Cryptographically Secured Firmware on QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs

This technical report discusses the security features of Marvell QLogic 2870 Series of 64GFC and 2770 Series Enhanced 32GFC Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters (HBAs). It outlines how these adapters incorporate silicon Root of Trust (RoT) technology to prevent unauthorized access and malicious firmware attacks. The report details the mechanisms by which the adapters ensure firmware integrity and authenticity through strong public key cryptography. It explains the process of firmware verification, which includes the use of RSA public key encryption to authenticate firmware signatures. The document emphasizes the importance of securing firmware at the lowest layers of the server platform, highlighting the need for a cohesive security architecture that extends from the motherboard to all adapters. Additionally, it presents best practices for hardening hardware against firmware exploits, ensuring a trusted foundation for secure operations in mission-critical environments.