The Muen Separation Kernel
Robert Dorn
Senior Consultant at secunet Security Networks AG
Adrian-Ken Rueegsegger
Researcher at the University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil (HSR)
Reto Buerki
Researcher at the University of Applied Sciences Rapperswil (HSR)
Writing large error-free software is extremely challenging or even infeasible. In order to be able to assure critical security properties it is therefore necessary to decompose the system into small security critical subjects whose correctness has to be shown and other large uncritical parts which cannot endanger security. A separation kernel can be used to assure the independent execution of multiple subjects and the enforcement of pre-defined communication channels between subjects. The correctness of the separation kernel is therefore essential for overall security.
In this talk we describe the design and implementation of the Muen separation kernel which uses the SPARK language to enable light-weight formal methods for assurance. Besides a discussion of x86 virtualization, system integration, as well as present and planned verification we demonstrate how Muen enables the construction of high security systems on x86 hardware.