Security Assessment Over-the-Air Update Solution

Description

This project focused on performing an in-depth security assessment of an over-the-air (OTA) update solution designed for a client-server architecture. The OTA solution facilitated remote firmware updates to devices deployed in the field. The server component, responsible for managing and distributing updates, was implemented in the Go programming language, while the client component, residing on the devices and responsible for receiving and applying updates, was implemented in C++.

The security assessment involved a multi-faceted approach, including:

• Architecture Review: Analyzing the overall system architecture to identify potential single points of failure, insecure communication channels, and vulnerabilities in the update distribution process.
• Protocol Analysis: Examining the communication protocols used between the server and client to uncover weaknesses in authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms.
• Code Review: Scrutinizing the source code of both the server and client applications to identify potential vulnerabilities such as buffer overflows, injection flaws, and insecure data handling practices.

The assessment uncovered several security weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers to compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the update process, potentially leading to the installation of malicious firmware or denial-of-service conditions.

Based on the findings, a series of hardening measures were recommended and implemented to mitigate the identified risks. These measures included:

• Strengthening authentication and authorization mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access to the update server and protect against spoofing attacks.
• Implementing robust encryption and integrity checks to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of firmware updates during transmission and storage.
• Addressing code-level vulnerabilities to prevent exploitation and enhance the overall security posture of the OTA solution.

By addressing these security concerns, the project significantly improved the resilience of the OTA update solution against potential attacks, ensuring the secure and reliable delivery of firmware updates to devices in the field.

Used Tools & Technologies

• TARA Tool (my own)
• Burp Suite Pro & Mobile Assistant
• Frida
• Jenkins
• C++
• Golang
• Python
• Docker
• Coverity
• LLVM Sanitizers
• Windows
• Ubuntu
• MacOS
• AWS
• Azure
• CodeQL
• Semgrep
• Snyk
• Bandit
• Wireshark