Mobile platform software update with secure authentication

A method for securely updating a software image for a communication device, said method comprising:

• receiving said software image from an update server, wherein said software image comprises one or more downloaded software components;
• providing a critical component database configured to identify critical software components associated with the secure operation of said device, said database maintained in a trusted execution environment (TEE), wherein said TEE is configured to enforce access restrictions against software running at an operating system level on said device;
• matching said downloaded software components to said critical software components, said matching performed in said TEE;
• and
• installing said software image on said device based on the results of said matching.

A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a processor result in the following operations for securely updating a software image for a communication device, said operations comprising:

• receiving said software image from an update server, wherein said software image comprises one or more downloaded software components;
• providing a critical component database configured to identify critical software components associated with the secure operation of said device, said database maintained in a trusted execution environment (TEE), wherein said TEE is configured to enforce access restrictions against software running at an operating system level on said device;
• matching said downloaded software components to said critical software components, said matching performed in said TEE;
• and
• installing said software image on said device based on the results of said matching.

A mobile communication platform comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to said processor;
• an input/output (I/O) system coupled to said processor;
• a user interface coupled to said I/O system;
• an image update module configured to receive a software update image from an update server, said image update module executing at an operating system (OS) level;
• a critical component database configured to identify critical software components associated with secure operation of said platform;
• a secure update application module configured to verify the inclusion of said critical software components in said software update image prior to installation of said software update image on said platform;
• and
• a trusted execution environment (TEE) operating on said platform configured to restrict control access and data access to said secure update application module and said critical component database, said restriction enforced against said OS and against modules executing at said OS level.