Abstract: Methods and systems for managing entitlements for data processing systems are disclosed. A management controller for the data processing system may utilize an out of band communication channel to obtain a list of the entitlements for the data processing system from a management server. The management controller may compare the features included in the list of the entitlements to features included in a list of existing enabled features for the data processing system to obtain a difference. The management controller may modify operation of hardware components of the data processing system to resolve the difference. By doing so, the management controller may monitor entitlements for the data processing system, the entitlements being based on user subscriptions for features of the data processing system.

Abstract: A basic input/output system (BIOS) determine whether an automated recovery mechanism is enabled in response to a detection of a data corruption. An embedded controller may extract recovery data from a storage device upon confirmation that the automated recovery mechanism is enabled. In response to verification that the recovery data is valid, the controller may decrypt a BIOS firmware data in the recovery data and push the BIOS firmware data into a non-volatile random access memory, and decrypt an embedded controller firmware data in the recovery data and push the embedded controller firmware data into the non-volatile random access memory.

Abstract: An information handling system may include memory circuitry comprising a BIOS and a database including a first set of one or more cryptographic keys usable to authenticate code executable by the BIOS; and a physical storage medium other than the memory circuitry, wherein the physical storage medium includes a custom database including a second set of one or more cryptographic keys usable to authenticate code executable by the BIOS. The information handling system is configured to load a BIOS extension into the BIOS by: determining that the first set of one or more cryptographic keys does not include any key usable to authenticate the BIOS extension; determining that the second set of one or more cryptographic keys includes a particular key usable to authenticate the BIOS extension; authenticating the BIOS extension via the particular key; and in response to the authenticating, loading and executing the BIOS extension.

Abstract: A basic input/output system (BIOS) determine whether an automated recovery mechanism is enabled in response to a detection of a data corruption. An embedded controller may extract recovery data from a storage device upon confirmation that the automated recovery mechanism is enabled. In response to verification that the recovery data is valid, the controller may decrypt a BIOS firmware data in the recovery data and push the BIOS firmware data into a non-volatile random access memory, and decrypt an embedded controller firmware data in the recovery data and push the embedded controller firmware data into the non-volatile random access memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) enforced blocklisting of harmful applications are described. In one embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor and a BIOS coupled to the processor, the BIOS having program instructions that, upon execution, cause the IHS to download an Unsafe Application List (UAL) from an online source, and during a bootstrap process of the IHS, compare a plurality of Applications (Apps) installed on the IHS against a list of harmful applications included in a UAL. When a harmful application is found by the comparison, the instructions enforce one or more policies to restrict the harmful application from being executed on the IHS.

Abstract: An information handling system may establish a secure channel between an embedded controller and a processor, and request access to a resource of the embedded controller through the secured channel. The system may also receive a response to the request via the secure channel, wherein the response is based on the embedded controller validating whether the processor has a right to access the resource.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to provide a basic input/output system (BIOS) with the ability to authenticate and then execute one-time unique instructions that are previously left behind (i.e., stored) in public memory of an information handling system by a containerized computing environment session that is no longer executing on the information handling system. The disclosed systems and methods may be so implemented to share with the system BIOS privileged instructions to identify which executables are authorized for execution on a targeted information handling system. The privileged instructions may be previously created and optionally stored together with an executable code in system public memory, and these instructions may provide instructions on how to execute the executable code.

Abstract: A system includes a communication channel monitor configured to calculate a hash value of a first encrypted code segment based on a measurement. A security module may derive a first encryption key using a key decryption function operation from the hash value of the first encrypted code segment. A processor decrypts the first encrypted code segment with a seed key retrieved from a storage device, and if the decryption is successful then executes the first decrypted code segment. The processor may retrieve a second one of the encrypted code segments, wherein the second encrypted code segment is a next encrypted code segment for execution after the first encrypted code segment according to a sequence of execution, decrypt the second encrypted code segment with the first encryption key, and if the decryption is successful then execute the second decrypted code segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) enforced blocklisting of harmful applications are described. In one embodiment, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a processor and a BIOS coupled to the processor, the BIOS having program instructions that, upon execution, cause the IHS to download an Unsafe Application List (UAL) from an online source, and during a bootstrap process of the IHS, compare a plurality of Applications (Apps) installed on the IHS against a list of harmful applications included in a UAL. When a harmful application is found by the comparison, the instructions enforce one or more policies to restrict the harmful application from being executed on the IHS.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein that may implement an information handling system including a gateway and a peripheral device monitor. The gateway may interface peripheral devices and control access of host resources of the information handling system by any of the peripheral devices. The peripheral device monitor may detect connection of an unverified peripheral device to the gateway, perform a trust verification process with the unverified peripheral device, control the gateway to enable access of the host resources by the unverified peripheral device when the unverified peripheral device becomes verified, and control the gateway to prevent access to the host resources by the unverified peripheral device when the unverified peripheral device fails the trust verification process. The trust verification process may include validating a device certificate and verifying a digest of boot code of the peripheral device.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor and a basic input/output system (BIOS) comprising a program of instructions comprising boot firmware configured to be the first code executed by the processor when the information handling system is booted or powered on, the BIOS configured to, during boot of the information handling system: (i) read a predefined measurement of an order of loading of BIOS drivers configured to execute during execution of the BIOS, such predefined measurement made during build of the BIOS; (ii) perform a runtime measurement of an order of loading of the BIOS drivers during actual runtime of the information handling system; (iii) compare the predefined measurement to the runtime measurement; and (iv) responsive to a mismatch between the predefined measurement and the runtime measurement, respond with a remedial action.

Abstract: A method may comprise, on a basic input/output system (BIOS), executing a hardware attestation verification application configured to: (a) during a first boot session of the information handling system comprising the BIOS, execute a first stage of an update to the information handling system and securely record a platform state record associated with beginning of execution of a second stage of the update; and (b) during a second boot session of the information handling system: (i) obtain the platform state record; (ii) compare the platform state record to an actual platform state during boot process of the second boot session; and (iii) if the platform state record matches the actual platform state during boot process of the second boot session, permit execution of the second state of the update.

Abstract: A system and method for resolving (BIOS) firmware issues affecting one or more information handling systems, includes: responsive to receiving information indicative of the BIOS firmware issue, developing one or more executable scripts for resolving the BIOS firmware issue without modifying the BIOS firmware. The executable scripts include a first script for collecting data pertaining to the BIOS firmware issue, which is pushed to at least one affected information handling system. The first script includes processor-executable instructions that the affected information handling system executes in a pre-boot state to perform operations including establishing a secure and privileged pre-boot session, collecting data associated with the BIOS firmware issue from within the secure and privileged pre-boot session, and sending the data associated with the BIOS issue to a support resource.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for supporting use of system BIOS components (e.g., such as BIOS debug messages, debugger firmware, UEFI drivers, etc.) that are stored separately from the remainder of system BIOS firmware for an information handling system. The system BIOS components may represent only a portion of the total BIOS firmware, and may be selectively retrieved and loaded from the separate storage into system memory when needed by the system BIOS for operating purposes (e.g., such as debugging operations).

Abstract: A set of security templates is maintained including first and second templates. The first template specifies time and location stamp authentication for a file, and contextual security conditions that must be met before the file can be accessed. The second template specifies the time and location stamp authentication, but not the contextual security conditions. One of the first or second security templates is applied to the particular file. When the second security template is applied, a GPS-crypto device adds a time and location stamp to the particular file. The particular file is signed using a private key associated with the GPS-crypto device to generate an authentication signature based on the time and location stamp. The authentication signature is added to the particular file to allow a recipient to verify the time and location stamp of the particular file using a public key corresponding to the private key.

Abstract: An information handling system may include memory circuitry comprising a BIOS and a database including a first set of one or more cryptographic keys usable to authenticate code executable by the BIOS; and a physical storage medium other than the memory circuitry, wherein the physical storage medium includes a custom database including a second set of one or more cryptographic keys usable to authenticate code executable by the BIOS. The information handling system is configured to load a BIOS extension into the BIOS by: determining that the first set of one or more cryptographic keys does not include any key usable to authenticate the BIOS extension; determining that the second set of one or more cryptographic keys includes a particular key usable to authenticate the BIOS extension; authenticating the BIOS extension via the particular key; and in response to the authenticating, loading and executing the BIOS extension.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor and a basic input/output system communicatively coupled to the processor and embodied by executable instructions embodied in non-transitory computer readable media, the instructions configured to, when executed by the processor: identify, for a firmware image, a secure boot certificate; identify, for the secure boot certificate, a certificate use policy; determine whether the certificate use policy permits verification of the firmware image using the secure boot certificate; and allow the firmware image to be verified with the secure boot certificate if the certificate use policy permits verification of the firmware image using the secure boot certificate.

Abstract: A method may comprise, on a basic input/output system (BIOS), executing a hardware attestation verification application configured to: (a) during a first boot session of the information handling system comprising the BIOS, execute a first stage of an update to the information handling system and securely record a platform state record associated with beginning of execution of a second stage of the update; and (b) during a second boot session of the information handling system: (i) obtain the platform state record; (ii) compare the platform state record to an actual platform state during boot process of the second boot session; and (iii) if the platform state record matches the actual platform state during boot process of the second boot session, permit execution of the second state of the update.

Abstract: An information handling system may include a processor and a basic input/output system (BIOS) comprising a program of instructions comprising boot firmware configured to be the first code executed by the processor when the information handling system is booted or powered on, the BIOS configured to, during boot of the information handling system: (i) read a predefined measurement of an order of loading of BIOS drivers configured to execute during execution of the BIOS, such predefined measurement made during build of the BIOS; (ii) perform a runtime measurement of an order of loading of the BIOS drivers during actual runtime of the information handling system; (iii) compare the predefined measurement to the runtime measurement; and (iv) responsive to a mismatch between the predefined measurement and the runtime measurement, respond with a remedial action.

Abstract: An SMI task to be completed across multiple SMI events. An OS agent can be employed to determine a current load on a computing device. Based on the load, the OS agent can create an SMI message that specifies a maximum duration for an SMI event and that segments the SMI data for the SMI task. The OS agent can provide the SMI message to BIOS as part of requesting that the SMI task be performed. During the resulting SMI event, the BIOS can reassemble the segmented SMI data and then perform the SMI task. If this processing cannot be completed within the specified maximum duration for an SMI event, the BIOS can pause its processing and cause a subsequent SMI event to occur during which the processing can be resumed. In this way, the SMI task can be completed across multiple SMI events while ensuring that no single SMI event exceeds the specified maximum duration.