Revealing IoT Cryptographic Settings through Electromagnetic Side-Channel Analysis

The advancement of cryptographic systems presents both opportunities and challenges in the realm of digital forensics. In an era where the security of digital information is crucial, the ability to non-invasively detect and analyze cryptographic configurations has become significant. As cryptographic algorithms become more robust with longer key lengths, they provide higher levels of security. However, non-invasive side channels, specifically through electromagnetic (EM) emanations, can expose confidential cryptographic details, thus presenting a novel solution to the pressing forensic challenge. This research delves into the capabilities of EM side-channel analysis (EM-SCA), specifically focusing on detecting both cryptographic key lengths and the algorithms employed utilizing a machine-learning-based approach, which can be instrumental for digital forensic experts during their investigations. Through meticulous data processing and analysis, the Support Vector Machine (SVM) model, among others, demonstrated a notable accuracy of 94.55% in distinguishing between AES and ECC cryptographic operations. This capability significantly enhances digital forensic methodologies, offering a novel avenue for noninvasively uncovering encrypted data’s cryptographic settings. By identifying key lengths and algorithms without invasive procedures, this research contributes substantially to the advancement of forensic investigations in encrypted environments.