2026-09-18T22:54:48Zhttps://ecommons.cornell.edu/server/oai/requestoai:ecommons.cornell.edu:1813/360372026-05-14T13:49:26Zcom_1813_35col_1813_47
Wang, Yinglei
Kan, Edwin Chihchuan
Batten, Christopher
Suh, Gookwon Edward
2014-02-25T18:36:47Z
2014-02-25T18:36:47Z
2014-01-27
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/36037
8442401
We demonstrate that unmodified commercial Flash memory can provide three important security functions: true random number generation, digital fingerprinting and information hiding. Use of random telegraph noise (a type of quantum noise source in highly scaled Flash memory cells) enables high quality true random number generation at a rate up to 10Kbits / second. A scheme based on partial programming exploits process variation in threshold voltages to allow quick generation of unique fingerprints that can be used for identification and authentication. Aging-induced biases can hide data within the analog characteristic of Flash as the program time of individual bits. Because the technique uses inherent behavior, normal Flash memory operations are not affected and hidden information is invisible in the data stored in the memory. Even if an attacker checks a Flash chip's analog characteristics, experimental results indicate that the hidden information is difficult to distinguish from inherent manufacturing variation or normal wear on the device. Moreover, the hidden data can survive erasure of the Flash memory data. All schemes require no change to Flash chips or interfaces, and do not require additional hardware.
en_US
Flash Memory For Ubiquitous Hardware Security Functions
dissertation or thesis
application/pdf
Electrical Engineering
Cornell University
Master of Science
M.S., Electrical Engineering
Publication
Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Wang, Yinglei
5893a6ea-7af3-41d7-abc6-04bcd26ab5df
open.access
open.access
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<Abstract>We demonstrate that unmodified commercial Flash memory can provide three important security functions: true random number generation, digital fingerprinting and information hiding. Use of random telegraph noise (a type of quantum noise source in highly scaled Flash memory cells) enables high quality true random number generation at a rate up to 10Kbits / second. A scheme based on partial programming exploits process variation in threshold voltages to allow quick generation of unique fingerprints that can be used for identification and authentication. Aging-induced biases can hide data within the analog characteristic of Flash as the program time of individual bits. Because the technique uses inherent behavior, normal Flash memory operations are not affected and hidden information is invisible in the data stored in the memory. Even if an attacker checks a Flash chip's analog characteristics, experimental results indicate that the hidden information is difficult to distinguish from inherent manufacturing variation or normal wear on the device. Moreover, the hidden data can survive erasure of the Flash memory data. All schemes require no change to Flash chips or interfaces, and do not require additional hardware.</Abstract>
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