ARM processors are widely used in smartphones, tablets, laptops, and embedded devices, but they are not immune to security threats. In this article, we will explore some of the most common ARM hardware security vulnerabilities and how they can affect your device or system. We will also give you some tips on how to prevent or mitigate them.
Physical attacks are those that involve direct access to the device or its components, such as opening the case, tampering with the memory, or attaching probes. Physical attacks can bypass software protections and extract sensitive data, such as encryption keys, passwords, or personal information. They can also modify the firmware or the hardware configuration to compromise the device's functionality or security. To prevent physical attacks, you should use tamper-resistant or tamper-evident hardware, encrypt your data and memory, and lock your device when not in use.
We usually think of the digital world of computers as being separate from the physical world, but that’s not true anymore. Computers are physical objects, which means they can be vulnerable to physical attacks. These attacks might involve an attacker physically interacting with the computer, or involve other physical devices like smartcards or flash drives.
Common ARM hardware security vulnerabilities include Meltdown and Spectre, which exploit speculative execution; Rowhammer, which corrupts adjacent memory cells; TrustZone vulnerabilities that can bypass security measures; side-channel attacks like timing or power analysis; fault injection attacks that weaken security mechanisms; and USB-based attacks exploiting vulnerabilities in USB drivers and firmware. Staying updated with security advisories and best practices is crucial to mitigate these vulnerabilities.
Side-channel attacks are those that exploit the information leaked by the device's physical characteristics, such as power consumption, electromagnetic radiation, or timing. Side-channel attacks can reveal the secrets of the device's cryptographic operations, such as the algorithm, the key, or the plaintext. They can also be used to infer the device's behavior, such as the instructions executed, the memory accessed, or the input received. To prevent side-channel attacks, you should use hardware countermeasures, such as randomization, masking, or noise injection, and software countermeasures, such as constant-time algorithms, obfuscation, or encryption.
These attacks exploit side-channel information, such as timing measurements or power consumption, to infer sensitive information. Examples include Row hammer attacks, which can cause memory corruption, and Spectre-BHB, which can be used to leak sensitive data.
Fault attacks are those that induce errors in the device's hardware, such as voltage glitches, temperature variations, or radiation exposure. Fault attacks can cause the device to malfunction, crash, or execute unintended code. Fault attacks can be used to bypass security checks, alter the data or the code, or reveal the device's secrets. To prevent fault attacks, you should use hardware countermeasures, such as error detection and correction, redundancy, or isolation, and software countermeasures, such as integrity checks, authentication, or verification.
Fault Injection Attacks on ARM Hardware: A Closer Look Fault injection attacks target the physical hardware of ARM processors to manipulate their behavior and gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems. These attacks exploit weaknesses in the underlying hardware itself, making them a particularly challenging threat to mitigate.
Debugging attacks are those that exploit the device's debugging features, such as the JTAG interface, the SWD interface, or the UART port. Debugging features are intended for testing and troubleshooting purposes, but they can also be used by attackers to gain access to the device's memory, registers, or peripherals. Debugging attacks can be used to read or write the data or the code, execute arbitrary commands, or modify the device's settings. To prevent debugging attacks, you should disable or protect the debugging features, such as by using fuses, passwords, or encryption.
Network attacks are those that target the device's communication channels, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or cellular. Network attacks can intercept, modify, or inject the data or the commands transmitted or received by the device. Network attacks can be used to eavesdrop on the device's activity, steal the device's data, or control the device's actions. To prevent network attacks, you should use secure protocols, such as TLS, VPN, or SSH, and encrypt and authenticate your data and messages.
Network attacks are unauthorized actions on the digital assets within an organizational network. Malicious parties usually execute network attacks to alter, destroy, or steal private data. Perpetrators in network attacks tend to?target network perimeters to gain access to internal systems. There are two main types of network attacks: passive and active. In passive network attacks, malicious parties gain unauthorized access to networks, monitor, and steal private data without making any alterations. Active network attacks involve modifying, encrypting, or damaging data.
Software attacks are those that exploit the device's software vulnerabilities, such as buffer overflows, code injection, or privilege escalation. Software attacks can compromise the device's operating system, applications, or drivers, and execute malicious code, access unauthorized resources, or escalate privileges. Software attacks can be delivered through malicious files, web pages, or apps, or through the device's network or debugging interfaces. To prevent software attacks, you should update your software regularly, use secure coding practices, and scan your device for malware.