Hardware Hacking Tools and Techniques: An Overview for Ethical Hackers

In the simplest form, hardware hacking means to modify any hardware electronics in a way that was not originally intended to, which affects its functionality, behaviour or components enclosed in the hardware. For Hackers, it is very useful as it compromise system simply by plugging the modified hardware, and steal sensitive information like credentials or even keystrokes, damage the device, etc.

So, if you are a bad guy, you would be able to exploit the normal functionality of common hardware into your desired way (tho you should Not). Whether it’s extracting firmware, analyzing communication protocols, or bypassing security measures, hardware hacking provides understanding into the devices we rely on every day, and one wouldn’t even know if the device is compromised.

But we are not just hackers, our prefix is ‘ethical’. Hardware hacking for ethical hackers isn’t just about breaking into systems — it’s about making them stronger and immune to the attack. Hence, security professionals use these tools and techniques to identify, and report the vulnerabilities responsibly, and help manufacturers enhance its security along with driving innovation in the tech ecosystem. This blog explores the essential tools and techniques in hardware hacking, emphasizing liable practices to maintain legality and ethics.

First let’s understand key terms and tools:

1. JTAG interface: ‘Joint Test Action Group’ (JTAG) is an interface standard for hardware, widely used in debugging or testing microcontrollers and processors. It is an important notorious tool in hardware hacking as it allows direct access to system’s memory and registers. Hence, they are used for security bypass, debug firmware, and analyse embedded systems. Commonly used JTAG are JTAGulator, OpenOCD etc.
2. Logic Analyzer: These are used for capturing and analysing digital signals, which helps hackers to decode communication between the hardware components, which uncovers critical data or vulnerabilities in device communication.
3. Chip Decapping: It involves removing protective casing and Integrated heat spreader (IHS) of an IC board to access the internal components and revealing circuit’s layout for further analysis. It is a proficient process that includes laser cutting, acid etching, and high-resolution microscope work.
4. Oscilloscopes: Used to measure electrical signals in real-time, it enables hackers to keep a track of voltage levels, waveforms, and timing etc.
5. EEPROM Programmers: They can read and write data to non-volatile memory chips like EEPROMs or flash memory. It helps operator to extract firmware, modify configurations or even reverse engineer memory contents.

TOOLS FOR HARDWARE HACKING:

These tools when used with your kali Linux to modify the hardware that you can have access to, can do wonders:

1. Wi-Fi Pineapple: It is a great tool used for nefarious reasons (which powerful tool can’t?). Touted as a ‘favourite among penetration testers and security enthusiasts’ it allows you to clone the existing wi-fi hotspots and create rogue access points that are under YOUR control. It can collect credentials of the connected devices by making phishing webpages and serving to non-suspecting victims.
2. USB RubberDucky: Utilized for executing pre-programmed keystroke payloads on the target computer, it triggers HUD (Humanitarian Use Device) such as a keyboard, enabling it to bypass security measures and, it is trained to run the pre-written scripts immediately when attached to the targeted USB device. It can gather credentials, perform brute force attacks against password prompts, automatically copy files and directories to their internal memory etc.
3. HackRF One: It is a software defined radio (SDR) which can transmit as well receive radio signals in a small range of 1MHz to 6MHHz. Combining it with accessories like portapack many attacks can be performed like; jamming attacks, replay attacks, GPS spoofing etc.

4. Arduino Kits: These little microcontrollers when programmed in kali, can perform various function. They can disguise themself as a mouse or keyboard connected to the system to spy. Some Arduinos, such as Nano and Uno, are sometimes not able to fool the computer.

5. GoodFET: Based on the TI MSP430 FET UIF and EZ430U board, it an open-source JTAG adaptor in a USB interface. It can easily trigger HEX dump and re-flash memories of various platforms like AVR, PIC etc.

There are so many other tools for similar but different configuration methods, cost and other dissimilarities like; USBkill, UberTooth One, DigiSpark, LAN Turtle, Attify badge and more.

All these were Hardware tools available in the market, which needs a software or can be operated through Linux. Now let us see some software tools which are inbuilt in your kali Linux or can be used through it.

SOFTWARE TOOLS:

The above hardware tools are used to hack various devices, well however, these software tools explained below can also use to configure the hardware device as well perform various hacks.

1. Ettercap: This tool, found in kali Linux, allows you to perform man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks on computers in a LAN. It is also used to sniff live connections, and perform host analysis and content filtering.

2. Wireshark: It can be hosted on Linux as well windows. It is mainly used for capture, monitor, and analyse network traffic and is a powerful protocol analyser.

3. Wifiphisher: It is used for Man-in-the-middle attacks opposing wireless clients. It is done using Wi-Fi association attacks, and it can also be used to create custom phishing login pages that resembles third-party login pages against the un-suspecting targets that connects to your rogue access points.

4. Arduino IDE: Used for writing exploit codes to be used in Arduino boards. It can be installed on windows, kali Linux or macOS.

That was all the tools you’d need. But the tools alone don’t make one a professional. It’s the techniques. How are the tools used? That uncovers hidden vulnerabilities and gets’ you to the critical information.

TECHNIQUES FOR HARDWARE HACKING:

1. Firmware Extraction: This step is critical to find vulnerabilities, understanding device’s functionality, custom modification, reverse engineering, bypassing security mechanism, as well for security research. Using JTAG, SPI flash readers, or EEPROM programmers hackers can extract and analyze firmware.
2. Protocol Analysis: logic analyzers along with bus sniffers are used to capture data flow in-between components. This data reveals the interaction strategies and weaknesses such as unencrypted data transmission, or open ports.
3. Fault Injection: Injecting network or power faults to disrupt the normal operations to expose flaws. Like voltage glitch or clock tampering disturbs a device’s traditional tasks.
4. Physical Modifications: Hardware hacking is all about physical stuff afterall. Tinkering with devices physically, like soldering new connections, adding or removing ports, changing chipsets etc. example. Enabling a disabled UART port for communicating with the system directly.

By adhering to responsible practices and embracing continuous learning, ethical hackers can turn these powerful tools and techniques into forces for good.

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:

1. Legality.

2. Ethics.

3. Responsible Disclosure.

4. Respect for privacy.

CHALLENGES:

1. Technical Complexity.

2. Cost of Equipment.

3. Legal risks.

Written by: Nandni Joshi