SecureQEMU: Emulation-Based Software Protection Providing Encrypted Code Execution and Page Granularity Code Signing
Abstract
This research presents an original emulation-based software protection scheme providing protection from reverse code engineering (RCE) and software exploitation using encrypted code execution and page-granularity code signing, respectively. Protection mechanisms execute in trusted emulators while remaining out-of-band of untrusted systems being emulated. This protection scheme is called SecureQEMU and is based on a modified version of Quick Emulator (QEMU). RCE is a process that uncovers the internal workings of a program. It is used during vulnerability and intellectual property (IP) discovery. To protect from RCE program code may have anti-disassembly, anti-debugging, and obfuscation techniques incorporated. These techniques slow the process of RCE, however, once defeated protected code is still comprehensible. Encryption provides static code protection, but encrypted code must be decrypted before execution. SecureQEMUs' scheme overcomes this limitation by keeping code encrypted during execution. Software exploitation is a process that leverages design and implementation errors to cause unintended behavior which may result in security policy violations. Traditional exploitation protection mechanisms provide a blacklist approach to software protection. Specially crafted exploit payloads bypass these protection mechanisms. SecureQEMU provides a whitelist approach to software protection by executing signed code exclusively. Unsigned malicious code (exploits, backdoors, rootkits, etc.) remain unexecuted, therefore, protecting the system. SecureQEMUs' cache mechanisms increase performance by 0.9% to 1.8% relative to QEMU. Emulation overhead for SecureQEMU varies from 1400% to 2100%. SecureQEMUs' performance increase is negligible with respect to emulation overhead. Dependent on risk management strategy, SecureQEMU's protection benefits may outweigh emulation overh
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA493414
Entities
People
- William B. Kimball
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology