domains / security / firmware-analysis / firmware-analyst

firmware-analyst

Skill card

combined

The two copies share the same core firmware analysis workflow (identification, extraction, filesystem analysis, binary analysis, vulnerability classes, and tool lists), but the sickn33 copy adds a mandatory authorization gate, a risk label, and explicit handling for missing supporting scripts (getArch.sh, makeImage.sh, inferNetwork.sh) that the rmyndharis copy lacks. The rmyndharis copy includes a more complete emulation setup section that the sickn33 copy truncates. Because each copy contains material steps or constraints the other lacks, crowning one would hide a real alternative.

Repositories

Other copies

Combined skill

---
name: firmware-analyst
description: Expert firmware analyst specializing in embedded systems, IoT security, and hardware reverse engineering. Masters firmware extraction, analysis, and vulnerability research for routers, IoT devices, automotive systems, and industrial controllers. Use PROACTIVELY for firmware security audits, IoT penetration testing, or embedded systems research.
risk: offensive
source: community
---

> **AUTHORIZED USE ONLY**
> This skill is for educational purposes or authorized security assessments only.
> You must have explicit, written permission from the system owner before using this tool.
> Misuse of this tool is illegal and strictly prohibited.

> **Mandatory confirmation gate**
> Before running any command that probes, exploits, changes, persists on, extracts data from, or attempts credential access against a target:
> 1. Ask the user to state the exact target URL, IP, account, or resource.
> 2. Ask the user to confirm written authorization and the permitted scope.
> 3. Show the exact command(s) and explain their expected effect.
> 4. Wait for explicit confirmation in the current conversation.
>
> Without that confirmation, remain read-only and provide defensive guidance only. Prefer a sandbox, disposable VM, or controlled lab.

## Supporting material availability

This skill references the following supporting scripts that are external prerequisites, not bundled files:

- `./scripts/getArch.sh`
- `./scripts/makeImage.sh`
- `./scripts/inferNetwork.sh`

Ask for the original supporting material or an existing installation before using a step that depends on these paths. Resolve each path relative to that installation, inspect its contents, and verify any applicable license and execution prerequisites. Do not run a command or claim a referenced procedure was followed until its required file exists. Do not fabricate the missing scripts or treat an unrelated file with the same name as equivalent. Independent steps fully documented here can proceed within the user's authorized scope; report any dependent step as unavailable.

## Firmware Acquisition

```bash
# Download from vendor
wget http://vendor.com/firmware/update.bin

# Extract from device via debug interface
# UART console access
screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
# Copy firmware partition
dd if=/dev/mtd0 of=/tmp/firmware.bin

# Extract via network protocols
# TFTP during boot
# HTTP/FTP from device web interface
```

### Hardware Methods
```
UART access         - Serial console connection
JTAG/SWD           - Debug interface for memory access
SPI flash dump     - Direct chip reading
NAND/NOR dump      - Flash memory extraction
Chip-off           - Physical chip removal and reading
Logic analyzer     - Protocol capture and analysis
```

## Use this skill when

- Working on firmware download, extraction, or analysis tasks
- Needing guidance, best practices, or checklists for firmware security audits
- Performing IoT penetration testing or embedded systems research

## Do not use this skill when

- The task is unrelated to firmware analysis
- You need a different domain or tool outside this scope

## Instructions

- Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
- Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
- Provide actionable steps and verification.

## Firmware Analysis Workflow

### Phase 1: Identification
```bash
# Basic file identification
file firmware.bin
binwalk firmware.bin

# Entropy analysis (detect compression/encryption)
# Binwalk v3: generates entropy PNG graph
binwalk --entropy firmware.bin
binwalk -E firmware.bin  # Short form

# Identify embedded file systems and auto-extract
binwalk --extract firmware.bin
binwalk -e firmware.bin  # Short form

# String analysis
strings -a firmware.bin | grep -i "password\|key\|secret"
```

### Phase 2: Extraction
```bash
# Binwalk v3 recursive extraction (matryoshka mode)
binwalk --extract --matryoshka firmware.bin
binwalk -eM firmware.bin  # Short form

# Extract to custom directory
binwalk -e -C ./extracted firmware.bin

# Verbose output during recursive extraction
binwalk -eM --verbose firmware.bin

# Manual extraction for specific formats
# SquashFS
unsquashfs filesystem.squashfs

# JFFS2
jefferson filesystem.jffs2 -d output/

# UBIFS
ubireader_extract_images firmware.ubi

# YAFFS
unyaffs filesystem.yaffs

# Cramfs
cramfsck -x output/ filesystem.cramfs
```

### Phase 3: File System Analysis
```bash
# Explore extracted filesystem
find . -name "*.conf" -o -name "*.cfg"
find . -name "passwd" -o -name "shadow"
find . -type f -executable

# Find hardcoded credentials
grep -r "password" .
grep -r "api_key" .
grep -rn "BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY" .

# Analyze web interface
find . -name "*.cgi" -o -name "*.php" -o -name "*.lua"

# Check for vulnerable binaries
checksec --dir=./bin/
```

### Phase 4: Binary Analysis
```bash
# Identify architecture
file bin/httpd
readelf -h bin/httpd

# Load in Ghidra with correct architecture
# For ARM: specify ARM:LE:32:v7 or similar
# For MIPS: specify MIPS:BE:32:default

# Set up cross-compilation for testing
# ARM
arm-linux-gnueabi-gcc exploit.c -o exploit
# MIPS
mipsel-linux-gnu-gcc exploit.c -o exploit
```

## Common Vulnerability Classes

### Authentication Issues
```
Hardcoded credentials     - Default passwords in firmware
Backdoor accounts         - Hidden admin accounts
Weak password hashing     - MD5, no salt
Authentication bypass     - Logic flaws in login
Session management        - Predictable tokens
```

### Command Injection
```c
// Vulnerable pattern
char cmd[256];
sprintf(cmd, "ping %s", user_input);
system(cmd);

// Test payloads
; id
| cat /etc/passwd
`whoami`
$(id)
```

### Memory Corruption
```
Stack buffer overflow    - strcpy, sprintf without bounds
Heap overflow           - Improper allocation handling
Format string           - printf(user_input)
Integer overflow        - Size calculations
Use-after-free          - Improper memory management
```

### Information Disclosure
```
Debug interfaces        - UART, JTAG left enabled
Verbose errors          - Stack traces, paths
Configuration files     - Exposed credentials
Firmware updates        - Unencrypted downloads
```

## Tool Proficiency

### Extraction Tools
```
binwalk v3           - Firmware extraction and analysis (Rust rewrite, faster, fewer false positives)
firmware-mod-kit     - Firmware modification toolkit
jefferson            - JFFS2 extraction
ubi_reader           - UBIFS extraction
sasquatch            - SquashFS with non-standard features
```

### Analysis Tools
```
Ghidra               - Multi-architecture disassembly
IDA Pro              - Commercial disassembler
Binary Ninja         - Modern RE platform
radare2              - Scriptable analysis
Firmware Analysis Toolkit (FAT)
FACT                 - Firmware Analysis and Comparison Tool
```

### Emulation
```
QEMU                 - Full system and user-mode emulation
Firmadyne            - Automated firmware emulation
EMUX                 - ARM firmware emulator
qemu-user-static     - Static QEMU for chroot emulation
Unicorn              - CPU emulation framework
```

### Hardware Tools
```
Bus Pirate           - Universal serial interface
Logic analyzer       - Protocol analysis
JTAGulator           - JTAG/UART discovery
Flashrom             - Flash chip programmer
ChipWhisperer        - Side-channel analysis
```

## Emulation Setup

### QEMU User-Mode Emulation
```bash
# Install QEMU user-mode
apt install qemu-user-static

# Copy QEMU static binary to extracted rootfs
cp /usr/bin/qemu-arm-static ./squashfs-root/usr/bin/

# Chroot into firmware filesystem
sudo chroot squashfs-root /usr/bin/qemu-arm-static /bin/sh

# Run specific binary
sudo chroot squashfs-root /usr/bin/qemu-arm-static /bin/httpd
```

### Full System

Use QEMU full-system emulation for complete firmware execution. Configure the appropriate machine type, CPU, memory, and storage backend for the target architecture. Refer to QEMU documentation for architecture-specific flags.