Intel VISA - Through the Rabbit Hole

Explore the hidden architecture of Intel's Platform Controller Hub (PCH) in this Black Hat conference talk. Delve into the world of Intel VISA (Visualization of Internal Signals Architecture) and discover dozens of invisible devices capable of accessing critical data within the chip. Learn how to read signals from PCH internal buses, including IOSF Primary and Side Band buses, and Intel ME Front Side Bus. Gain insights into security-sensitive internal devices and their potential implications. Follow the presenters' journey through Intel's debugging tools evolution, Intel DCI, PCH/SOC hardware tracing, and the intricacies of Intel Trace Hub software. Examine the Intel VISA schematic, registers controller, multiplexers, and groups. Understand ODLA tracing step-by-step and explore the On-Chip System Fabric. Investigate IOSF Side Band Bus functionality and its implementation in LBG Chipset. Uncover the secrets of DAL encrypted XML files and hardware security levels. Learn about DFx Fuses, unfused keys, and unlock tokens. Dive into the world of JTAG password life cycles and fault injection techniques. This comprehensive talk provides a deep dive into Intel's internal architecture, offering valuable insights for security researchers and hardware enthusiasts alike.