, the project is expected to create cryptographic implementations in which resistance to fault attacks is incorporated at the design stage rather than addressed later, after a vulnerability is discovered.

The successful candidate is expected to investigate the use of advanced machine learning techniques to enhance both the analysis and mitigation of fault attacks. The insights gained will be used to develop new vulnerability assessment methods and design countermeasures against fault attacks, along with supporting tools.

The work will be carried out in the Hardware Security group at KTH which currently includes five PhD students.

The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council.

Supervision: Prof. Elena Dubrova and Prof. Carl-Mikael Zetterling

Admission requirements: To be admitted to postgraduate education, the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

The special eligibility requirements include knowledge of cryptographic algorithms, expertise fault and side-channel attacks, experience in embedded systems, as well as practical skills in machine learning including knowledge of essentials tools and platforms such as TensorFlow, etc.

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6.

Selection: In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach,
• analyze and work with complex issues and
• communicate research results effectively in writing and through presentations

Applicants who have completed a course in hardware security as part of their academic curriculum will be given a priority. Applicants whose bachelor/master thesis work was performed in the area of hardware security will be given a priority. Applicants with published papers in high-ranked hardware security journals, conferences, or workshops will be given a priority.

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment: Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

As a doctoral student, you are entitled to a workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH's Doctoral student salary agreement.

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