Processor Requirements for a High Security Smart Card Operating System

This paper presents the basic processor requirements to support a high security operating system on a smart card or small embedded processor. In addition to the standard physical protections and cryptographic side channel protections, the basic CPU architecture must meet requirements laid out in the 1970s for virtual memory, I/O access control, execution domains, and process control. The paper shows how CPUs for desktops and servers meet these requirements, many smart card and embedded processors still do not.

By: Paul A. Karger; David C. Toll; Suzanne K. McIntosh

Published in: RC24219 in 2007

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