MATTER: Multi-stage Adaptive Thermal Trojan for Efficiency & Resilience degradation

Abstract: As mobile systems become more advanced, the security of System-on-Chips (SoCs) is increasingly threatened by thermal attacks. This research introduces a new attack method called the Multi-stage Adaptive Thermal Trojan for Efficiency and Resilience Degradation (MATTER). MATTER takes advantage of weaknesses in Dynamic Thermal Management (DTM) systems by manipulating temperature sensor interfaces, which leads to incorrect thermal sensing and disrupts the SoC's ability to manage heat effectively. Our experiments show that this attack can degrade DTM performance by as much as 73%, highlighting serious vulnerabilities in modern mobile devices. By exploiting the trust placed in temperature sensors, MATTER causes DTM systems to make poor decisions i.e., failing to activate cooling when needed. This not only affects how well the system works but also threatens the lifespan of the hardware. This paper provides a thorough analysis of how MATTER works and emphasizes the need for stronger thermal management systems in SoCs.