Patent Abstract:
Techniques to limit the control of component hardware devices in a computer system by external devices or external software programs.

Full Description:
FIELD  
       [0001]     The subject matter disclosed herein relates to techniques to maintain security in computer systems.  
       RELATED ART  
       [0002]     In the computing environment, malicious software such as viruses and worms are prevalent. Malicious software typically seek to disrupt or take control of the operation of a computer. It is desirable to prevent malicious software from manipulating operation of the computer. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]      FIG. 1  depicts a system in which some embodiments of the present invention may be used.  
         [0004]      FIG. 2  depicts an example computer system that can use embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0005]      FIG. 3A  depicts an example implementation of a HW component, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 3B  depicts an example implementation of a network interface, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  provides a state diagram of some possible states of embodiments of HW components, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  depicts an example process that can be used in embodiments of the present invention to control the extent to which a hardware component is controllable by an external device or routine.  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  depicts an example timing diagram showing movement between trusted and untrusted states, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0010]     Note that use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates the same or like elements.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or more embodiments.  
         [0012]     For example,  FIG. 1  depicts a system in which some embodiments of the present invention may be used. The system may include managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N, configuration device  104 , and management console  106 . Managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N, configuration device  104 , and management console  106  may communicate using network  150 .  
         [0013]     Network  150  may be any network such as the Internet, an intranet, a local area network (LAN), storage area network (SAN), a wide area network (WAN), or wireless network. Network  150  may exchange traffic with computer system using the Ethernet standard (described in IEEE 802.3 and related standards) or any communications standard.  
         [0014]     For example, any of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N may be implemented as any computer such as a personal computer or server computer. In one embodiment, any of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N may provide to management console  106  information such an asset description of itself as well as, but not limited to, information related to suspected hardware failures and key strokes entered by a user in response to a login request. In one embodiment, any of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N may isolate itself from network  150  so as to prevent access by and to network  150 .  
         [0015]     Configuration device  104  may provide a directory of managed client devices and a protocol for communication between management console  106  and any of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N. For example, to provide communication, configuration device  104  may utilize Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and/or Domain Name System (DNS) protocol, although other protocols may be used. In one embodiment, management console  106  and configuration device  104  may be combined into a single device.  
         [0016]     Management console  106  may provide capability to a user to view assets of any of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N (e.g., hardware, software, and/or data in each of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N) as well as other status information of the managed client device (such as boot-up records). Management console  106  may provide capability to a user to monitor any of managed client device  102 - 0  to  102 -N regardless of the state of the operating system or power-mode of any of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N. In one embodiment, management console  106  may intercommunicate with each of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N via Extensible Markup Language (XML) scripts, although other protocols may be used.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  depicts in computer system  200  a suitable implementation of any of managed client devices  102 - 0  to  102 -N. Computer system  200  may include chipset  205 , processor  210 , host memory  212 , system memory  214 , boot-up memory  216 , bus  220 , and hardware (HW) components  222 - 0  to  222 -N.  
         [0018]     Chipset  205  may include a memory controller hub (MCH)  205 A that may provide intercommunication among processor  210  and host memory  212  as well as a graphics adapter that can be used for transmission of graphics and information for display on a display device (both not depicted). Chipset  205  may further include an I/O control hub (ICH)  205 B that may intercommunicate with MCH  205 A and may provide intercommunication among system memory  214 , boot up memory  216 , and bus  220 .  
         [0019]     Processor  210  may be implemented as Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) or Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processors, multi-core, or any other microprocessor or central processing unit. Host memory  212  may be implemented as a volatile memory device (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), or Static RAM (SRAM)). System memory  214  may be implemented as a non-volatile storage device such as a magnetic disk drive, optical disk drive, tape drive, an internal storage device, an attached storage device, and/or a network accessible storage device. Routines and information stored in system memory  214  may be loaded into host memory  212  and executed by processor  210 . For example, system memory  214  may store an operating system as well as applications used by system  200 .  
         [0020]     Boot-up memory  216  may be implemented as a non-volatile memory such as read only memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), Masked ROM, or flash memory. Boot-up memory  216  may at least store a basic input/output system (BIOS) and an asset description of a managed client device. In one embodiment, during the boot-up of system  200 , BIOS may determine the asset description as well as a boot record. For example, the asset description may include, but not be limited to, make/model of the managed client device, serial number of processor  210 , storage size of host memory, storage size of system memory  214 , plug-and-play ID list (e.g., list of hardware peripherals either by serial number of by a general name). Some asset description may be hard coded whereas some may be measured during boot-up (e.g., storage size of host memory, storage size of system memory  214 , plug-and-play ID list). The boot record of system  200  may include suspected hardware failures or indicators measured during the boot-up process (e.g., host memory  212  check, hard disk check/invalid boot sector).  
         [0021]     Bus  220  may provide intercommunication among host system  202  and HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N. Bus  220  may support node-to-node or node-to-multi-node communications. Bus  220  may be compatible with Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) described for example at Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.2, Dec. 18, 1998 available from the PCI Special Interest Group, Portland, Oreg., U.S.A. (as well as revisions thereof); PCI Express described in The PCI Express Base Specification of the PCI Special Interest Group, Revision 1.0a (as well as revisions thereof); PCI-x described in the PCI-X Specification Rev. 1.0a, Jul. 24, 2000, available from the aforesaid PCI Special Interest Group, Portland, Oreg., U.S.A. (as well as revisions thereof); serial ATA described for example at “Serial ATA: High Speed Serialized AT Attachment,” Revision 1.0, published on Aug. 29, 2001 by the Serial ATA Working Group (as well as related standards); Universal Serial Bus (USB) (and related standards); as well as other interconnection standards.  
         [0022]     HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N may be any device capable of receiving information or instruction from host system  202  or providing information or instruction to host system  202 . Any of HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N may be capable of providing information or instruction to another of HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N or receiving information or instruction from another of HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N. HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N can be integrated into the same computer platform as that of host system  202 .  
         [0023]     For example, any of HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N may be implemented as a display adapter, hard drive (which may be initially configured by BIOS only or by its own BIOS extension), parts of the chipset (ICH/MCH) that can be configured only when the host system powers up and locked thereafter; although other examples are possible.  
         [0024]     In one embodiment, at least one of HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N may be implemented as a network interface capable of providing intercommunication between computer system  200  and a network (such as but not limited to network  150 ). For example, the network interface may be capable of intercommunicating with chipset  205  through bus  220 .  
         [0025]     In one embodiment, any of HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N may be capable of entering multiple phases, whereby in each phase, the extent to which the HW component complies with instructions provided from a source external to the HW component (e.g., whether another HW component or from host system  202 ) is reduced. For example, in a trusted phase, the HW component may comply with any instructions provided by any source(s) external to the HW component. For example, in an untrusted phase, the HW component may not comply with any instructions provided by any external source(s). Accordingly, to the extent that code which may be malicious attempts to control a HW component in the untrusted phase, access to the HW component may be denied. For example, the HW component may respond to instructions received during the untrusted phase by ignoring the instruction or providing a pre-programmed generic response.  
         [0026]     In one embodiment, triggering events may change a state of any of HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N from a trusted phase to an untrusted phase and vice versa. Triggering events detectable by HW components that cause them to enter the trusted phase include platform events which no software component can trigger and which cause the very next step to be execution of a trusted source. For example, a trusted source may include a BIOS code prior to requesting that code be executed that is off-BIOS. Off-BIOS code may include, but not be limited to, code in a memory other than boot up memory  216 ; operating system (such as Linux, DOS or Windows); or any third party “ROM extension” code that the BIOS can request be executed. Examples of third party ROM extensions include, but are not limited to: code used by Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) adapters to initialize SCSI adapters and Pre-boot Execution Environment (PXE) code enabling an operating system (OS) to be loaded from a network using network interface. Other trusted sources may include software that can not be added except by a trusted source or authorized person and after added, cannot be subsequently changed except by a trusted source or authorized person.  
         [0027]     For example, the triggering event causing HW components to enter the trusted phase may include a PCI-reset de-assertion event in host system  202 . Under PCI, after a PCI-reset de-assertion event occurs, the processor is being reset and the next step is for the processor to execute BIOS code. For example, power-up or restart of the system may trigger a PCI-reset de-assertion event.  
         [0028]     For example, a triggering event causing entrance to the untrusted phase includes a trusted source (such as a BIOS) notifying that an untrusted source will next be executed or an indication to enter an untrusted phase, although other triggering events may be used. For example, a BIOS notification prior to running code that is off-BIOS code may trigger entering the untrusted phase.  
         [0029]     In one embodiment, there may be multiple levels of trust. For example, there may be a trusted phase, semi-trusted phase, and untrusted phase. During the semi-trusted phase, the HW component may execute a limited set of instructions or execute instructions issued by a limited set of sources. For example, a source may identify itself by a source identifier in the access request.  
         [0030]     Other example triggers that may cause a movement to a trusted or semi-trusted phase include a non-maskable interrupt (NMI) and system management interrupt (SMI). An NMI may trigger a host processor to next execute a BIOS and thereby cause movement to a trusted phase. An NMI may trigger a host processor to next execute less trusted code than the BIOS such as an OS kernel and thereby cause movement to a semi-trusted phase whereby a limited set of instructions from the OS kernel may be transferred to the HW core logic for execution. An SMI may trigger a host processor to next execute a BIOS and so cause movement to a trusted phase. Further examples of OS and BIOS instructions that may be transferred to core logic include storing a user&#39;s key stroke during login.  
         [0031]     For example,  FIG. 3A  depicts an example implementation of a HW component that includes the capability to enter trusted or untrusted phases, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The HW component may include I/O device  305 , filter device  310 , and HW component logic  315 . I/O device  305  may provide intercommunication between the HW component and an external device such as bus  220 . Filter device  310  may respond to commands to enter trusted or untrusted phases in response to triggering events. For example, filter device  310  may be programmed to recognize triggering events which cause entering trusted or untrusted phases. Filter device  310  may transfer instructions to the HW component logic  315  provided to the HW component during the trusted phase but block instructions provided to the HW component during the untrusted phase from reaching the HW component logic  315 . When a semi-trusted phase is supported, filter device  310  may transfer to the HW component logic  315  pre-identified instructions or instructions from sources which are trusted. HW component logic  315  may generally provide the core intelligence of the HW component. HW core logic  315  may include microchips or integrated circuits interconnected using conductive leads of a motherboard, hardwired logic, software stored by a memory device and executed by a microprocessor, firmware, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a memory or storage device, and/or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).  
         [0032]     In one embodiment, HW components  222 - 0  to  222 -N may be implemented as any or a combination of: hardwired logic, software stored by a memory device and executed by a microprocessor, firmware, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or a field programmable gate array (FPGA).  
         [0033]     For example,  FIG. 3B  depicts an example implementation of a network interface  300  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Network interface  300  may include physical layer interface (PHY)  302 , controller  304 , memory  306 , and I/O device  308 .  
         [0034]     PHY  302  may provide network interface  300  access to a network medium of a network so that transmission and receipt of packets and frames between the network and network interface  300  is supported.  
         [0035]     Controller  304  may encode packets or frames to be transmitted to the network in conformance with protocols such as Ethernet, SONET/SDH, and/or OTN. Similarly, controller  304  may decode packets or frames received from the network in conformance with protocols such as Ethernet, SONET/SDH, and/or OTN.  
         [0036]     Memory  306  may store information used by controller  304  in the packet and frame encoding and decoding processes. Memory  306  may store contents of packets and frames received from the network as well as contents of packets and frames that can be transferred to the network. For example, memory  306  may store information to be transferred to a device such as host system  202  or information to be transferred from a device such as host system  202  to a device on the network (such as a management console). Memory  306  may store applications and protocols used by network interface  300  to communicate with external devices such as, but not limited to, a management console.  
         [0037]     I/O device  308  may provide intercommunication between the bus (which can be used to access host system  202 ) and the network interface  300 . I/O device  308  may further monitor for triggering events to enter a trusted or untrusted phase and filter information provided to network interface  300  based on the trusted/untrusted phase.  
         [0038]     In one embodiment, a KCS interface defined in Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) standard running over PCI may be used to provide intercommunication between a BIOS (executed by the host system) and network interface  300 . For example, information determined by a BIOS such as hardware asset information or information related to boot-up records may be transferred from the BIOS to the network interface  300  during a trusted phase using the KCS interface. Information transferred to network interface  300  during the trusted phase may be stored in memory  306 . For example, during the trusted phase, the network interface  300  may transfer information to the BIOS such as a password or a key using the KCS interface. Accordingly, information transferred during the trusted phase may be relied upon as uncorrupted.  
         [0039]     For example, a device such as management console  106  may request information from host system  202  by providing the request to network interface  300  through a network. In one embodiment, management console  106  may request asset description information or boot-up records using XML compatible communications. Accordingly, information concerning host system  202  may be transferred to a device such as management console  106  regardless of the operating system or power-use state of host system  202  by providing the information to network interface  300  for storage and transfer.  
         [0040]     Network interface  300  may be implemented as any or a combination of: microchips or integrated circuits interconnected using conductive leads of a motherboard, hardwired logic, software stored by a memory device and executed by a microprocessor, firmware, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and/or a field programmable gate array (FPGA). For example, network interface  300  may be integrated into a chipset (such as but not limited to chipset  205 ) in a LAN-on-motherboard implementation; implemented as a network interface card that can be plugged into a bus interface in a motherboard platform that provides intercommunication with the computer system (such as but not limited to chipset  205 ); and/or in part be implemented using a host processor.  
         [0041]      FIG. 4  provides an example state diagram of some possible states of embodiments of HW components, although other states are possible, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. State  402  may be a power-off or reduced power-use state of the computer system or any state where the next operating step of the computer system is execution of a trusted source (e.g., execution of a BIOS). State  402  may be a low power mode such as hibernate whereby under PCI, after hibernate, a PCI reset de-assertion occurs followed by the BIOS executing.  
         [0042]     Triggering events detectable by HW components that cause a change from state  402  to state  404  may include platform events which no software component can trigger and which cause the very next step to be execution of a trusted source. For example, the triggering event causing HW components to enter the trusted phase may include a PCI-reset de-assertion event in host system  202 .  
         [0043]     State  404  may be a trusted phase whereby the HW component may comply with any instructions provided by external source(s). In one embodiment, power-off or reduction in power events may trigger a change from state  404  to  402 . In one embodiment, an indication from a trusted source that the trusted source will cease to execute may trigger a change from state  404  to state  406 . For example, a BIOS indicating it is to request execution of a third party “ROM extension” code may trigger a change from state  404  to state  406 .  
         [0044]     State  406  may be an untrusted phase whereby the HW component may not comply with any instructions provided by any external source(s). In one embodiment, power-off or reduction in power events may trigger a change from state  406  to  402 . In one embodiment, triggering events that may cause a change from state  402  to  404  may cause a change from state  406  to  404 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 5  depicts an example process that can be used in embodiments of the present invention to control the extent to which a hardware component is controllable by an external device or routine.  
         [0046]     At  502 , a hardware component detects a triggering event to enter trusted phase. For example, the trusted phase can be entered by detection of a PCI reset de-assertion event following a platform power-up or restoration to full-power. Other triggering events detectable by HW components that cause them to enter the trusted phase include platform events which no software component can trigger. Another triggering event can be an event which causes the very next step to be execution of a trusted source.  
         [0047]     At  504 , during the trusted phase, the HW component accepts instructions from external sources.  
         [0048]     At  506 , the HW component responds to a triggering event to enter an un-trusted phase. For example, a triggering event causing entrance to the un-trusted phase includes a trusted source (such as a BIOS) notifying that an un-trusted source will next be executed or to enter an untrusted phase.  
         [0049]     At  508 , HW component in an untrusted phase does not perform instructions provided by any external source except a specific indication to re-enter to trusted phase.  
         [0050]      FIG. 6  depicts an example timing diagram showing movement between trusted and untrusted phases, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. At  602 , hardware components detect a PCI reset de-assertion and enter the trusted phase.  
         [0051]     At  604 , a BIOS commences operation during the trusted phase. At  606 , the BIOS issues commands to at least one hardware component. For example, the command may include the request for the hardware component to store information provided by the BIOS such as hardware asset information. Each of the at least one hardware components complies with the command.  
         [0052]     At  608 , BIOS notifies at least one hardware component that the BIOS is about to load unsecure software. After receiving the notification that the BIOS is about to load unsecure software, each hardware component enters an untrusted phase. At  610 , a software routine or device attempts to instruct a hardware component in an untrusted phase to perform an instruction. Because the hardware component is in an untrusted phase, the hardware component ignores the command or otherwise issues a false response (such as a predetermined response). At  612 , the platform resets and a PCI reset de-assertion is issued to the hardware components. The hardware components thereby re-enters the trusted phase.  
       MODIFICATIONS  
       [0053]     The drawings and the forgoing description gave examples of the present invention. Although depicted as a number of disparate functional items, those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of such elements may well be combined into single functional entities. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. The scope of the present invention, however, is by no means limited by these specific examples. Numerous variations, whether explicitly given in the specification or not, such as differences in structure, dimension, and use of material, are possible. The scope of the invention is at least as broad as given by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6