The next strike: Pioneering forward-thinking attack techniques with rowhammer in dram technologies

Author

Nakul Kochar, New Jersey Institute of TechnologyFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Date of Award

5-31-2024

Degree Name

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering - (M.S.)

Department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

First Advisor

Shaahin Angizi

Second Advisor

Durgamadhab Misra

Third Advisor

Arnob Ghosh

Abstract

In the realm of DRAM technologies this study investigates RowHammer vulnerabilities in DDR4 DRAM memory across various manufacturers, employing advanced multi-sided fault injection techniques to impose attack strategies directly on physical memory rows. Our novel approach, diverging from traditional victim-focused methods, involves strategically allocating virtual memory rows to their physical counterparts for more potent attacks. These attacks, exploiting the inherent weaknesses in DRAM design, are capable of inducing bit flips in a controlled manner to undermine system integrity. We employed a strategy that compromised system integrity through a nuanced approach of targeting rows situated at a distance of two rows away from the victim row rather than adjacent rows. This method involved inducing bit flips in these non-adjacent rows, thereby demonstrating the vulnerability of DRAM to indirect, sophisticated attack patterns. Through extensive testing on commercial DDR4 DRAM products using DRAM BENDER, a multifaceted DRAM testing platform developed by CMU Safari, we demonstrate that these imposed attack strategies can compromise chips from major manufacturers and significantly degrade the performance of a modern Deep Neural Network (DNN) system, even under supposed complete protection. Our findings reveal new dimensions of RowHammer vulnerabilities in current DRAM modules and set the stage for developing more robust defenses against these sophisticated attack techniques, enhancing our understanding of DRAM vulnerabilities and aiding in developing more robust defense strategies in the future.

Recommended Citation

Kochar, Nakul, "The next strike: Pioneering forward-thinking attack techniques with rowhammer in dram technologies" (2024). Theses. 2588.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/theses/2588