Incident: SD Card Hack Allows Data Interception and Modification

Published Date: 2013-12-30

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident of hacking SD Cards was disclosed by Andrew "bunnie" Huang and Sean "xobs" Cross at the Chaos Computer Congress (30C3) [Article 55800]. 2. Published on 2013-12-30 08:00:00+00:00. 3. The software failure incident of hacking SD Cards occurred around December 2013.
System 1. SD Cards 2. Flash-memory devices such as SSDs (solid-state drives) 3. eMMC (Embedded Multimedia Controller) storage
Responsible Organization 1. Security researchers Andrew "bunnie" Huang and Sean "xobs" Cross were responsible for causing the software failure incident by finding a way to hack SD Cards and run software that intercepts data [Article 55800].
Impacted Organization 1. Users of SD Cards, SSDs, and eMMC storage devices [55800].
Software Causes 1. The software cause of the failure incident was a vulnerability in the microcontroller chips used in SD Cards and other flash-memory devices, allowing for the execution of malicious software on the memory card itself [55800].
Non-software Causes 1. Hardware vulnerability in SD Cards due to the presence of microcontrollers that oversee data storage [55800].
Impacts 1. The software failure incident allowed for the potential execution of malicious software on SD Cards, leading to a man-in-the-middle attack where data could be intercepted, copied, modified, or authentication processes subverted [55800].
Preventions 1. Implementing secure coding practices and conducting thorough security reviews during the development of the microcontroller firmware could have potentially prevented the software failure incident [55800]. 2. Regularly updating the firmware of the microcontrollers in flash-memory devices to patch any known vulnerabilities could have helped prevent such attacks [55800]. 3. Employing encryption techniques to protect sensitive data stored on the flash-memory devices could have added an extra layer of security against unauthorized access and modification [55800]. 4. Conducting regular security audits and penetration testing on flash-memory devices to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors could have helped prevent the software failure incident [55800].
Fixes 1. Implementing firmware updates for the affected SD Cards and other flash-memory devices to patch the vulnerability exploited by the hack [55800]. 2. Enhancing security measures in the design and manufacturing process of microcontrollers used in flash-memory devices to prevent unauthorized firmware modifications and attacks like the one demonstrated by Huang and Cross [55800]. 3. Conducting regular security audits and penetration testing on flash-memory devices to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors [55800].
References 1. Security researchers Andrew "bunnie" Huang and Sean "xobs" Cross disclosed the information in a blog post and talk at the Chaos Computer Congress (30C3) [Article 55800].

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring multiple_organization (a) The software failure incident related to hacking SD Cards and running malicious software on them does not specifically mention any previous incidents within the same organization or with its products and services. Therefore, there is no information provided in the articles about a similar incident happening again at one specific organization. (b) The article mentions that the vulnerability discovered by Andrew Huang and Sean Cross in SD Cards could potentially apply to other flash-memory devices such as SSDs used in personal computers and eMMC storage used in mobile phones. This indicates that the software failure incident could potentially affect multiple organizations or products utilizing similar flash-memory devices [55800].
Phase (Design/Operation) design (a) The software failure incident described in the article is related to the design phase of the system. Security researchers Andrew Huang and Sean Cross found a way to hack SD Cards by exploiting vulnerabilities in the microcontrollers used in flash-memory devices like SD Cards, SSDs, and eMMC storage. They reverse-engineered the proprietary workings of the controller chips to run malicious software on the memory card itself, potentially allowing for man-in-the-middle attacks and unauthorized access to data [Article 55800]. (b) The article does not provide information about a software failure incident related to the operation phase or misuse of the system.
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system, outside_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident described in the article is related to a hack on SD Cards, which are flash-memory devices with built-in microcontrollers. The security researchers were able to hack into the microcontrollers of the SD Cards to run malicious software, intercept data, and potentially carry out man-in-the-middle attacks. This vulnerability was identified within the system of the SD Cards themselves, specifically targeting the microcontrollers that oversee data storage [Article 55800]. (b) outside_system: The software failure incident involving the hack on SD Cards can also be seen as a failure originating from outside the system. The vulnerability exploited by the security researchers was not a flaw in the design of the SD Cards themselves but rather a result of reverse-engineering the proprietary workings of the controller chips. By understanding how to manipulate the microcontrollers and their firmware, the researchers were able to breach the security of the SD Cards, indicating that the attack came from external factors outside the intended use of the devices [Article 55800].
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions (a) The software failure incident described in the article is related to non-human actions. Security researchers Andrew Huang and Sean Cross found a way to hack SD Cards by exploiting the microcontrollers within the cards, allowing for the running of malicious software on the memory card itself. This vulnerability was not introduced by human actions but rather by the inherent design and functionality of the microcontrollers in the flash-memory devices like SD Cards, SSDs, and eMMC storage [55800].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) hardware, software (a) The software failure incident in the article is related to hardware. The security researchers found a way to hack SD Cards by exploiting the microcontrollers, which are tiny built-in computers used to oversee data storage on the cards. They reverse-engineered the proprietary workings of the controller chips to run malicious software on the memory card itself, leading to potential man-in-the-middle attacks and data interception [Article 55800]. This incident highlights a hardware vulnerability in flash-memory devices like SD Cards, SSDs, and eMMC storage. (b) The software failure incident is also related to software. The researchers had to figure out how to get a microcontroller to accept and run new firmware, essentially a tiny operating system. They also had to understand the chips' proprietary commands to carry out the attack successfully. This demonstrates a software-related aspect of the incident where the attackers manipulated the software running on the microcontrollers to compromise the security of the flash-memory devices [Article 55800].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) malicious (a) The software failure incident described in the article is malicious in nature. Security researchers Andrew Huang and Sean Cross found a way to hack SD Cards, which are commonly used in mobile phones and digital cameras, to run malicious software that intercepts data. They demonstrated how an attacker could use this approach to secretly copy data, modify sensitive data like encryption keys, or subvert authentication processes by substituting unauthorized files for execution [Article 55800]. This indicates that the objective of the software failure incident was to exploit vulnerabilities in the SD Cards for malicious purposes.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) unknown The intent of the software failure incident described in the article is not related to poor decisions or accidental decisions. Instead, it focuses on a security vulnerability discovered by security researchers Andrew Huang and Sean Cross related to hacking SD Cards and running malicious software on the memory card itself [55800].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) accidental (a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is not explicitly mentioned in the provided article [55800]. (b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is evident in the article as security researchers Andrew Huang and Sean Cross discovered a way to hack SD Cards, exploiting the microcontrollers in the cards to run malicious software. This discovery was not intentional but accidental, highlighting a vulnerability that could potentially lead to data interception and modification [55800].
Duration permanent The software failure incident described in the article [55800] is more likely to be categorized as a permanent failure. The security researchers discovered a way to hack SD Cards by exploiting the microcontrollers within the cards, allowing for the running of malicious software that could intercept data. This vulnerability is inherent to the design and functioning of the flash-memory devices, specifically the microcontrollers, making it a persistent issue rather than a temporary one. The researchers had to reverse-engineer the proprietary workings of the controller chips to carry out the attack, indicating a fundamental flaw in the security architecture of these devices.
Behaviour other (a) crash: The articles do not mention any specific instance of a system crash where the system loses state and fails to perform its intended functions. (b) omission: The software failure incident described in the articles does not involve the system omitting to perform its intended functions at an instance(s). (c) timing: The incident does not relate to the system performing its intended functions correctly but at the wrong time. (d) value: The software failure incident does not involve the system performing its intended functions incorrectly. (e) byzantine: The behavior of the software failure incident described in the articles does not align with the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions. (f) other: The software failure incident described in the articles involves a security vulnerability where hackers could run malicious software on SD Cards, intercept data, copy data, modify sensitive data, or subvert authentication processes by substituting unauthorized files for execution [55800].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception embedded_software (a) The failure described in the article is related to the embedded software layer of the cyber physical system. The security researchers found a way to hack SD Cards by running malicious software on the memory card itself, exploiting the microcontrollers that oversee data storage [Article 55800]. This incident does not directly involve sensor, actuator, processing unit, or network communication errors, but rather focuses on the vulnerability introduced by the embedded software in the microcontrollers of the flash-memory devices.
Communication connectivity_level The software failure incident described in Article 55800 is related to the communication layer of the cyber physical system that failed. The security researchers found a way to hack SD Cards, which are flash-memory devices used to store data in mobile phones and digital cameras. By exploiting the microcontrollers present in these SD Cards, the attackers could run malicious software on the memory card itself, potentially intercepting and modifying data being transferred. This type of attack falls under the category of a man-in-the-middle attack, where data is intercepted during transmission, indicating a failure at the communication layer of the system [55800].
Application FALSE The software failure incident described in Article 55800 is not related to the application layer of the cyber physical system. Instead, it focuses on a security vulnerability in SD Cards and other flash-memory devices that could allow for malicious software to be run on the memory card itself, potentially leading to man-in-the-middle attacks and data interception [55800].

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence property, non-human, theoretical_consequence, other (a) death: There is no mention of people losing their lives due to the software failure incident in the provided article [55800]. (b) harm: The article does not mention any physical harm caused to individuals due to the software failure incident [55800]. (c) basic: The incident did not impact people's access to food or shelter [55800]. (d) property: The software failure incident described in the article could potentially lead to the unauthorized copying of data, modification of sensitive data, or subversion of authentication processes, which could impact people's data security and privacy [55800]. (e) delay: There is no mention of any activities being postponed due to the software failure incident in the article [55800]. (f) non-human: The software failure incident primarily focuses on the vulnerability of SD Cards and other flash-memory devices to hacking, with potential implications for data security and manipulation [55800]. (g) no_consequence: The article does not explicitly state that there were no real observed consequences of the software failure incident [55800]. (h) theoretical_consequence: The article discusses potential consequences of the software failure incident, such as the ability to secretly copy data, modify sensitive information, or subvert authentication processes [55800]. (i) other: The article mentions that the hardware hacker community could benefit from access to cheaper microcontrollers as a result of the research into the vulnerability of flash-memory devices, which could have implications beyond the immediate software failure incident [55800].
Domain information (a) The software failure incident reported in the article is related to the information industry. The incident involves a security vulnerability in SD Cards, which are commonly used in mobile phones and digital cameras to store data [55800]. This vulnerability allows for the interception of data and the running of malicious software on the memory card itself, potentially compromising the security and integrity of the stored information. (m) Additionally, the incident is relevant to the technology industry as a whole, as it pertains to the security and functionality of flash-memory devices such as SD Cards, SSDs, and eMMC storage used in various electronic devices [55800].

Sources

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