Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing

IoT & Embedded Device Penetration Testing

  • May 10, 2025
  • 0

🤖 Sherlocked Security – IoT & Embedded Device Penetration Testing

Uncover Hidden Threats in Smart Devices, Firmware, and Embedded Protocols

📄 1. Statement of Work (SOW)

Service Name: IoT & Embedded Device Penetration Testing
Targeted Devices: Smart Appliances, Gateways, Industrial Controllers, Cameras, Wearables, Consumer Devices
Client Type: OEMs, Smart City Projects, Healthcare, Automotive, ICS/SCADA Manufacturers
Service Model: On-site + Lab Testing
Compliance Coverage: OWASP IoT Top 10, ETSI EN 303 645, NIST IR 8259, ISO/IEC 27030

Scope Includes:

  • Firmware Analysis (Static/Dynamic)
  • UART/JTAG Interface Testing
  • BLE, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, NFC, 4G/5G Protocol Audits
  • Bootloader Security
  • Debug Interface Protections
  • Web/Mobile Companion App Security
  • OTA Update Security
  • Cloud Integration Testing (API endpoints)

🧠 2. Our Approach

🔹 Full-stack device dissection – hardware, firmware, communication, cloud
🔹 Debug port exploitation and firmware reverse engineering
🔹 Communication interception + fuzzing

[Device Recon] → [Hardware Interface Analysis] → [Firmware Extraction] → [Static/Dynamic Firmware Analysis] → [Communication Protocol Testing] → [Cloud/App/API Audit] → [Exploit Simulation] → [Reporting]

 

🧪 3. Methodology

[Scope & Setup] → [PCB Analysis] → [Interface Discovery (UART/JTAG/SWD)] → [Firmware Dump & Reverse] → [Binary Exploit Simulation] → [Communication Channel Testing] → [Cloud/API Companion Testing] → [Reporting & Fixes]

📦 4. Deliverables to the Client

  1. 🛠️ Hardware-Level Attack Vector Report
  2. 🔍 Firmware Static & Dynamic Analysis Logs
  3. 🧾 Technical Penetration Testing Report:
    • UART/JTAG/SWD findings
    • Exploitable Firmware Backdoors
    • Crypto Key Exposures (TLS/SSH/OTA)
    • BLE/Wi-Fi Vulnerabilities
    • Cloud API Endpoint Abuse
    • CVE/CVSS Mapped Issues
  4. 🔁 Proof-of-Concept (PoC) for Confirmed Exploits
  5. 🎓 Security Fix Consultation & Validation
  6. ✅ Post-Hardening Certification

🤝 5. What We Need from You (Client Requirements)

  • ✅ Full access to the device (physical + dev mode enabled if possible)
  • ✅ Device firmware (if not encrypted) or update package
  • ✅ Mobile/Web App credentials (if linked)
  • ✅ Documentation of communication protocols used
  • ✅ Engineering point of contact for debugging queries
  • ✅ NDA for hardware teardown (if required)

🧰 6. Tools & Technology Stack

  • 🔌 Bus Pirate, JTAGulator, Saleae Logic Analyzer
  • 🧠 Binwalk, Ghidra, Radare2, IDA Pro
  • 🔍 QEMU/Emulator for dynamic firmware testing
  • 📡 HackRF, Ubertooth, GATTacker (BLE testing)
  • 🧪 Firmware Fuzzers: AFL, boofuzz, Peach
  • 🌐 Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP for App & API
  • 🔐 Custom scripts for EEPROM/NAND dumping & key bruteforce
  • 🛰️ RF Sniffers + SDR for signal capture

🚀 7. Engagement Lifecycle (Lead → Closure)

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1. Device Intake → 2. NDA + Analysis Approval → 3. Teardown & Interface Discovery → 4. Firmware Reverse Engineering → 5. Wireless/Protocol Testing → 6. Cloud + App Integration Audit → 7. Draft Reporting → 8. Fix Phase + Retest → 9. Certificate Delivery

🌟 8. Why Sherlocked Security? (Our USP)

Feature Sherlocked Advantage
🔧 Full Hardware Analysis JTAG, UART, SPI, NAND—fully dissected
🔓 Firmware Exploit Simulation Backdoor, telnet, SSH, OTA bypass testing
📡 Wireless Protocol Testing BLE/ZigBee/NFC/Wi-Fi fuzzing & sniffing
🧪 OTA Security Audit Update interception & downgrade testing
📘 CVE/CVSS Mapping Firmware bugs linked to real-world threats
🎓 Post-Fix Certification Badge for secured devices, helpful for procurement

📚 9. Real-World Case Studies

🧠 Hardcoded Root in IoT Camera

Client: Smart surveillance manufacturer
Issue: Telnet enabled with hardcoded root credentials
Impact: Full takeover via LAN
Fix: Firmware patch + telnet disabled in production build

📡 BLE-Based Smart Lock Bypass

Client: Smart home product startup
Issue: BLE unlock packets not encrypted
Impact: Lock brute-force possible over air
Fix: BLE encryption + pairing security enforced

🛡️ 10. SOP – Standard Operating Procedure

  1. Device & Docs Intake
  2. PCB & Interface Mapping (UART, JTAG, SWD)
  3. Firmware Extraction & Decryption
  4. Static Reverse Engineering (Ghidra/IDA)
  5. Dynamic Emulation & Vulnerability Discovery
  6. RF/Wireless Fuzzing & Sniffing
  7. API/Mobile Companion Analysis
  8. Final Reporting with CVEs & Proofs
  9. Fix Phase + Retesting
  10. Issue Certificate & Patch Validation

📋 11. IoT Security Checklist (Preview)

  1. Analyze device architecture and hardware ports.
  2. Extract and reverse engineer firmware.
  3. Evaluate bootloader and debug interfaces.
  4. Test local and remote interfaces (HTTP, BLE, etc.).
  5. Assess storage for plaintext secrets or credentials.
  6. Examine inter-process communication security.
  7. Evaluate mobile or web interfaces controlling the device.
  8. Test for insecure OTA update mechanisms.
  9. Perform network-level testing of device traffic.
  10. Document identified CVEs and exploit paths.

📬 Contact Us or 📅 Book a Consultation

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