EP1867189A1

EP1867189A1 - Secure communication between a data processing device and a security module

Info

Publication number: EP1867189A1
Application number: EP06726259A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Axel Ferrazzini; Pascal Chauvaud; Diego Anza
Original assignee: France Telecom SA
Current assignee: Orange SA
Priority date: 2005-04-07
Filing date: 2006-03-20
Publication date: 2007-12-19
Also published as: WO2006106250A1; JP2008535427A; US20090044007A1

Abstract

The invention concerns the creation of a secure link between a data processing device (MOB) and a secure module (USIM). The data processing device is capable of communicating with a security module which stores at least one secret data (k) required for execution, by the device, of a computer task. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a first step of identifying the processing data device and the module for which a secure link must be set up for transmitting said at least one secret data (k) from the module to the device. Then a trusted server delivers at least one encryption key (K) both to the module (USIM) and to the data processing device (MOB) identified. Thereafter, the secret data (k) is encrypted in the module by means of said at least one encryption key (K), and transmitted to the identified device (MOB). The device decrypts the received result using said at least one delivered encryption key (K), and obtains the secret data (k). Finally, the device performs the task using the secret key (k).

Description

Secure communication between a data processing device and a security module

Field of the invention

The invention relates to secure communication between a data processing device and a security module storing secret data.

In general, the invention applies to any type of data processing device performing computer tasks and requiring, during the execution of tasks, secret data stored on a security module with which it communicates. A data processing device may be for example a server, a mobile phone, a laptop or a fixed computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) type electronic assistant, a "LIVEBOX" type home gateway (LIVEBOX is a registered trademark of the applicant), a decoder for access to multimedia content, etc. In the example which will serve to illustrate the invention, the data processing device is a mobile telephone allowing access to a telecommunications network.

The communication between the data processing device and the module can be arbitrary. This communication may be a wireless communication type GSM (Global System for mobile communications), Wi-Fi, bluetooth, Irda (Infrared Data Association), or other. This communication can also be wired type RTC (switched telephone network), ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), or other. This communication may also consist of an electrical connection in the case of electrical coupling between the data processing device and the module, the module being a chip module provided with electrical contacts. This communication can also be a contactless link, the module being a contactless module (active or passive) equipped with data processing means and an antenna for communication with the Ie. device. Finally, this communication may also consist of a combination of all or part of the aforementioned types of communication.

The invention applies to any security module able to store secret data and to communicate with a data processing device of the aforementioned type. This module is removable and can therefore, as such, communicate, as desired, with one of the aforementioned data processing devices. In the illustrative example chosen to illustrate the invention, the module is a subscriber identity module USIM card type (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) coupled to a mobile phone. A USIM module stores secret data such as encryption keys that the phone may require when performing a computer task. The invention is not limited to this type of card and can be extended to any type of module storing secret data whose transmission to a data processing device must be secured: For example, a SIM card type module ( Subscriber Identity Module, GSM standard - TS 51.011) or a module of the UICC multi-application card type (see TS 102.221 entitled "Smart cards; UICC-Telephone interface; Physical and logical characteristics") stores secret data and may therefore require secure communication with the device with which it is coupled. Reference will be made to the GSM, UMTS, and SCP standards (in particular TS 102.223 for the PUICC administration commands) for any technical questions relating to the operation of a module of SIM, USIM or UICC type, respectively.

The module can also be a module for accessing a device of the encrypted multimedia content decoder type. Such a type of module stores the encryption keys to be transmitted to the decoder for the decryption of an encrypted content.

State of technical Ja

In your current standards, for example, GSM or UMTS, if there is a distinction between the subscription to the telecommunication network and the data processing device, namely the mobile phone. The mobile phones are unmarked, they have no configuration and are unusable as such. It is necessary to add a SIM card security module, USIM or UICC. This module stores in its memory all the data relating, for example to a subscription, to a personal password, to the last numbers called, etc. Among these data, certain data are secret and usable by the mobile phone for the execution of a computer task capable, for example, of reconstituting a scrambled content received from a content provider.

For example, nowadays, so-called third-generation phones offer the possibility of providing services to a user. A service may for example consist of viewing multimedia content directly on the screen of its mobile phone. These contents are paid and are thus scrambled voluntarily by the content provider. The scrambling may consist of an encryption of the multimedia content by means of an encryption key. The scrambling may also consist of the extraction of bits of information in the initial content, this extraction rendering the multimedia content unreadable. The encryption keys or the missing information bits then constitute secret data which can be delivered to the user, after payment to the content provider, and stored on his security module.

The reconstitution of the content then consists, for the device, to require, with the module, the secret data stored in the module. The module transmits back the secret data requested. Upon receipt of the secret data, the device performs the computer task of reconstituting the initial content to be viewed by the user on his phone. This reconstitution can consist for example of a decryption by means of encryption key. This reconstitution can also consist in adding the bits of information extracted from the initial content. The big problem is that the connection between the phone and the security module is not secure. A malicious third party can then intercept the messages passing between the device and the module and extract the secret data. The knowledge of this data then gives the possibility to the malicious third party to fraudulently use the rights of a legitimate user for his own account without the content provider noticing it. More seriously, this third party has the opportunity to disseminate this secret data to other people. In the latter case, the number of frauds increases exponentially, thereby creating a certain revenue shortfall for a content provider.

The invention

An object of the invention is to secure a communication between a security module and a data processing device, particularly when this communication is for secret data to remain confidential, and this, whatever the device to which the module is connected .

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a method for creating a secure link between a data processing device and a security module, the data processing device being able to communicate with a security module that stores at least one security module. secret data k necessary for the execution by the device of a computer task, the data processing device and the security module being able to communicate with a telecommunications network, characterized in that it comprises the steps following:

a step of identification of the data processing device and of the module for which a secure link must be established for the transmission of said at least one secret data item k from the module to the device;

a step of issuing at least one encryption key K in which a trusted server connected to the network of - O -

telecommunication, delivers at least K encryption key to both the module and the data processing device identified,

an encryption step in which said at least one secret data item k is encrypted in the module by means of said at least one encryption key K,

a transmission step in which the result of the encryption step is transmitted by the identified module to the identified device,

a decryption step, in which the device decrypts the result received by means of said at least one encryption key K received and obtains said at least one secret data item k,

a step of using said at least one secret data item k for executing the computer task.

The invention also relates to the security module characterized in that it comprises

reception means able to receive at least one encryption key K,

encryption means capable of encrypting said at least one secret data k by means of said at least one encryption key K received,

transmission means for transmitting the result of the encryption of said at least one secret data item to the device executing its computer task.

The invention also relates to the data processing device characterized in that it comprises:

- suitable reception means

to receive at least one encryption key K, to receive the result of an encryption step performed by the module, the encryption step having as its object the encryption of said at least secret data k by means of said at least one encryption key K,

decryption means capable of decrypting the result received by means of said at least one encryption key K delivered, in order to obtain said at least one secret data item k,

- Execution means adapted to use said at least one secret data k for the execution of the computer task.

The subject of the invention is also the trusted server, characterized in that it comprises:

- Identification means of the data processing device and the module for which a secure link must be established for the transmission of said at least one secret data (k) from the module to the device;

means for delivering at least one encryption key K to both the module and the data processing device identified, said at least one key having the function of encrypting the communication between the module and the device.

The invention also relates to a computer program adapted to be implemented on a trusted server, characterized in that said program comprises code instructions which, when the program is executed on the trusted server performs the steps following:

a step of identifying the data processing device and the module for which a secure link must be established for the transmission of the secret data k from the module to the device;

a step of issuing at least one encryption key K in which the server delivers at least one encryption key K at a time to module and the data processing device identified, said at least one key having the function of encrypting the communication between the module and the device.

The invention also relates to a computer program adapted to be implemented on a data processing device capable of communicating with a security module storing at least one secret data k necessary for the execution of a computer task. by the data processing device, characterized in that said program comprises code instructions which, when the program is executed on the data processing device performs the following steps:

- a reception step

at least one encryption key K,

the result of an encryption step performed by the module, the encryption step having as its object the encryption of said at least secret data k by means of said at least one encryption key K,

a step of decryption of the result received by means of said at least one encryption key K delivered in order to obtain said at least one secret data item k,

an execution step capable of using said at least one secret data item k for the execution of the computer task.

Thus, when a processing device begins a procedure for executing a task, for example decrypting scrambled content, a trusted server transmits an encryption signal to both the module and the device in order to encrypt the transferring one or more secret data from the module to the device. This encryption of the communication guarantees the confidentiality of the secret data transmitted between the data processing device and the module. - o -

This solution also offers the advantage of securing communication between a module and a set of data processing devices with which the module can be made to communicate. The delivery of an encryption key may advantageously be performed at a convenient time. For example, when the module is removed from a data processing device and inserted into another device, the trusted server is able to deliver, preferably at insertion, a new key at a time to this other device. data processing and module to ensure the confidentiality of secret data transmitted between this other device and the module.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The figures:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a computer system to which the invention can be applied.

Figure 2 is an algorithm illustrating the various steps of an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of an exemplary embodiment illustrating the invention

FIG. 1 represents a SYS computer system in which the invention can be implemented. In this figure is shown

a mobile phone MOB coupled to a USIM card type security module; in our example, the phone is UMTS type;

a UT user of the mobile phone who is subscribed with a telecommunication operator to access ^r computer resources of a RES network by means of his mobile phone MOB.

The MOB telephone comprises processing means such as a processor capable of executing computer programs for carrying out computer tasks consisting, in our example, of reconstituting scrambled content by means of a first encryption key k. In our illustrated example, this scrambled content is encrypted content provided by an FDC content provider connected to the RES network.

The MOB phone also includes memory means

(Not shown in Figure 1) for storing data, applications, and communication means (not shown in Figure 1) for communicating with the telecommunication network RES.

Note that the example chosen to illustrate the invention is simple for a better understanding of the invention. This example is reduced to a single encrypted content using a single first encryption key k. However, the invention naturally applies to an unlimited number of encrypted contents, each content being able to be encrypted by means of one or more encryption keys k.

The USIM module includes processing means such as a processor capable of executing computer programs. The USIM module also comprises storage means, in particular for storing secret data necessary for reconstituting the scrambled content stored on the MOB telephone. As we have seen previously, in our example, the secret data is a first key to encryption k.

The module USfM further comprises means for communicating with the telecommunication network RES.

In the exemplary embodiment, the USIM module is electrically cut off from the telephone. Another embodiment could have been consist of a communication between the USIM module and a server connected to the network, the server being capable of performing a computer task for which the execution requires the knowledge of secret data stored on the USIM module. According to this variant, the communication between the USIM module and the server is no longer direct, the phone, and possibly other data processing devices, can be intercalated between them.

According to the invention, a trusted server SC is connected to the network RES. The purpose of this trusted server is to deliver a second encryption key K to both the phone and the USIM module. This second encryption key K has the function of encrypting the transmission of the first encryption key k from the USIM module to the MOB phone. In our example, only one second encryption key is transmitted. Of course, the invention is not limited to this example; the number of second encryption key K transmitted may be arbitrary. For example, several second encryption keys can be used for the encryption of a first encryption key k. As another example, the trusted server can transmit several second encryption keys K en bloc in order to reduce the number of messages sent to the module and to the device;

In our illustrated example, this trusted server SC preferably comprises means for authenticating the MOB telephone and the USIM module. In the exemplary embodiment, the trusted server relies on any useful information at its disposal to perform the authentication.

For a UMTS-type phone, two types of authentication are possible, both of which types can be used in combination to increase the reliability of the authentication. A first type of authentication possible is the verification of the validity of the certificate associated with the MOB phone This certificate is generally issued by a trusted entity called certification server ANU (also called public key architecture) known to those skilled in the art. This ANU certification authority server is able to guarantee that a certificate stored in a phone is a valid certificate and that it is not revoked. The trusted server SC can then refer to this certification server ANU to determine if the certificate is valid and thus authenticate the phone. A second type of authentication possible may consist of strong authentication. This second variant will be explained in the following description with reference to FIG.

In our exemplary embodiment, the authentication of the USIM module is based on an IMSI / ki pair intimately linked to a USIM module. This pair is stored in the USIM module and on an AUC authentication server. When a UT user wishes to access the network, the authentication server performs a prior authentication step of the USIM module. This authentication verifies that the IMSI identity transmitted by the mobile is correct. This verification protects both the operator against the fraudulent use of its resources, and secondly the subscriber by prohibiting third parties to use his subscriber account. The trusted server SC can then refer to this USIM card AUT authentication server in order to authenticate the USIM module. For this, in our illustrated example, the trusted server SC comprises means for communicating with the authentication server AUC of the security module. In our exemplary embodiment, the trusted server communicates with the telephone-module pair through a GSM type mobile telecommunication network.

These authentication steps of the phone and the module assure the trusted server that the phone-module pair is "trustworthy".

This trusted server SC also comprises means for communicating with the telephone-module pair in order to deliver the second encryption die K. Preferably, this delivery takes place after a successful authentication of the phone and the module has taken place. This prior authentication step is not mandatory but necessary depending on the degree of security desired for transmitting the second encryption key K.

The algorithm of FIG. 2 comprises various steps illustrating an exemplary implementation of the method of the invention. In this example, it is assumed that the first encryption key k was previously stored in the USIM module.

Step 1

In a first step ET1, a USIM module is coupled to a telephone MOB. The mobile phone is powered on, and the USIM module is automatically authenticated by the AUT authentication server. This authentication step corresponds to that described above.

2nd step

During a second step ET2, in our exemplary embodiment, the user UT activates a service for example by means of an interface present on his phone. In our example, the service consists of viewing multimedia content on a screen of the MOB phone. For this purpose, the provider downloads encrypted multimedia content to the MOB phone. This content is encrypted using the first encryption key k.

Step 3

In our exemplary embodiment, tors of a third step ET3, the phone receives the encrypted content and stores it. This content can be decrypted either automatically without user intervention UT or on request of the user UT. _ _

According to a possible variant of the invention, before the decryption begins, a signal is sent to the trusted server SC to inform it of the need to create a secure link between the MOB phone and the USIM module coupled to the phone.

The origin of the signal can be varied. Its origin may be the MOB telephone, the USIM module, the content provider or any other element of the network having knowledge of the need for the phone to decrypt the encrypted content by means of a first encryption key k stored in the module.

Preferably, the signal is emitted by the USIM module. Indeed, the USIM module has already been authenticated by the RES network when powering on the MOB phone, it remains for the trusted server to authenticate the MOB phone. In this case, the phone receives an encrypted content and sends a signal to the USIM module informing the need to secure the link between the MOB phone and the USIM module, the module in turn transmitting a signal to the trusted server SC for the inform of this need.

According to another variant, the telephone could be the initiator of the signal. The phone would emit a signal directly to the module without signaling it to the trusted server SC to inform it of the need to secure the link between the MOB phone and the USIM module.

Step 4

In a fourth step ET4, after identifying the phone

MOB and USIM module requiring the creation of a secure link between them, the trusted server SC authenticates MOB phone identified by the authentication server ANU.

In our example embodiment, phone authentication

MOB is for the trusted server SC to achieve strong authentication. This authentication takes place in several phases; During a first phase ET41, the trusted server SC tries to obtain from the MOB at least its public key KPU to verify with the certification server ANU that the certificate associated with this public key is valid.

If so, in a second phase ET42, the trusted server SC transmits a challenge (also called random by the skilled person) to the mobile phone MOB.

In a third phase ET43, the mobile phone responds by signing this challenge using the private key stored in its certificate.

During a fourth phase ET44, the trusted server SC receives the signed challenge and verifies the veracity of this signature with the public key resulting from the certificate received during the ET41 phase.

If it turns out that the challenge has been signed by the right issuer with a valid certificate, the authentication is successful, and the process can be continued in step ET6. Otherwise, the authentication has failed, which means that the user can not use the service (see ET5).

Step 5

In a fifth step ET5, if the authentication of the phone has failed, the trusted server SC does not continue the key issuing process. In our exemplary embodiment, after an authentication failure, the user wishing to use the service returns to the first step ET1 or the second step ET2.

Step 6

If the authentication of the IWQB telephone has been successful, the trusted server SC transmits, in a sixth step ET6, its second encryption key K to both the telephone and the USIM module. In our example, this second encryption key K is encrypted by means of the _ _

KPU's public key from the phone, and then sent to the phone. Thus, only the phone is able to obtain, by means of its private key, this second key K by decryption.

This second encryption key K is also sent to the USIM module. In our example, the sending is done by SMS according to the standard 3GPP TS 03.48. The SMS is encrypted and its decryption can only be done by the USIM module.

Step 7

In a seventh step E7, the USIM module transmits to the MOB phone the first encryption key k encrypted by means of the second encryption key K.

Step 8

During an eighth step ET8, the MOB phone receives the first encrypted key k by means of the second key K.

Step 9

On reception, during a ninth step ET9, the telephone decrypts using the second encryption key K and obtains the first encryption key k. The phone then decrypts the encrypted content with the first encryption key k. The multimedia content can then be read by the user.

Step 10

In a tenth ET10 step, the USlM module is removed from the MOB phone and inserted into another phone. The preceded resumes the same way in the first step ET2.

Preferably _"key K is a session key. This key is then usable only temporarily, for example for the identified phone - ID -

If the module is inserted in another device, for example a PDA, another session key K 'is transmitted to the device.

Note that the direction of execution of the previously described steps is not limited to this embodiment.

For example, authentication of the module in step ET1 can take place at any time before the phone decides to transmit the second encryption key K.

The fourth step ET4 can also take place before the third step ET3. In this case, the authentication of the phone takes place before the encrypted content is downloaded to the phone.

It can be seen that, in addition to the main advantage explained above, the invention offers other advantages.

The exemplary embodiment relates to a direct link between the data processing device and the module.

One could nevertheless imagine that the link is indirect, at least one other data processing device is intercalated between them. Indeed, one can imagine that the task is performed by a data processing device that is not directly connected to the security module. For example, by taking the previous example embodiment, one could imagine that the multimedia content is decrypted on any server of the network and that the phone is only used to view the decryption performed by this server. In this case, the trusted server transmits the second encryption key K to the server in question.

It has also been seen that the step of issuing the second encryption key is preceded by a step of authenticating the data processing device and the module by the trusted server.

This double authentication ensures that each actor, namely the data processing device that carries out the computer task and (e module that stores secret data is trustworthy before any encryption key transfer K. In our example, a single device requires a secure link with a single module. One could nevertheless imagine the need to secure a link between several modules and several data processing devices, each module and device contributing to the achievement of the same computer task. In the latter case, the number of authentication is, at best, equal to the number of device and module involved by a secure link.

In step 7 of our exemplary embodiment, a single encryption key is transmitted to the phone and module that have been identified.

However, this example is not limiting, in fact, for the same computer task to be performed by the device, for example the reading of a multimedia content, it is possible that several messages including secret data can pass from the module to the device. data processing. In such a situation, in order to enhance the security, and if, preferably, the authentication of both the data processing device and the module is successful, the trusted server generates at least one session key as a key K encryption for performing the computer task. One can choose to best encrypt each message, or at least part of the messages, with a new session key. This choice will depend on the degree of security desired, especially by the content provider.

We have also seen that the preceding steps are performed for each data processing device and module for which a secure link must be established for the communication of the encryption key. This feature is also interesting because, because of its removability, the module can be inserted, as desired, in several types of data processing devices, each phone being capable of performing a particular computer task. Thus, for each device, the trusted server SC transmits at least a second encryption key K, - o -

Finally, we have seen that the identification step is preceded by sending a signal to the trusted server (SC) to inform it of the need to create a secure link between the device and the module. The initiator of this signal may be any data processing device having knowledge of the need to encrypt the communication between the device and the module.

Claims

_Revendications

A method for creating a secure link between a data processing device (MOB) and a security module (USIM), the data processing device being able to communicate with a security module storing at least one secret data item (k) necessary for the execution by the device of a computing task, the data processing device and the security module being able to communicate with a telecommunications network (RES), characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

a step of identification of the data processing device

(MOB) and the module (USIM) for which a secure link must be established for the transmission of said at least one secret data (k) from the module to the device;

a step of issuing at least one encryption key (K) in which a trusted server (SC), connected to the telecommunication network, delivers at least one encryption key (K) to both the module (USIM) and the identified data processing device (MOB),

an encryption step in which said at least one secret data item (k) is encrypted in the module by means of said at least one encryption key (K),

a transmission step in which the result of the encryption step is transmitted by the module (USIM) identified with the identified device (MOB),

a decryption step in which the device (MOB) decrypts the result received by means of said at least one encryption die

(K) received and obtains said at least one secret data item (k),

a step of using said at least one secret data item (k) for executing the computer task.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the link between the data processing device (MOB) and the module (USIM) is indirect, at least one other data processing device is interposed between them.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the delivery step is preceded by a step of authentication of the data processing device (MOB) and the module (USIM) by the trusted server (SC ).

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the trusted server (SC) generates at least one session key as an encryption key (K) for carrying out the computer task.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the preceding steps are performed for each data processing device (MOB) and module (USIM) for which a secure link must be established for the communication of said at least one encryption key (K).

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification step is preceded by sending a signal to the trusted server (SC) to inform it of the need to create a secure link between the device. and the module.

7. Security module (USIM) capable of communicating with a data processing device (MOB), said module storing at least one secret data (k) necessary for the execution of a computer task performed by the device for processing data. data _"the data processing device (MOB) and ie security module (USIM) being adapted to communicate with a telecommunication network (RES), characterized in that it comprises

reception means capable of receiving at least one encryption key (K) ₁ encryption means capable of encrypting said at least one secret data item (k) by means of said at least one encryption key (K) received,

- Transmission means capable of transmitting the result of the encryption of said at least one secret data (k) to the device (MOB) executing the computer task.

8. Data processing device (MOB) capable of communicating with a security module (USIM) storing at least one secret data item (k) necessary for the execution by the device of a computer task, the processing device data module and the security module being able to communicate with a telecommunications network (RES), characterized in that it comprises:

- suitable reception means

to receive at least one encryption key (K),

to receive the result of an encryption step performed by the module (USIM), the encryption step having as its object the encryption of said at least secret data item (k) by means of said at least one encryption key (K )

decryption means capable of decrypting the result received by means of said least one encryption key (K) delivered, in order to obtain said at least one secret data item (k),

execution means able to use said at least one secret data item (k) for executing the computer task,

9. Trusted server (SC) capable of communicating with a data processing device (MOB) and a security module (USlM) storing at least one secret data item (k) necessary for the execution of a computer task by means of data processing device, the data processing device (MOB) and the security module (USiM) being capable of communicating with a telecommunication network (RES), characterized in that it comprises:

- Identification means of the data processing device (MOB) and the module (USIM) for which a secure link must be established for the transmission of said at least one secret data (k) from the module to the device;

means for delivering at least one encryption key (K) to both the module (USIM) and the data processing device (MOB) identified, said at least one key having the function of encrypting the communication between the module and the device.

10. Computer program capable of being implemented on a trusted server (SC), said server being able to communicate with a data processing device (MOB) and a security module (USIM) storing at least one data item secret (k) necessary for the execution of a computer task by the data processing device, characterized in that said program comprises code instructions which, when the program is executed on the trusted server performs the following steps:

a step of identification of the data processing device (MOB) and the module (USIM) for which a secure link must be established for the transmission of the secret data (k) from the module to the device;

a step of issuing at least one encryption key (K) in which the server (SC) delivers at least one encryption key (K) to both the module (USIM) and the data processing device (MOB). ) identified, said at least one key having the function of encrypting the communication between the module (USIM) and the device (MOB).

11. Computer program adapted to be implemented on a data processing device (MOB), said device being able to communicate with a security module (USIM) storing at least one data item secret code (k) necessary for the execution of a computer task by the data processing device, characterized in that said program comprises code instructions which, when the program is executed on a data processing device, perform the steps following:

- a reception step

at least one encryption key (K),

the result of an encryption step performed by the module (USIM), the encryption step having as its object the encryption of said at least secret data item (k) by means of said at least one encryption key (K),

a step of decrypting the result received by means of said at least one encryption key (K) delivered, in order to obtain said at least one secret data item (k),

an execution step able to use said at least one secret data item (k) for executing the computer task.