Firmware Analysis
Firmware analysis is the process of extracting, decompiling, and examining the software embedded in IoT and hardware devices to identify security vulnerabilities, hardcoded credentials, and insecure configurations.
Firmware is the low-level software that controls the hardware functions of IoT devices, routers, industrial controllers, and other embedded systems. Because firmware operates at such a fundamental level, vulnerabilities within it can grant attackers deep and persistent access to a device, often bypassing higher-level security controls entirely.
Firmware analysis typically begins with extraction — obtaining the firmware image from the device via physical interfaces such as JTAG or UART, or by downloading it from the vendor's update servers. Once extracted, analysts use tools like Binwalk, Ghidra, and IDA Pro to decompress, unpack, and reverse-engineer the binary. The goal is to identify hardcoded credentials, insecure API keys, outdated libraries with known CVEs, debug interfaces left enabled, and weak cryptographic implementations.
Static analysis examines the firmware without executing it, looking at file system structures, configuration files, and binary code. Dynamic analysis involves emulating the firmware in a controlled environment to observe its runtime behaviour, network communications, and responses to crafted inputs. Both approaches are essential for thorough security assessment.
Organisations that manufacture or deploy IoT devices should incorporate firmware analysis into their security development lifecycle, perform regular audits of released firmware, and implement secure boot mechanisms to prevent unauthorised firmware modifications.