Breaking Implicit Trust in Point-of-Care Medical Technology: A Cyber-Physical Attestation Approach

Digital microfluidics biochips are an emerging technology that are increasingly being evaluated as a viable platform for rapid diagnosis and point-of-care field deployment. In such a technology, processing errors are inherent. Cyber-physical digital biochips offer higher reliability through the inclusion of automated error recovery mechanisms that can reconfigure the electrode array. The potential exists for attack on these systems by confusing the reconfiguration activity. Recent research has begun to explore security vulnerabilities of digital microfluidic systems. In this work we use the Multiple Security Domain Nondeducibility (MSDND) framework to explore vulnerabilities that exist due to implicit trust. Specifically we examine Stuxnet-type threats that result in the disruption of information flow paths, and how creating beneficial paths will prevent threats from "hiding" behind Nondeducibility.