Module 3: Physically Unclonable Functions
(PUFs) and True Random Number
Generators (TRNGs)
SECTION A – Very Short Answer Questions
(2 Marks)
CO Mapping: CO3 (PCC-CS404.3)
Module: 3
Textbook: Hardware Security: Design, Threats and Safeguards – Debdeep Mukhopadhyay &
Rajat Subhra Chakraborty
Relevant Chapters: Chapter 17 (Physically Unclonable Functions), Chapter 18 (Genetic
Programming-Based Model Building Attack on PUFs)
Q.N Question Mar Bloom Difficu CO Reference Book Expected
o. ks Level lty Mappi Topic Chapter Keywords
ng
1 What is a 2 Remem Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.2 Hardware
Physically ber Basics fingerprint,
Unclonabl uniqueness
e Function
(PUF)?
2 Why are 2 Underst Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.1 Trust
PUFs and Concepts anchor,
considered device
a hardware identity
root-of-
trust?
3 Define 2 Remem Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.2 Challenge,
Challenge- ber Operation response
Response
Pair (CRP)
in the
context of
PUFs.
4 What is 2 Underst Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.2 Manufacturi
the and Fundament ng
primary als variations
source of
uniquenes
s in a
PUF?
5 Name any 2 Remem Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.3 Delay-
two ber Classificati based,
classificati on memory-
ons of based
PUFs.
6 What is an 2 Remem Easy CO3 Arbiter Ch.17.4. Delay paths,
Arbiter ber PUF 1.2 arbiter
PUF?
7 What is 2 Underst Modera CO3 Arbiter Ch.17.4. Race
the basic and te PUF 1.2 condition,
working delay
principle comparison
of an
Arbiter
PUF?
8 What is a 2 Remem Easy CO3 Ring Ch.17.4. Oscillator
Ring ber Oscillator 1.1 frequency
Oscillator PUF
PUF?
9 What 2 Remem Easy CO3 Ring Ch.17.4. Frequency
parameter ber Oscillator 1.1 difference
is PUF
compared
in a Ring
Oscillator
PUF to
generate
responses?
10 State one 2 Underst Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.7 Authenticati
advantage and Applicatio on, key
of using ns generation
PUFs in
hardware
security.
11 Define 2 Remem Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.5. Inter-chip
uniquenes ber Metrics 1 variation
s as a PUF
performan
ce metric.
12 Define 2 Remem Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.5. Response
reliability ber Metrics 2 stability
as a PUF
performan
ce metric.
13 What is 2 Remem Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.5. Balanced bit
uniformity ber te Metrics 3 distribution
in PUF
evaluation
?
14 What is 2 Remem Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.5. Statistical
bit- ber te Metrics 4 bias
aliasing in
a PUF?
15 Mention 2 Underst Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.7 Authenticati
one and Applicatio on, key
applicatio ns storage
n of PUFs
in
hardware
systems.
16 What is 2 Remem Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.8. Mathematic
meant by ber te Modeling 3 al model
PUF
modeling?
17 Why are 2 Underst Modera CO3 ML Ch.17.8. Response
machine and te Attacks on 3, Ch.18 prediction
learning PUFs
attacks
dangerous
for PUFs?
18 What is a 2 Remem Modera CO3 PUF Ch.18 Learning
model- ber te Attacks CRP
building behavior
attack on a
PUF?
19 What is a 2 Remem Easy CO3 TRNG Module Non-
True ber Basics Topic deterministi
Random c
Number randomness
Generator
(TRNG)?
20 What is 2 Remem Easy CO3 Entropy Module Randomness
entropy in ber Sources Topic source
the context
of
TRNGs?
21 Name one 2 Remem Easy CO3 Entropy Module Thermal
physical ber Sources Topic noise, jitter
source of
entropy
used in
TRNGs.
22 Why is 2 Underst Easy CO3 Randomne Module Statistical
randomnes and ss Testing Topic validation
s testing
performed
on TRNG
outputs?
23 State one 2 Underst Easy CO3 TRNG Module Unpredictab
characteris and Design Topic ility
tic of a Considerati
good ons
TRNG.
24 What is 2 Underst Modera CO3 TRNG Module True
the and te Fundament Topic randomness,
difference als deterministi
between a c generation
TRNG and
a Pseudo
Random
Number
Generator
(PRNG)?
25 Why are 2 Analyze Modera CO3 TRNG Module Key
TRNGs te Applicatio Topic generation,
important ns security
in
cryptograp
hic
systems?
Module 3: Physically Unclonable Functions
(PUFs) and True Random Number
Generators (TRNGs)
SECTION B – Short Answer Questions (5
Marks)
CO Mapping: CO3 (PCC-CS404.3)
Module: 3
Textbook: Hardware Security: Design, Threats and Safeguards – Debdeep Mukhopadhyay &
Rajat Subhra Chakraborty
Relevant Chapters: Chapter 17 (Physically Unclonable Functions), Chapter 18 (Model-
Building Attacks on PUFs)
Q.N Question Mar Bloom Difficu CO Reference Book Expected
o. ks Level lty Mappi Topic Chapter Keywords
ng
1 Explain the 5 Underst Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.2 Hardware
concept of and Basics fingerprint,
a uniqueness,
Physically security
Unclonable
Function
(PUF) and
discuss its
significanc
e in
hardware
security.
2 Describe 5 Underst Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.2 Process
the role of and Fundament variations,
manufactur als uniqueness
ing
variations
in the
operation
of PUFs.
3 Discuss the 5 Underst Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.3 Delay-
classificati and te Classificati based,
on of PUFs on memory-
based on based,
technology CRPs
and
response
generation
mechanism
s.
4 Explain the 5 Underst Modera CO3 Arbiter Ch.17.4. Delay
working and te PUF 1.2 paths,
principle arbiter, race
of an condition
Arbiter
PUF with a
suitable
block
diagram.
5 Discuss the 5 Analyze Modera CO3 Arbiter Ch.17.4. Simplicity,
advantages te PUF 1.2 modeling
and attacks
limitations
of Arbiter
PUFs.
6 Explain the 5 Underst Modera CO3 Ring Ch.17.4. Oscillators,
architectur and te Oscillator 1.1 frequency
e and PUF comparison
operation
of a Ring
Oscillator
PUF.
7 Compare 5 Analyze Modera CO3 PUF Types Ch.17.4. Delay,
Arbiter te 1 frequency,
PUF and reliability
Ring
Oscillator
PUF.
8 Explain the 5 Apply Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.2 Challenge,
importance te Authentica response,
of tion verification
Challenge-
Response
Pairs
(CRPs) in
PUF-based
authenticat
ion.
9 Discuss the 5 Underst Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.5. Stability,
concept of and te Metrics 1, 17.5.2 inter-chip
uniqueness variation
and
reliability
in PUF
evaluation.
10 Explain the 5 Analyze Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.5. Statistical
significanc te Metrics 3, 17.5.4 balance,
e of bias
uniformity
and bit-
aliasing in
measuring
PUF
quality.
11 Describe 5 Underst Easy CO3 PUF Ch.17.7 Authenticat
the and Applicatio ion, key
application ns generation
s of PUFs
in
hardware
authenticat
ion and
cryptograp
hic key
generation.
12 Explain 5 Apply Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.7. IP security,
how PUFs te Applicatio 3 ownership
can be ns verification
used for
FPGA IP
protection.
13 Discuss the 5 Analyze Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.8. Mathematic
concept of te Modeling 3 al
PUF modeling,
modeling prediction
and its
implication
s for
security.
14 Explain the 5 Underst Modera CO3 ML Ch.17.8. Training
principle and te Attacks on 3, Ch.18 data,
of machine PUFs prediction
learning accuracy
attacks on
PUFs.
15 Discuss the 5 Analyze Hard CO3 PUF Ch.17.8. Complexity
challenges Security 3, Ch.18 ,
faced by Challenges unpredictab
PUF ility
designers
in resisting
model-
building
attacks.
16 Explain the 5 Underst Easy CO3 TRNG Module Randomnes
concept of and Basics Topic s,
a True determinis
Random m
Number
Generator
(TRNG).
How does
it differ
from a
PRNG?
17 Discuss 5 Underst Modera CO3 Entropy Module Thermal
various and te Sources Topic noise, jitter,
physical metastabilit
entropy y
sources
used in
TRNG
design.
18 Explain the 5 Analyze Modera CO3 TRNG Module Entropy
design te Design Topic quality,
considerati reliability
ons
involved in
developing
a hardware
TRNG.
19 Why is 5 Analyze Modera CO3 Randomne Module Statistical
randomnes te ss Testing Topic validation,
s testing unpredictab
important ility
for
TRNGs?
Discuss
common
objectives
of
randomnes
s
evaluation.
20 Explain the 5 Apply Easy CO3 TRNG Module Key
role of Applicatio Topic generation,
TRNGs in ns nonce
modern generation
cryptograp
hic
systems.
Module 3: Physically Unclonable Functions
(PUFs) and True Random Number
Generators (TRNGs)
SECTION C – Descriptive Questions (10
Marks)
CO Mapping: CO3 (PCC-CS404.3)
Module: 3
Textbook: Hardware Security: Design, Threats and Safeguards – Debdeep Mukhopadhyay &
Rajat Subhra Chakraborty
Relevant Chapters: Chapter 17 (Physically Unclonable Functions), Chapter 18 (Genetic
Programming-Based Model Building Attack on PUFs)
Q.N Question Mar Bloom Difficu CO Reference Book Expected
o. ks Level lty Mappi Topic Chapter Keywords
ng
1 Explain 10 Underst Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.1, Hardware
the and te Basics 17.2 fingerprint,
concept of uniqueness,
Physically authenticati
Unclonabl on
e
Functions
(PUFs).
Discuss
their role
as a root-
of-trust in
hardware
security
systems.
2 Describe 10 Underst Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.3 Delay-
the and te Classificati based,
classificati on memory-
on of based,
PUFs strong and
based on weak PUFs
technology
, response
collection
mechanis
ms, and
modeling
difficulty.
3 Explain 10 Analyze Modera CO3 Arbiter Ch.17.4. Delay
the te PUF 1.2 paths,
architectur arbiter,
e and CRPs,
working modeling
principle attacks
of an
Arbiter
PUF.
Discuss its
advantages
and
limitations
.
4 Describe 10 Underst Modera CO3 Ring Ch.17.4. Oscillators,
the design and te Oscillator 1.1 frequency
and PUF variation,
operation uniqueness
of a Ring
Oscillator
PUF.
Explain
how
process
variations
contribute
to
response
generation.
5 Compare 10 Analyze Modera CO3 PUF Types Ch.17.4. Delay
Arbiter te 1 comparison,
PUF and frequency
Ring comparison
Oscillator
PUF with
respect to
architectur
e, response
generation,
reliability,
and
security.
6 Discuss 10 Analyze Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.5 Evaluation
the te Metrics metrics,
performan statistical
ce metrics properties
used to
evaluate
the quality
of a PUF.
Explain
the
significanc
e of
uniqueness
,
reliability,
uniformity
, bit-
aliasing,
and bit-
dependenc
y.
7 Explain 10 Apply Modera CO3 PUF Ch.17.7 Authenticati
how PUFs te Applicatio on, key
are used in ns generation,
hardware security
authenticat
ion and
cryptograp
hic key
generation.
Discuss
their
advantages
over
convention
al key
storage
techniques
.
8 Describe 10 Analyze Hard CO3 PUF Ch.17.8. Model
the Modeling 3, Ch.18 building,
concept of Attacks CRPs,
PUF prediction
modeling
attacks.
Explain
how
machine
learning
techniques
can be
used to
predict
PUF
responses.
9 Discuss 10 Analyze Hard CO3 PUF Ch.17.8 Side-
the Security channel
security attacks,
challenges fault
faced by attacks,
PUF-based vulnerabiliti
systems. es
Explain
the impact
of side-
channel
attacks,
fault
attacks,
and
modeling
attacks.
10 Explain 10 Analyze Hard CO3 Genetic Ch.18 Machine
the Programmi learning,
principles ng Attack RO-PUF,
of genetic prediction
programmi accuracy
ng-based
attacks on
Ring
Oscillator
PUFs.
Discuss
their
significanc
e in
evaluating
PUF
security.
11 Explain 10 Underst Modera CO3 TRNG Module Randomnes
the and te Basics Topic s,
concept of determinis
True m, entropy
Random
Number
Generators
(TRNGs).
Discuss
the
differences
between
TRNGs
and
Pseudo
Random
Number
Generators
(PRNGs).
12 Discuss 10 Underst Modera CO3 Entropy Module Thermal
various and te Sources Topic noise, jitter,
entropy metastabilit
sources y
used in
TRNG
design.
Explain
how
physical
phenomen
a
contribute
to
randomnes
s
generation.
13 Explain 10 Apply Modera CO3 TRNG Module Entropy
the design te Design Topic extraction,
considerati Considerati reliability,
ons ons bias
involved removal
in
implement
ing a
secure
TRNG in
hardware.
14 Discuss 10 Analyze Modera CO3 Randomne Module Statistical
the te ss Testing Topic tests,
importance unpredictab
of ility
randomnes
s testing in
TRNGs.
Explain
the
objectives
and
significanc
e of
statistical
validation.
15 Explain 10 Evaluate Hard CO3 Integrated Ch.17, Authenticati
the role of Hardware Module on, key
PUFs and Security Topic generation,
TRNGs in root-of-trust
building
secure
hardware
systems.
Discuss
how they
compleme
nt each
other in
modern
cryptograp
hic
application
s.
Module 3: Physically Unclonable Functions
(PUFs) and True Random Number
Generators (TRNGs)
SECTION D – Analytical / Design-Oriented
Questions (15 Marks)
CO Mapping: CO3 (PCC-CS404.3)
Module: 3
Textbook: Hardware Security: Design, Threats and Safeguards – Debdeep Mukhopadhyay &
Rajat Subhra Chakraborty
Relevant Chapters: Chapter 17 (Physically Unclonable Functions), Chapter 18 (Genetic
Programming-Based Model Building Attack on PUFs)
Q.N Question Mar Bloom Difficul CO Reference Book Expected
o. ks Level ty Mappi Topic Chapte Keywords
ng r
1 Design a 15 Create Hard CO3 PUF Ch.17.7 Authenticati
PUF-based Applicatio on, CRPs,
hardware ns enrollment,
authenticatio device
n framework identity
for securing
IoT devices.
Explain the
enrollment,
challenge-
response,
verification,
and
authenticatio
n phases.
2 Critically 15 Evalua Hard CO3 Arbiter Ch.17.4 Delay-
analyze the te PUF and .1 based,
architecture RO-PUF frequency-
and security based,
characteristic reliability,
s of Arbiter security
PUFs and
Ring
Oscillator
PUFs.
Recommend
the most
suitable PUF
for FPGA-
based
authenticatio
n systems
with
justification.
3 A 15 Analy Hard CO3 PUF- Ch.17.7 Key
semiconducto ze Based Key .2 derivation,
r company Generatio key storage
wants to use n elimination,
PUFs for security
cryptographic
key
generation
instead of
storing secret
keys in
memory.
Analyze the
advantages,
challenges,
and security
implications
of this
approach.
4 Evaluate the 15 Evalua Hard CO3 PUF Ch.17.5 Statistical
effectiveness te Metrics evaluation,
of PUF quality
performance assessment
metrics such
as
uniqueness,
reliability,
uniformity,
bit-aliasing,
and bit-
dependency
in assessing
the quality of
a PUF
design.
5 Explain how 15 Analy Hard CO3 ML Ch.17.8 Modeling
machine ze Attacks on .3, attacks,
learning PUFs Ch.18 CRPs,
techniques prediction
can be used accuracy
to perform
model-
building
attacks on
PUFs.
Analyze the
vulnerabilitie
s of Arbiter
PUFs and
propose
suitable
countermeasu
res.
6 A hardware 15 Create Hard CO3 PUF Ch.17.3 Security
designer must Classificat , evaluation,
select a ion and Ch.17.6 architecture
secure PUF Security selection
architecture
for a defense
application.
Compare
different PUF
types and
develop a
selection
strategy
considering
security,
reliability,
scalability,
and
implementati
on
complexity.
7 Design a 15 Create Hard CO3 TRNG Module Entropy
hardware- Design Topic source,
based True randomness
Random extraction,
Number hardware
Generator implementat
(TRNG) ion
using
physical
entropy
sources.
Discuss
entropy
extraction,
randomness
enhancement,
and hardware
implementati
on
consideration
s.
8 Critically 15 Evalua Hard CO3 Entropy Module Thermal
analyze te Sources Topic noise, jitter,
different metastabilit
entropy y
sources used
in TRNGs.
Evaluate their
suitability for
cryptographic
applications
in terms of
randomness
quality,
reliability,
and
implementati
on
complexity.
9 Develop a 15 Create Hard CO3 Randomne Module Statistical
methodology ss Testing Topic tests, bias
for evaluating removal,
the quality of validation
a TRNG.
Explain the
role of
statistical
randomness
testing and
discuss how
biased
outputs can
be detected
and
mitigated.
10 Design a 15 Create Hard CO3 Integrated Ch.17, Root-of-
secure Hardware Module trust,
hardware Security Topic authenticati
platform that on, random
integrates key
both PUFs generation
and TRNGs.
Explain how
these
components
can work
together to
provide
authenticatio
n, key
generation,
and secure
communicati
on services.