Notes - MCS
Secure Execution Environments
Notes - MCS
Secure Execution Environments
  • Secure Execution Environments
  • Introduction
    • Trusted Computing Base (TCB)
    • TEE (Trusted Execution Environment)
    • Can you trust the operating system?
  • Security in Operating Systems
    • Operating system
    • Virtual machines and hypervisors
    • Computational model
    • Access control
    • Protection with capabilities
    • Unix file protection ACLs
    • Windows NTFS file protection
    • Unix file protection ACLs
    • Privilege elevation
    • Privilege reduction
    • Linux login
  • Virtualization on Intel Processors
    • Modes of Operation
    • Virtual memory
    • How to put assembly instructions inside C code
    • A more elaborate example
    • Useful assembly instructions
  • Intel Software Guard Extensions
    • What is SGX (Software Guard eXtensions)?
    • SGX Enclave Memory
    • Guidelines for designing applications using SGX
    • Performance Overhead
    • SDK compilation modes
    • Writing Enclave Functions
  • ARM TrustZone
    • SoC and IP
    • ARM TrustZone
    • Worlds
    • Architecture
    • TrustZone bootstrap
  • Linux Kernel Namespaces
    • Namespaces
    • Advantages
    • Process Namespace
    • Network namespace
    • Mount namespace
    • UTS namespace
    • User namespace
  • LXC Linux Containers
    • Container
    • LXC containers
  • AppArmor
    • Purpose
    • Enforcement
    • Benefits
    • Attack prevention
    • Enforcement policies
    • Enforcement modes
    • Logging and auditing
    • Profiles
  • TPM (Trusted Platform Module)
    • Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
    • History
    • Cryptographic Concepts
    • Use cases
    • TPM Software Stack (TSS)
    • TPM concepts
    • Entities
    • Key management
    • Restrict signatures
    • Sessions
    • Authorization roles
  • Bootstrap security
    • AEGIS
    • Trusted computing
    • Root of Trust Measurements
    • Trusted Computing Platform Alliance (TCPA)
    • TPM-based attestation
    • Trusted Platform identity credentials
    • UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface)
    • NSA Boot Security
    • UEFI secure boot & TPM measurements
    • Intel Trusted Execution Technology (TXT)
    • Smartcards
      • Java Cards
      • OpenCard Framework (OCF)
      • Cryptographic services
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  1. Intel Software Guard Extensions

What is SGX (Software Guard eXtensions)?

It is a TEE (Trusted Execution Environment). Everything outside the processor chip is not trusted. In particular, the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System), the SMM (System Management Mode, ring -2), the ME (Intel Management Engine, ring -3), and the OS (Operating System, ring 0) are not trusted.

The SGX code and data are put inside a special container (an SGX enclave). The contents of the enclave are signed (they are loaded from an untrusted source…) and can be attested by an external third party. The contents of the enclave are isolated from the rest of the system. The enclave code runs in ring 3 (least privileged mode).

All SGX instructions are implemented in microcode (potential attack vector).

Last updated 1 year ago