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diff --git a/docs/hardware/x60_security.md b/docs/hardware/x60_security.md deleted file mode 100644 index fc880548..00000000 --- a/docs/hardware/x60_security.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,241 +0,0 @@ -% Security on the ThinkPad X60 - -Hardware modifications to enhance security on the ThinkPad X60. This -tutorial is **incomplete** at the time of writing. - -[Back to previous index](./) - -Table of Contents -================= - -- [Hardware Requirements](#hardware_requirements) -- [Software Requirements](#software_requirements) -- [The procedure](#procedure) - -Hardware requirements {#hardware_requirements} -===================== - -- An X60 -- screwdriver -- (in a later version of this tutorial: soldering iron and scalpel) - -Software requirements {#software_requirements} -===================== - -- none (at least in the scope of the article as-is) -- You probably want to encrypt your GNU+Linux install using LUKS - -Rationale -========= - -Most people think of security on the software side: the hardware is -important aswell. - -This tutorial deals with reducing the number of devices that have direct -memory access that could communicate with inputs/outputs that could be -used to remotely command the system (or leak data). All of this is -purely theoretical for the time being. - -Disassembly {#procedure} -=========== - -Firstly remove the bluetooth (if your X60 has this):\ -The marked screws are underneath those stickers (marked in those 3 -locations at the bottom of the LCD assembly):\ -\ -Now gently pry off the bottom part of the front bezel, and the bluetooth -module is on the left (easily removable):\ -\ - -If your model was WWAN, remove the simcard (check anyway):\ -Uncover those 2 screws at the bottom:\ -\ -SIM card (not present in the picture) is in the marked location:\ -\ -Replacement: USB dongle. - -Now get into the motherboard. - -Remove those screws:\ - - -Push the keyboard forward (carefully):\ - - -Lift the keyboard up and disconnect it from the board:\ - - -Grab the right-hand side of the chassis and force it off (gently) and -pry up the rest of the chassis:\ - - -You should now have this:\ - - -The following is a summary of what you will remove (already done to this -system):\ -\ -Note: the blue lines represent antenna cables and modem cables. You -don't need to remove these, but you can if you want (to make it tidier -after removing other parts). I removed the antenna wires, the modem -jack, the modem cable and also (on another model) a device inside the -part where the wwan antenna goes (wasn't sure what it was, but I knew -it wasn't needed). **This is optional** - -Remove the microphone (can desolder it, but you can also easily pull it -off with you hands). Already removed here:\ -\ -**Rationale:**\ -Another reason to remove the microphone: If your computer -gets[\[1\]](#ref1) compromised, it can record what you say, and use it -to receive data from nearby devices if they're compromised too. Also, -we do not know what the built-in microcode (in the CPU) is doing; it -could theoretically be programmed to accept remote commands from some -speaker somewhere (remote security hole). **In other words, the system -could already be compromised from the factory.** - -Remove the modem:\ -\ -(useless, obsolete device) - -Remove the speaker:\ -\ -Reason: combined with the microphone issue, this could be used to leak -data.\ -If your computer gets[\[1\]](#ref1) compromised, it can be used to -transmit data to nearby compromised devices. It's unknown if it can be -turned into a microphone[\[2\]](#ref2).\ -Replacement: headphones/speakers (line-out) or external DAC (USB). - -Remove the wlan (also remove wwan if you have it):\ -\ -Reason: has direct (and very fast) memory access, and could -(theoretically) leak data over a side-channel.\ -**Wifi:** The ath5k/ath9k cards might not have firmware at all. They -might safe but could have access to the computer's RAM trough DMA. If -people have an intel card(most X60s come with Intel wifi by default, -until you change it),then that card runs a non-free firwamre and has -access to the computer's RAM trough DMA! So the risk-level is very -high.\ -**Wwan (3g modem):** They run proprietary software! It's like AMT but -over the GSM network which is probably even worse.\ -Replacement: external USB wifi dongle. (or USB wwan/3g dongle; note, -this has all the same privacy issues as mobile phones. wwan not -recommended). - -Not covered yet: ----------------- - -- Disable cardbus (has fast/direct memory access) -- Disable firewire (has fast/direct memory access) -- Disable flashing the ethernet firmware -- Disable SPI flash writes (can be re-enabled by unsoldering two - parts) - -- Disable use of xrandr/edid on external monitor (cut 2 pins on VGA) -- Disable docking station (might be possible to do it in software, in - coreboot upstream as a Kconfig option) - -Go to -<http://media.ccc.de/browse/congress/2013/30C3_-_5529_-_en_-_saal_2_-_201312271830_-_hardening_hardware_and_choosing_a_goodbios_-_peter_stuge.html> -or directly to the video: -<http://mirror.netcologne.de/CCC/congress/2013/webm/30c3-5529-en-Hardening_hardware_and_choosing_a_goodBIOS_webm.webm>. - -A lot of this tutorial is based on that video. Look towards the second -half of the video to see how to do the above. - -Also not covered yet: ---------------------- - -- Intrusion detection: randomized seal on screws - - Just put nail polish with lot of glider on the important screws, - take some good pictures. Keep the pictueres and make sure of their - integrity. Compare the nail polish with the pictures before powering - on the laptop. -- Tips about preventing/mitigating risk of cold boot attack. - - soldered RAM? - - seal RAM door shut (possibly modified lower chassis) so that - system has to be disassembled (which has to go through the nail - polish) - - wipe all RAM at boot/power-off/power-on? (patch in coreboot - upstream?) - - ask gnutoo about fallback patches (counts number of boots) -- General tips/advice and web links showing how to detect physical - intrusions. -- For example: <http://cs.tau.ac.il/~tromer/acoustic/> or - <http://cyber.bgu.ac.il/content/how-leak-sensitive-data-isolated-computer-air-gap-near-mobile-phone-airhopper>. -- <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempest_%28codename%29> -- https://gitorious.org/gnutoo-for-coreboot/grub-assemble/source/a61f636797777a742f65f4c9c58032aa6a9b23c3: - -Extra notes -=========== - -EC: Cannot be removed but can be mitigated: it contains non-free -non-loadable code, but it has no access to the computer's RAM. It has -access to the on-switch of the wifi, bluetooth, modem and some other -power management features. The issue is that it has access to the -keyboard, however if the software security howto **(not yet written)** -is followed correctly, it won't be able to leak data to a local -attacker. It has no network access but it may still be able to leak data -remotely, but that requires someone to be nearby to recover the data -with the help of an SDR and some directional antennas[\[3\]](#ref3). - -[Intel 82573 Ethernet -controller](http://www.coreboot.org/Intel_82573_Ethernet_controller) on -the X60 seems safe, according to Denis. - -Risk level ----------- - -- Modem (3g/wwan): highest -- Intel wifi: Near highest -- Atheros PCI wifi: unknown, but lower than intel wifi. -- Microphone: only problematic if the computer gets compromised. -- Speakers: only problematic if the computer gets compromised. -- EC: can be mitigated if following the guide on software security. - -Further reading material (software security) -============================================ - -- [Installing Debian or Devuan GNU+Linux with full disk encryption - (including /boot)](../gnulinux/encrypted_debian.html) -- [Installing Parabola GNU+Linux with full disk encryption (including - /boot)](../gnulinux/encrypted_parabola.html) -- [Notes about DMA access and the docking station](dock.html) - -References -========== - -\[1\] physical access {#ref1} ---------------------- - -Explain that black hats, TAO, and so on might use a 0day to get in, and -explain that in this case it mitigates what the attacker can do. Also -the TAO do some evaluation before launching an attack: they take the -probability of beeing caught into account, along with the kind of -target. A 0day costs a lot of money, I heard that it was from 100000\$ -to 400000\$, some other websites had prices 10 times lower but that but -it was probably a typo. So if people increase their security it makes it -more risky and more costly to attack people. - -\[2\] microphone {#ref2} ----------------- - -It's possible to turn headphones into a microphone, you could try -yourself, however they don't record loud at all. Also intel cards have -the capability to change a connector's function, for instance the -microphone jack can now become a headphone plug, that's called -retasking. There is some support for it in GNU+Linux but it's not very -well known. - -\[3\] Video (CCC) {#ref3} ------------------ - -30c3-5356-en-Firmware\_Fat\_Camp\_webm.webm from the 30th CCC. While -their demo is experimental(their hardware also got damaged during the -transport), the spies probably already have that since a long time. -<http://berlin.ftp.media.ccc.de/congress/2013/webm/30c3-5356-en-Firmware_Fat_Camp_webm.webm> - -Copyright © 2014, 2015 Leah Rowe <info@minifree.org>\ -This page is available under the [CC BY SA 4.0](../cc-by-sa-4.0.txt) |