Descripción del proyecto
Mejora de la seguridad del internet de las cosas mediante el análisis binario
El rápido ritmo de la digitalización y la transición al internet de las cosas (IdC) ha llevado a que un importante número de dispositivos heredados estén conectados a internet. A pesar de los muchos beneficios de esta transición, también ha hecho que tanto los dispositivos heredados como el IdC sean más susceptibles a la delincuencia digital debido a la falta de soluciones disponibles. El objetivo del proyecto BASTION, financiado por el Consejo Europeo de Investigación, es abordar esta cuestión centrándose en desarrollar un programa de investigación centrado en técnicas de análisis binario. El equipo del proyecto pretende producir métodos y tecnologías novedosos que puedan mejorar la seguridad dentro del IoT. Para lograrlo, diseñará varias tecnologías y métodos útiles centrados en el «software» para proporcionar datos cruciales para las innovaciones de seguridad basadas en el análisis binario.
Objetivo
We are in the midst of the shift towards the Internet of Things (IoT), where more and more (legacy) devices are connected to the Internet and communicate with each other. This paradigm shift brings new security challenges and unfortunately many current security solutions are not applicable anymore, e.g. because of a lack of clear network boundaries or resource-constrained devices. However, security plays a central role: In addition to its classical function in protecting against manipulation and fraud, it also enables novel applications and innovative business models.
We propose a research program that leverages binary analysis techniques to improve the security within the IoT. We concentrate on the software level since this enables us to both analyze a given device for potential security vulnerabilities and add security features to harden the device against future attacks. More specifically, we concentrate on the firmware (i.e. the combination of persistent memory together with program code and data that powers such devices) and develop novel mechanism for binary analysis of such software. We design an intermediate language to abstract away from the concrete assembly level and this enables an analysis of many different platforms within a unified analysis framework. We transfer and extend program analysis techniques such as control-/data-flow analysis or symbolic execution and apply them to our IL. Given this novel toolset, we can analyze security properties of a given firmware image (e.g. uncovering undocumented functionality and detecting memory corruption or logical vulnerabilities,). We also explore how to harden a firmware by retrofitting security mechanisms (e.g. adding control-flow integrity or automatically eliminating unnecessary functionality). This research will deepen our fundamental understanding of binary analysis methods and apply it to a novel area as it lays the foundations of performing this analysis on the level of intermediate languages.
Ámbito científico
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineering
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetinternet of things
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftware
- social sciencessociologysocial issuescorruption
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputer security
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
ERC-STG - Starting GrantInstitución de acogida
44801 Bochum
Alemania