Attest Like Software: Formally-Verified Software-Programmable Proof of Execution Architecture Using SoC FPGAs

Proof of Execution (PoX) enables a remote verifier to confirm that a specific program executed fully, correctly, and without interference on a potentially compromised device. Existing PoX solutions typically rely on trusted execution environments (TEEs) or custom hardware extensions, which limit their applicability to legacy, cost-sensitive, or resource-constrained embedded platforms. Moreover, many prior designs compromise real-time availability by disabling interrupts, enforcing two-world execution models, or relying on heavyweight isolation mechanisms. These limitations make existing PoX approaches poorly suited for safety-critical cyber-physical systems (CPS), where timing guarantees and responsiveness are as important as security.