Trusted Firmware: 7 Ways to Avoid Firmware Exploits

some more fear-mongering, tech-jargon, blah blah blah… but still useful to know! Seriously though!

Photo by Michael Dziedzic

What is Firmware?

Firmware is a type of software that is embedded in computer hardware, such as microcontrollers, and is responsible for controlling the device’s functionality. While firmware plays a vital role in the proper functioning of devices, it can also be a target for cyber attacks.

Where can I find my firmware?

As stated above, firmware is embedded in hardware devices and is responsible for controlling the device’s functionality. Some examples of devices that commonly use firmware include:

1. Routers and modems: These devices use firmware to control network traffic, manage connections, and provide security features.
2. Smartphones and tablets: These devices use firmware to control the hardware components, such as the display, camera, and audio system.
3. Printers and scanners: These devices use firmware to control printing and scanning functions, as well as to manage the device’s network connectivity.
4. Smart TVs: These devices use firmware to control the TV’s hardware components and provide features such as streaming services and web browsing.
5. Gaming consoles: These devices use firmware to control the console’s hardware components and provide features such as online gaming and multimedia playback.
6. Automobiles: Modern cars contain a significant amount of firmware, controlling various systems such as engine management, airbags, and in-car entertainment systems.

These are just a few examples of devices that commonly use firmware. Firmware is used in a wide range of devices, and it is an essential part of their functionality.

EXPLOITS

Firmware exploits refer to security vulnerabilities in firmware that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to the device, run malicious code, and take control of the device. These exploits are particularly dangerous as they can bypass traditional security measures and allow attackers to gain full access to a device. Therefore, it is essential to take measures to protect firmware and prevent these exploits from occurring.

PREVENTION

Firmware exploits can be a serious security threat for computers and other devices. They allow attackers to gain control over the device and run any code with the highest level of CPU privilege. However, there are several measures that can be taken to prevent firmware exploits and improve overall security. Here are 7 ways to avoid firmware exploits:

1. Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI): This is a type of system firmware that provides support for 64-bit CPU operation at boot, full GUI and mouse operation at boot and better boot security.
2. Secure Boot: A UEFI feature that prevents unwanted processes from executing during the boot operation.
3. Measured Boot: A UEFI feature that gathers secure metrics to validate the boot process in an attestation report.
4. Attestation: A claim that the data presented in the report is valid by digitally signing it using the TPM’s (Trusted Platform Module) private key.
5. eFUSE: A means for software or firmware to permanently alter the state of a transistor on a computer chip.
6. Trusted Firmware Updates: A firmware update that is digitally signed by the vendor and trusted by the system before installation.
7. Self-Encrypting Drives: A disk drive where the controller can automatically encrypt data that is written to it.

In addition to these measures, there are also processor security extensions that can be implemented to enable secure processing. For example, AMD’s Secure Memory Encryption (SME) and Secure Encryption Virtualization (SEV), and Intel’s Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) and Software Guard Extensions (SGX) are low-level CPU changes and instructions that can improve security.

Trusted execution is another security feature that can be implemented to prevent firmware exploits. The CPU’s security extensions invoke a TPM and secure boot attestation to ensure that a trusted operating system is running. The extensions also allow a trusted process to create an encrypted container for sensitive data. Additionally, atomic execution can be used to perform certain operations that should only be performed once or not at all, such as initializing a memory location. Finally, bus encryption can be implemented to ensure that data is encrypted by an application prior to being placed on the data bus and that the device at the other end of the bus is trusted to decrypt the data.

By implementing these measures, devices can be made more secure and less vulnerable to firmware exploits. It is important to stay vigilant and keep up with the latest security updates and best practices to ensure the ongoing security of your devices.

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