By: Matt Spisak

Scheduled on: June 17 at 10:30

Security researchers have limited options when it comes to debuggers and dynamic binary instrumentation tools for ARM-based devices. Hardware-based solutions can be expensive or destructive, while software tools are often restricted to user mode. In this talk, we explore a common but often ignored feature of the ARM debug architecture in search of other options. Digging deeper into this hardware component reveals many interesting use-cases for researchers ranging from debugging and instrumentation to building a novel rootkit.

First, we will shine a spotlight on a debug interface that dates back to ARMv6, and demonstrate how to control it from software in order to instrument code in normal world. We will introduce a prototype toolkit with IDA plugin that can perform real-time tracing, code coverage analysis, and more, of the Android kernel on COTS smartphones without requiring virtualization extensions or special hardware. Next, we will compare implementations of this hardware unit across multiple chipset vendors, and discuss applicability to other ARM CPUs found in your phone like WiFi and cellular basebands.

The second half of our talk will add new meaning to the phrase “hardware-assisted rootkit”. Abusing this same debug interface we will have some fun with the Krait architecture in order to demonstrate a kernel-level rootkit for Android that can bypass the current state of the art in rootkit detection. We’ll discuss hijacking exceptions, interacting with TrustZone, and methods for detecting this unconventional rootkit. Finally, we will wrap up highlighting a use-case for exploit mitigations on embedded systems.

Slides