Infineon Technologies Launches SLS37 V2X Hardware Security Module to Improve Automotive Safety

As electrification , autonomous driving and connected cars continue to grow, the number of wired or wireless interfaces for vehicle communication is also increasing. This makes automotive systems more vulnerable with more attack points. Therefore, comprehensive security concepts are becoming increasingly important to support passenger safety and protect data.

On October 11, to provide the highest level of protection, Infineon Technologies AG launched a plug-and-play security solution for vehicle-to-everything (V2X): the SLS37 V2X hardware security module (HSM). Based on a highly secure, tamper-proof microcontroller, the module is designed to meet the security requirements of V2X applications within telematics control units. In addition, the module can also protect the integrity and authenticity of the information, as well as the privacy of the sender. The HSM has been certified by Common Criteria EAL4+ and is expected to become a unified requirement for European V2X systems.

(Image source: Infineon)

In a V2X host environment, this discrete HSM helps system integrators resolve the conflicting requirements of high performance and high security. The SLS37 V2X HSM application focuses on high-security tasks, such as key storage and generation of outgoing message signatures, and can eliminate the load of security certification, ranging from the host processor running the Linux operating system, application software, and the verification of incoming information with less security relevance but high performance requirements.

In addition to automotive telematics control units, the SLS37 V2X HSM is intended for use in roadside units or other V2X communication infrastructure. The solution supports all major vehicle credential management systems, including SCMS, CCMS, and ESPS. The module supports a wide supply voltage range of 1.6 V to 3.6 V and features a 10 MHz high-speed SPI interface, meeting AEC-Q100 standards for demanding automotive applications.

The SLS37 V2X HSM is available as a plug-and-play solution with Infineon’s complementary host software package. Rooted in hardware and embedded in a secure and certified manufacturing environment, the personalization concept minimizes the customer’s efforts in key management while providing maximum security during the product lifecycle. This complex personalization concept utilizes a set of chip-unique and customer-specific certificates and keys, which makes vendor authentication and pairing easier, as well as provides shipping protection and secure updates in the field. As a standalone security controller, the SLS37 also provides scalability for platform development to meet different security requirements in different regions.