Security Architecture & Cryptographic Whitepaper
A comprehensive technical deep dive into SparkVault's revolutionary security architecture, quantum-safe cryptography, and hardware-enforced isolation mechanisms that redefine data protection standards.
Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary
II. Security Philosophy & Architecture
III. Cryptographic Key Management
IV. Hardware-Enforced Isolation
V. Quantum-Safe Cryptography
VI. Data Protection Models
VII. Cryptographic Flows & Protocols
VIII. Vault Access Token System
IX. Compliance & Auditability
X. Performance & Scalability
XI. Threat Model & Attack Vectors
XII. Technical Specifications
SparkVault represents a paradigm shift in data security architecture, implementing a revolutionary Triple Zero-Trust model that ensures no single entity—including SparkVault itself—can unilaterally access encrypted data. This whitepaper provides comprehensive technical documentation of our quantum-safe cryptographic architecture, hardware-enforced isolation mechanisms, and innovative key management systems.
At its core, SparkVault employs a distributed cryptographic architecture where sensitive operations occur exclusively within AWS Nitro Enclaves, creating hardware-isolated Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) that provide cryptographic attestation and ephemeral key processing. Our implementation of NIST-standardized post-quantum cryptography ensures long-term data protection against quantum computing threats.
I. Executive Summary
Key Security Features
Compliance Standards
Technical Specifications
II. Security Philosophy & Architecture
The Triple Zero-Trust Philosophy
Traditional security models rely on perimeter defense and trusted entities. SparkVault's Triple Zero-Trust model operates on the principle that no single entity, no combination of two entities, and no infrastructure component can unilaterally access encrypted data. This is achieved through cryptographic distribution across three independent, mathematically isolated parties.
1. SparkVault Domain
Controls the SparkVault Account Key (SVAK), providing the first cryptographic component while maintaining zero knowledge of the complete decryption key.
- • AWS KMS-managed keys
- • FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated
- • AES-256 GCM encryption
- • Post-quantum enhancement
2. Customer Hardware Domain
Manages the Enclave Account Key (EAK) within dedicated AWS CloudHSM clusters, providing hardware-backed cryptographic operations.
- • CloudHSM-isolated storage
- • RSA-4096 OAEP encryption
- • Hardware tamper resistance
- • Customer-controlled access
3. Client Control Domain
Provides the Client Vault Key (CVK), an alphanumeric string that serves as the final cryptographic component in the decryption chain.
- • Client-generated and held
- • Argon2id key derivation
- • Enclave-only processing
- • No server-side storage
Architectural Security Principles
Defense in Depth
Multiple independent security layers ensure that compromise of any single component does not result in data exposure.
- • Cryptographic isolation
- • Hardware security boundaries
- • Network segmentation
- • Attestation-based verification
- • Ephemeral key processing
Cryptographic Agility
Design supports algorithm transition and post-quantum migration without architectural changes.
- • Modular algorithm selection
- • Hybrid cryptographic schemes
- • Forward compatibility
- • Seamless key rotation
- • Standards compliance
III. Cryptographic Key Management
Key Hierarchy & Distribution
SparkVault implements a sophisticated key hierarchy designed to distribute cryptographic control across multiple domains while maintaining operational efficiency. Each key type serves a specific purpose in the overall security architecture and is protected by appropriate cryptographic mechanisms.
SparkVault Account Key (SVAK)
Technical Specifications
- Algorithm: AES-256 in GCM (Galois/Counter Mode)
- Key Size: 256-bit symmetric key
- Storage: Amazon KMS with hardware security modules
- Compliance: FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated
- Quantum Enhancement: Post-Quantum Cryptography Key (PQCK) integration
Security Properties
- Isolation: Per-account key generation and isolation
- Performance: Optimized for high-frequency operations
- Attestation: Hardware-backed key attestation
- Rotation: Automated key rotation with zero downtime
- Backup: Geographically distributed key escrow
Cryptographic Flow
The SVAK serves as the outermost encryption layer, providing the first cryptographic transformation in the decryption chain. It utilizes AES-256 GCM for optimal performance and security, with authenticated encryption ensuring both confidentiality and integrity.
plaintext_component = AES_GCM_decrypt(SVAK, encrypted_component)
verify_authentication_tag(auth_tag, associated_data)
Enclave Account Key (EAK)
Technical Specifications
- Algorithm: RSA-4096 with OAEP padding
- Key Size: 4096-bit asymmetric key pair
- Storage: AWS CloudHSM dedicated clusters
- Compliance: FIPS 140-2 Level 3 hardware security
- Padding: OAEP with SHA-256 hash function
Security Properties
- Tamper Resistance: Hardware security module protection
- Customer Control: Dedicated HSM cluster per customer
- Probabilistic Padding: OAEP provides semantic security
- Key Generation: True random number generation in HSM
- Attestation: Hardware-backed key attestation
Cryptographic Rationale
RSA-4096 with OAEP padding provides asymmetric encryption with high security margins. The choice of asymmetric cryptography at this layer introduces mathematical diversity in the key hierarchy, while OAEP padding ensures semantic security against chosen plaintext attacks.
second_component = RSA_OAEP_decrypt(EAK_private, encrypted_second_component)
verify_oaep_padding(padding_parameters, sha256_hash)
Client Vault Key (CVK)
Technical Specifications
- Input Format: Alphanumeric string (client-defined)
- Key Derivation: Argon2id with high iteration count
- Processing Location: AWS Nitro Enclaves exclusively
- Memory Requirements: Configurable memory-hard parameters
- Resistance: Side-channel attack mitigation
Security Properties
- Client Control: Generated and held exclusively by client
- Zero Knowledge: Never stored on SparkVault infrastructure
- Brute Force Resistance: Computationally intensive derivation
- Ephemeral Processing: Processed only within TEE
- Memory Hardness: Resistance to ASIC-based attacks
Argon2id Key Derivation
Argon2id combines resistance to both side-channel and time-memory trade-off attacks. The algorithm is tuned for security while maintaining acceptable performance for vault unsealing operations.
derived_key = Argon2id(CVK_string, salt, t=iterations, m=memory_kb, p=parallelism)
third_component = HMAC_SHA512(derived_key, vault_context)
SparkVault Internal Post-Quantum Cryptography Key (PQCK)
Technical Specifications
- Algorithm: CRYSTALS-Kyber (ML-KEM)
- Standard: NIST FIPS 203 compliant
- Key Size: Variable (512, 768, 1024-bit security levels)
- Storage: Encrypted within Nitro Enclaves
- Usage: Quantum-safe component derivation
Security Properties
- Quantum Resistance: Lattice-based cryptography
- Future Proofing: Protection against quantum attacks
- Standards Compliance: NIST standardized algorithm
- Key Encapsulation: Secure key establishment
- Enclave Protection: Hardware-isolated processing
Quantum-Safe Integration
The PQCK provides quantum-safe enhancement to the traditional cryptographic components. It works in conjunction with the CVK to create a quantum-resistant key component that maintains security even against future quantum computing capabilities.
quantum_component = ML_KEM_decrypt(PQCK_private, encapsulated_key)
combined_key = KDF(CVK_derived + quantum_component, context)
IV. Hardware-Enforced Isolation
AWS Nitro Enclaves Architecture
All cryptographic operations, including quantum-safe aspects, involving the Vault Key string occur server-side within the AWS Nitro Enclave. The Enclave acts as the secure, auditable "third party" for these operations, providing hardware-enforced isolation that ensures even privileged access to the host system cannot compromise the cryptographic processing.
Isolation Guarantees
- CPU Isolation: Dedicated CPU cores with hardware-enforced boundaries
- Memory Isolation: Encrypted memory regions inaccessible to hypervisor
- Network Isolation: Secure communication channels with attestation
- Storage Isolation: No persistent storage, ephemeral processing only
Attestation Mechanism
- Code Attestation: Cryptographic verification of enclave code integrity
- Platform Attestation: Hardware-backed proof of genuine Nitro Enclave
- Continuous Monitoring: Real-time integrity verification
- Audit Trail: Immutable record of all attestation events
Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) Properties
Confidentiality Guarantees
- • Memory encryption with hardware keys
- • Side-channel attack resistance
- • Secure key derivation within TEE
- • Ephemeral plaintext key processing
- • Automatic memory wiping on termination
Integrity Assurance
- • Cryptographic attestation of code integrity
- • Hardware-based root of trust
- • Immutable audit logging
- • Tamper-evident processing
- • Secure boot process verification
V. Quantum-Safe Cryptography
Post-Quantum Cryptography Implementation
SparkVault's quantum-safe architecture is built upon NIST-standardized post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, specifically CRYSTALS-Kyber (ML-KEM) as defined in FIPS 203. This implementation provides protection against both classical and quantum cryptanalytic attacks.
CRYSTALS-Kyber
- • Type: Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM)
- • Security: Module-LWE problem hardness
- • Standard: NIST FIPS 203
- • Quantum Resistance: >2^128 classical, >2^64 quantum
- • Performance: Optimized for efficiency
Hybrid Approach
- • Classical + Quantum-Safe: Dual algorithm protection
- • Backwards Compatibility: Existing systems supported
- • Transition Ready: Seamless migration path
- • Standards Compliant: FIPS and NIST approved
- • Future Proof: Algorithm agility designed
Integration Points
- • Vault Master Key: Quantum-safe component
- • Key Derivation: PQC-enhanced KDF
- • Enclave Processing: Hardware-isolated operations
- • Attestation: Quantum-safe verification
- • Forward Secrecy: Quantum-resistant properties
HMAC-SHA512 Quantum Resistance
The Vault Access Token (VAT) system employs HMAC with SHA-512, providing resistance to Grover's quantum algorithm. While quantum computers can reduce the effective security of hash functions, SHA-512 with its 512-bit output provides sufficient security margin even against quantum attacks.
Quantum Security Analysis
- • Classical Security: 2^512 operations
- • Quantum Security: 2^256 operations (Grover's algorithm)
- • Effective Security: >2^200 practical security
- • Collision Resistance: Quantum-resistant properties
- • HMAC Properties: Additional security margin
Implementation Details
- • Key Size: 512-bit HMAC key
- • Output Size: 512-bit authentication tag
- • Processing: Enclave-only computation
- • Verification: Constant-time comparison
- • Rotation: Automatic key rotation
VI. Data Protection Models
2-of-2 Security Model: Sparks
Sparks utilize a simplified 2-of-2 security model designed for ephemeral, burn-after-read data. This model provides strong security while maintaining optimal performance for high-frequency, short-lived operations.
Key Components
1. SparkVault Account Key (SVAK)
AES-256 GCM encryption managed by SparkVault KMS infrastructure
2. Enclave Account Key (EAK)
RSA-4096 OAEP encryption managed by customer CloudHSM
Decryption Flow
- 1. Retrieve encrypted Spark Data Key (SDK)
- 2. First layer: SVAK decryption via KMS
- 3. Second layer: EAK decryption via CloudHSM
- 4. Reconstruct plaintext SDK
- 5. Decrypt Spark content
- 6. Automatic destruction (burn-after-read)
Security Properties
- • Neither party can unilaterally decrypt
- • Quantum-safe encryption algorithms
- • Hardware-enforced processing
- • Automatic TTL enforcement
- • Comprehensive audit logging
3-of-3 Security Model: Vaults
Vaults implement the full Triple Zero-Trust model with 3-of-3 security, ensuring that no single entity, including SparkVault, can access encrypted data without client participation.
Key Components
1. SparkVault Account Key (SVAK)
AES-256 GCM with post-quantum enhancement
2. Enclave Account Key (EAK)
RSA-4096 OAEP in dedicated CloudHSM
3. Client Vault Key (CVK)
Client-controlled string with Argon2id derivation
Decryption Flow
- 1. Client provides CVK for vault unsealing
- 2. First layer: SVAK decryption
- 3. Second layer: EAK decryption in CloudHSM
- 4. Third layer: CVK + PQCK derivation in Enclave
- 5. Multi-input KDF reconstructs VMK
- 6. VMK decrypts Ingot Data Key (IDK)
- 7. IDK decrypts Ingot content
- 8. Generate VAT for session efficiency
Security Properties
- • Triple zero-trust architecture
- • Quantum-safe key components
- • Hardware-isolated processing
- • Client-controlled access
- • Comprehensive attestation
VIII. Vault Access Token (VAT) System
VAT Architecture & Implementation
The Vault Access Token (VAT) serves as a temporary, cryptographically protected proxy for the client's direct contribution to decryption (their CVK string's influence on the VMK). This system provides significant performance optimization for subsequent vault operations while maintaining the security properties of the full 3-of-3 architecture.
VAT Generation Process
- 1. Initial Unseal: Client provides CVK string for first-time vault access
- 2. Full 3-of-3 Process: Complete decryption chain executes in Enclave
- 3. VMK Reconstruction: Vault Master Key successfully derived
- 4. VAT Creation: Short-lived token generated within Enclave
- 5. Token Encryption: VAT encrypted with session-specific key
- 6. HMAC Authentication: SHA-512 HMAC for integrity verification
VAT Utilization Flow
- 1. Subsequent Requests: Client sends VAT instead of CVK
- 2. Token Validation: HMAC signature and expiration verified
- 3. Enclave Processing: VAT decrypted within secure environment
- 4. Session Key Access: VMK reference extracted from VAT
- 5. Direct Decryption: Bypass full 3-of-3 reconstruction
- 6. Content Delivery: Ingot content delivered to client
Technical Specifications
Cryptographic Properties
- • Authentication: HMAC-SHA512
- • Encryption: AES-256-GCM
- • Key Derivation: Session-specific keys
- • Quantum Resistance: SHA-512 Grover resistance
- • Forward Secrecy: Ephemeral session keys
Operational Parameters
- • Validity Period: Configurable (default: 1 hour)
- • Scope: Single vault per token
- • Revocation: Immediate invalidation support
- • Renewal: Automatic token refresh
- • Audit Trail: Comprehensive logging
Performance Optimization
The VAT system provides substantial performance improvements for vault operations while maintaining the security guarantees of the full Triple Zero-Trust architecture.
Latency Reduction
- • Initial Unseal: 500-800ms (full 3-of-3)
- • VAT Operations: 50-100ms (optimized)
- • Improvement: 80-90% latency reduction
- • Throughput: 10x increase in operations/second
Resource Efficiency
- • CPU Usage: 70% reduction per operation
- • Memory: Reduced Argon2id computations
- • Network: Fewer HSM interactions
- • Scalability: Higher concurrent operations
Security Preservation
- • Zero Trust: Maintains security model
- • Attestation: Continuous verification
- • Isolation: Enclave-only processing
- • Audit: Complete operation logging
XII. Technical Specifications
Cryptographic Algorithms
AES-256-GCM
Symmetric encryption for SVAK operations
RSA-4096-OAEP
Asymmetric encryption for EAK operations
CRYSTALS-Kyber
Post-quantum key encapsulation mechanism
Argon2id
Password hashing and key derivation
HMAC-SHA512
Message authentication and VAT signing
Security Parameters
Classical Security
≥128-bit equivalent security level
Quantum Security
≥64-bit post-quantum security level
Key Sizes
AES: 256-bit, RSA: 4096-bit, Kyber: variable
Hash Functions
SHA-256, SHA-512, SHA-3 (selected contexts)
Random Number Generation
Hardware-based entropy sources
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