Key-Driven Multi-Layered Structural Obfuscation of IP cores using Reconfigurable Obfuscator based Network Challenge and Switch Control Logic

Abstract

A novel key-driven multi-layered structural obfuscation of IP cores using a reconfigurable obfuscator based on network challenge and switch control logic is presented in this paper. The proposed methodology incorporates a robust reconfigurable obfuscator unit comprising of scalable gate architecture network topologies driven through challenge and switch control bits capable of generating multiple structurally obfuscated IP core designs with equivalent functionality useful for consumer electronics (CE) systems. The proposed approach is capable of producing multi-layered structurally obfuscated designs through a series of robust key-driven transformations for securing against reverse engineering. Results suggest that the proposed approach yields significantly enhanced encoded key strength used for obfuscation, requires significantly greater attackers' effort in deobfuscation of the original design and higher strength of obfuscation in terms of modified gates, compared to a recent approach. © 2023 IEEE.