NIST IR 8517: Hardware Security Failure Scenarios and Implications for Organizations
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently published NIST Internal Report (IR) 8517, titled “Hardware Security Failure Scenarios: Potential Hardware Weaknesses.” This pivotal document underscores the complexities of hardware security, a field often overshadowed by its software counterpart. While hardware is generally considered resilient, its vulnerabilities can have far-reaching consequences, especially given the embedded software and intricate designs in modern chips.
NIST IR 8517 details 98 hardware security failure scenarios, categorizes weaknesses and outlines their implications. This report aims to bridge the gap between hardware security and existing frameworks like the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE). Here, we explore the report’s key insights, categorizations, and what organizations need to know to ensure compliance and mitigate risks effectively.