SYNC+SYNC: Software Cache Write Covert Channels Exploiting Memory-disk Synchronization

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2312.11501v1
• Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2023 15:11:26 GMT
• Title: SYNC+SYNC: Software Cache Write Covert Channels Exploiting Memory-disk Synchronization
• Authors: Congcong Chen, Jinhua Cui, Gang Qu, Jiliang Zhang,
• Abstract summary: SYNC+SYNC is a group of attacks that exploit the memory-disk synchronization primitives. We present the principles of SYNC+SYNC through the implementation of two write covert channel protocols. Results show that, the average rate can reach 2.036 Kb/s (with a peak rate of 14.762 Kb/s) and the error rate is 0% on Linux.
• Score: 6.6639205139634115
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: Memory-disk synchronization is a critical technology for ensuring data correctness, integrity, and security, especially in systems that handle sensitive information like financial transactions and medical records. We propose SYNC+SYNC, a group of attacks that exploit the memory-disk synchronization primitives. SYNC+SYNC works by subtly varying the timing of synchronization on the write buffer, offering several advantages: 1) implemented purely in software, enabling deployment on any hardware devices; 2) resilient against existing cache partitioning and randomization techniques; 3) unaffected by prefetching techniques and cache replacement strategies. We present the principles of SYNC+SYNC through the implementation of two write covert channel protocols, using either a single file or page, and introduce three enhanced strategies that utilize multiple files and pages. The feasibility of these channels is demonstrated in both cross-process and cross-sandbox scenarios across diverse operating systems (OSes). Experimental results show that, the average rate can reach 2.036 Kb/s (with a peak rate of 14.762 Kb/s) and the error rate is 0% on Linux; when running on macOS, the average rate achieves 10.211 Kb/s (with a peak rate of 253.022 Kb/s) and the error rate is 0.004%. To the best of our knowledge, SYNC+SYNC is the first high-speed write covert channel for software cache.

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