Internship - Countermeasures against fault-injection attacks on post-quantum, hash-based signature verification

STMicroelectronics France; Rousset-Serre-Ponçon; Hybride; EUR 12 000 - 19 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

STMicroelectronics France offers a six-month internship to study the fault resistance of post-quantum, hash-based signature verification. You will start from existing software work and explore how fault injection can impact signature checking, with the goal of understanding practical robustness and countermeasures.

You will join an international team, based in France and Italy, with strong cryptographic expertise in hardware and software security.

Qualifications

• Applied mathematics, computer science or electronics student graduating from a Master’s Degree.
• Knowledge of cryptography and embedded systems.
• Experience with software development in C or Python.
• Interest in hardware security and fault analysis.
• Knowledge of hash-based signature schemes is a plus.

Responsabilités

• Study hash-based signatures in verification-only use cases.
• Build a software reference implementation for fault modeling.
• Define the fault model and identify relevant fault targets.
• Review literature on attacks against verification mechanisms.
• Evaluate countermeasures and their suitability for hardware support.
• Optionally explore hash-chain hardware acceleration and new attack surfaces.

Connaissances

Cryptography knowledge

Embedded systems

C programming

Python

Formation

Master's degree in Applied mathematics / CS / electronics

Outils

C

Python

Description du poste

OUR STORY

At STMicroelectronics, we believe in the power of technology to drive innovation and make a positive impact on people, businesses, and society. As a global semiconductor company, our advanced technologies and chips form the hidden foundation of the world we live in today.

When you join ST, you will be part of a global business with more than 115 nationalities, present in 40 countries, and comprising over 50,000 diverse and dedicated creators and makers of technology around the world.

Developing technologies takes more than talent: it takes amazing people who understand collaboration and respect. People with passion and the desire to disrupt the status quo, drive innovation, and unlock their own potential.

Embark on a journey with us, where you can innovate for a future that we want to make smarter and greener, in a responsible and sustainable way. Our technology starts with you.

We are looking for an intern to study the fault resistance of post-quantum, hash-based signature verification. You will start from existing software work and explore how fault injection can impact signature checking, with the goal of understanding the practical robustness of these schemes and evaluating potential countermeasures.

OUR STORY

At STMicroelectronics, we believe in the power of technology to drive innovation and make a positive impact on people, businesses, and society. As a global semiconductor company, our advanced technologies and chips form the hidden foundation of the world we live in today.

When you join ST, you will be part of a global business with more than 115 nationalities, present in 40 countries, and comprising over 50,000 diverse and dedicated creators and makers of technology around the world.

Developing technologies takes more than talent: it takes amazing people who understand collaboration and respect. People with passion and the desire to disrupt the status quo, drive innovation, and unlock their own potential.

Embark on a journey with us, where you can innovate for a future that we want to make smarter and greener, in a responsible and sustainable way. Our technology starts with you.

We are looking for an intern to study the fault resistance of post-quantum, hash-based signature verification. You will start from existing software work and explore how fault injection can impact signature checking, with the goal of understanding the practical robustness of these schemes and evaluating potential countermeasures.

Internship activities

• Study hash-based signatures in verification-only use cases.
• Build a software reference implementation for fault modeling.
• Define the fault model and identify relevant fault targets.
• Review literature on attacks against verification mechanisms
• Evaluate countermeasures and their suitability for hardware support.
• Optionally explore hash-chain hardware acceleration and new attack surfaces.

You will work in an international team, based in Italy and France, with strong expertise in cryptographic implementations, both in hardware, software, and microcontroller security. Duration: 6 months

Your profile

• Applied mathematics, computer science or electronics student graduating from a Master's Degree
• Knowledge of cryptography and embedded systems.
• Experience with software development in C or Python.
• Interest in hardware security and fault analysis.
• Knowledge of hash-based signature schemes is a plus

References

[1] Faulting Winternitz One-Time Signatures to forge LMS, XMSS, or SPHINCS+ signatures. Wagner et al., PQCrypto 2023

[2] Laser Fault Injection Attack on the eXtended Merkle Signature Scheme. Wagner et al., BSI Bund 2025

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At ST, we endeavor to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we do not tolerate discrimination. We aim to recruit and retain a diverse workforce that reflects the societies around us. We strive for equity in career development, career opportunities, and equal remuneration. We encourage candidates who may not meet every single requirement to apply, as we appreciate diverse perspectives and provide opportunities for growth and learning. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is woven into our company culture.

To discover more, visit st.com/careers.