Can Deep Learning Break a True Random Number Generator?
Yang Yu, Michail Moraitis, Elena Dubrova · IEEE Transactions on Circuits & Systems II Express Briefs · 2021
True Random Number Generators (TRNGs) create a hardware-based, non-deterministic noise that is used for generating keys, initialization vectors, and nonces in a variety of applications requiring cryptographic protection. A compromised TRNG may lead to a system-wide loss of security. In this brief, we show that an attack combining power analysis with bitstream modification is capable of classifying the output bits of a TRNG implemented in FPGAs from a single power measurement. We demonstrate the attack on the example of an open source AIS-20/31 compliant ring oscillator-based TRNG implemented in Xilinx Artix-7 28nm FPGAs. The combined attack opens a new attack vector which makes possible what is not achievable with pure bitstream modification or side-channel analysis.