SCAM: Secure Shared Cache Partitioning Scheme to Enhance Throughput of CMPs

Varun Venkitaraman, Rishab Ravi, Tejeshwar Bhagatsing Thorawade, Nirmal Boran, Virendra Singh

2025

Abstract

Utility-based dynamic cache partitioning scheme (UCP) improves performance in chip multiprocessors (CMPs) by dynamically way-partitioning the shared Last-Level Cache (LLC) based on each core’s utility. At the end of every phase, UCP allocates more ways to the core with higher utility. However, the process of transferring ownership of a cache way from low utility core to high utility core on a cache miss (when there is partition decision change) creates side channels, making shared LLCs vulnerable to data leaks. PASS-P addresses these vulnerabilities by invalidating cache lines before transferring ownership from one core to another after partition change. While it provides security, our analysis shows that PASS-P does not always choose the best cache line for transfer, leaving room for improving performance. To improve performance of the system without compromising on security, we propose SCAM, a secure shared cache partitioning scheme. SCAM optimizes the process of selection of transfer candidates, improving performance over PASS-P while maintaining security. SCAM achieves up to 4% performance improvement over PASS-P and reduces LLC misses per kilo instructions (MPKI) by up to 5%. SCAM offers an efficient solution for secure dynamic way-partitioning in shared caches of multi-core systems. It provides better performance without compromising security, making it an effective strategy for protecting against side-channel attacks while ensuring optimal cache utilization.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Venkitaraman V., Ravi R., Thorawade T., Boran N. and Singh V. (2025). SCAM: Secure Shared Cache Partitioning Scheme to Enhance Throughput of CMPs. In Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Security and Cryptography - Volume 1: SECRYPT; ISBN 978-989-758-760-3, SciTePress, pages 144-155. DOI: 10.5220/0013518700003979

in Bibtex Style

@conference{secrypt25,
author={Varun Venkitaraman and Rishab Ravi and Tejeshwar Thorawade and Nirmal Boran and Virendra Singh},
title={SCAM: Secure Shared Cache Partitioning Scheme to Enhance Throughput of CMPs},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Security and Cryptography - Volume 1: SECRYPT},
year={2025},
pages={144-155},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013518700003979},
isbn={978-989-758-760-3},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Security and Cryptography - Volume 1: SECRYPT
TI - SCAM: Secure Shared Cache Partitioning Scheme to Enhance Throughput of CMPs
SN - 978-989-758-760-3
AU - Venkitaraman V.
AU - Ravi R.
AU - Thorawade T.
AU - Boran N.
AU - Singh V.
PY - 2025
SP - 144
EP - 155
DO - 10.5220/0013518700003979
PB - SciTePress