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Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

fatsquirrel.org

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Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#11

Post by cnvogel »

Sanddancer wrote: post #3

That is some brutal power sag going on. Those waveforms would probably look a good bit different with the capacitors replaced. Thirty years is a long time for electrolitic caps, and the tantalums are probably not much better.

Probably it's just the general stability of the oscillator circuit. It seems to drift around 300 kHz around its center frequency of 340 MHz, so about +/-1‰. For such a very simple transmitter that's likely demodulated with an equally simple LC-filter and an envelope detector, it could just be be right "up to spec": http://imgur.com/l47Nm4B

Edit: % -> ‰

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#12

Post by andmarios »

flashman wrote: post #6

You can use a similar technique to clone a garage door remote control. You simply have to record the transmission using the techniques mentioned in this post, then rebroadcast it on the same frequency. Broadcasting FM is as simple as loading a Raspberry Pi up with PiFM[0]. Or, if you don't have the original remote (but are a bit more technical), you can just brute force the combination; most remotes only use a 12-bit…

Instead of a Pi you can use an Arduino with a RF module. The RF transmitter modulates at a standard frequency (e.g 433.92MHz), so the Arduino only has to send the code (a few bytes) at an appropriate frequency.

Here is an example I wrote, where I use this setup to turn on and off a remote controlled socket: https://github.com/andmarios/arduino/blob/master/lidlRemoteS...

Total cost could stay below $5 if you buy cheap components from eBay.

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#13

Post by calgoo »

roel_v wrote: post #7
zxcvgm wrote: post #4

i hope the author is not going to use this panel as-is because it send everything in clear. i would keep the front panel but retrofit a microcontroller in there to encrypt keypresses before it is sent.

Technically you're right, but this is a problem that comes up a lot in wireless home automation. Thing is, what is the attack vector you want to protect against? How many burglars are going to be sitting outside your house (I'm imagining: in a black van with 'Bob's plumbing' written on the outside) analyzing RF patterns when someone comes in, reverse engineer it, then burglarize you home? My estimate is 0, even when…

"And the other side: there was a recent string of thefts of BMW and VW cars in my area. Reason? They had an inside man at the main office who slipped them copies of the remotes."

Why does this sound like Gone in 60 Seconds :)

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#14

Post by userbinator »

The main chip appears to be an Exar custom gate-array IC dated week 4, 1987. It probably contains a 4x4 keypad scanner (note there are 15 buttons on the keypad) with baseband output. The RF section is all discretes. The HCF4069 near the battery is being used as an oscillator to drive the piezo buzzer.

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#15

Post by monochromatic »

> I’d envisaged the former owner being some sort of back-woods buck-toothed survivalist who spent his life protecting his family from the oppressive government until he got sick and had to sell his house, guns and alarm system to pay for his medical bills.

I love the casual elitism of this Brit expat. Cool post otherwise though.

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#16

Post by Vexs »

flashman wrote: post #6

You can use a similar technique to clone a garage door remote control. You simply have to record the transmission using the techniques mentioned in this post, then rebroadcast it on the same frequency. Broadcasting FM is as simple as loading a Raspberry Pi up with PiFM[0]. Or, if you don't have the original remote (but are a bit more technical), you can just brute force the combination; most remotes only use a 12-bit…

AFAIK some/most garage doors now use rolling-key encryption, like car keys.

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#17

Post by Vexs »

roel_v wrote: post #7
zxcvgm wrote: post #4

i hope the author is not going to use this panel as-is because it send everything in clear. i would keep the front panel but retrofit a microcontroller in there to encrypt keypresses before it is sent.

Technically you're right, but this is a problem that comes up a lot in wireless home automation. Thing is, what is the attack vector you want to protect against? How many burglars are going to be sitting outside your house (I'm imagining: in a black van with 'Bob's plumbing' written on the outside) analyzing RF patterns when someone comes in, reverse engineer it, then burglarize you home? My estimate is 0, even when…

Occam's razor. Burglars using fairly technical methods of ingress, or stealing keys?

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#18

Post by Vexs »

viraptor wrote: post #8
late2part wrote: post #5

Awesome article! I just got an SDR and now I'm hunting for old RF things to interrogate - thanks for the ideas!

I recommend scanning your 300-440 MHz range - there's an amazing number of devices working in it. Garage remotes, car remotes, smart power meters, ACs, weather stations, tire pressure monitors, I can see 3 periodic signals at home and I don't even know what 2 of them are. (maybe picking up something from neighbours)

Don't forget the 900mhz range! Plenty of cool stuff going on there. Oh, and you could make a searching antenna pretty easily- basically a shitty antenna that you can use to find signal strength easily, because it picks up so poorly.

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#19

Post by iNate2000 »

roel_v wrote: post #7
zxcvgm wrote: post #4

i hope the author is not going to use this panel as-is because it send everything in clear. i would keep the front panel but retrofit a microcontroller in there to encrypt keypresses before it is sent.

Technically you're right, but this is a problem that comes up a lot in wireless home automation. Thing is, what is the attack vector you want to protect against? How many burglars are going to be sitting outside your house (I'm imagining: in a black van with 'Bob's plumbing' written on the outside) analyzing RF patterns when someone comes in, reverse engineer it, then burglarize you home? My estimate is 0, even when…

But if everything uses similar protocols, then it won't be long before someone releases a tool making it easier than smashing windows.

Re: Reverse engineering an ancient wireless security keypad using RTL-SDR

#20

Post by jbergknoff »

flashman wrote: post #6

You can use a similar technique to clone a garage door remote control. You simply have to record the transmission using the techniques mentioned in this post, then rebroadcast it on the same frequency. Broadcasting FM is as simple as loading a Raspberry Pi up with PiFM[0]. Or, if you don't have the original remote (but are a bit more technical), you can just brute force the combination; most remotes only use a 12-bit…

Nice. I have a 30 year old garage opener but I don't have a remote. I know the combination because I set the DIP switches, and I think I even dug up the trasmission frequency when I looked into it a few months ago. I don't know what sort of transmission the opener wants to receive, though. Any resources you can point me to on that topic?
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