Firmware Does Not Validate Update Integrity

Firmware Update Integrity Not Validated

Overview of the Vulnerability

The hardware fails to validate the authenticity and integrity of the update file. Without proper validation, the system is susceptible to accepting and installing corrupted or malicious updates, compromising the device's security and functionality.

Business Impact

The direct impact includes potential compromise of device functionality, unauthorized access to sensitive data, and the introduction of malware, leading to operational disruptions. This vulnerability undermines the trust in the device's security measures, potentially resulting in significant financial costs for mitigation and recovery, alongside damaging the organization's reputation for safeguarding user data and system integrity.

Steps to Reproduce

1. Prepare a modified or corrupted firmware update file for the {{hardware version}}.

2. Initiate the firmware update process using the compromised file.

3. Observe the lack of validation checks for the update's authenticity or integrity during the update process.

Proof of Concept (PoC)

The following screenshot(s) demonstrate(s) this vulnerability:

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Guidance

Provide a step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots on how you exploited the vulnerability. This will speed up triage time and result in faster rewards. Please include specific details on where you identified the vulnerability, how you identified it, and what actions you were able to perform as a result.

Attempt to escalate the vulnerability to perform additional actions. If this is possible, provide a full Proof of Concept (PoC).

Recommendation(s)

It is recommended to implement encryption for firmware updates so that the data can be protected during transit. This also increases the time it takes to reverse engineer which firmware is used.