Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
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Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
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Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#2>Although the firmware was released last year (August 2019) as I write this article, it uses an old Linux kernel version (3.3.8) released in 2012 compiled with a very old GCC version (4.6) also from 2012!
This is what happens whey you pay peanuts for embedded devs and outsource development to the cheapest sweatshop you can find so your products can meet a competitive price point.
Sadly this will not change until there's regulation in place to hold manufacturers accountable for their massively obvious vulnerabilities since nobody cares that they're flooding the market with potential botnet hosts when they're overworked, paid miserably and have a manager constantly breathing down their neck.
Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#3This is amazing! I’ve used binwalk extract for ‘capture the flag’ challenges but I never really thought about the practical applications of it. Wow! Thank you
Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#4>Although the firmware was released last year (August 2019) as I write this article, it uses an old Linux kernel version (3.3.8) released in 2012 compiled with a very old GCC version (4.6) also from 2012! This is what happens whey you pay peanuts for embedded devs and outsource development to the cheapest sweatshop you can find so your products can meet a competitive price point. Sadly this will not change until ther…
It is mostly related to drivers to soc, not about paying devs
Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#5>Although the firmware was released last year (August 2019) as I write this article, it uses an old Linux kernel version (3.3.8) released in 2012 compiled with a very old GCC version (4.6) also from 2012! This is what happens whey you pay peanuts for embedded devs and outsource development to the cheapest sweatshop you can find so your products can meet a competitive price point. Sadly this will not change until ther…
It is mostly related to drivers to soc, not about paying devs
So how did OpenWRT manage to build firmware with up to date components for it? The Qualcomm chips inside of it seem fairly modern for such an old kernel.
Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#6>Although the firmware was released last year (August 2019) as I write this article, it uses an old Linux kernel version (3.3.8) released in 2012 compiled with a very old GCC version (4.6) also from 2012! This is what happens whey you pay peanuts for embedded devs and outsource development to the cheapest sweatshop you can find so your products can meet a competitive price point. Sadly this will not change until ther…
Most routers run 2.6.32 kernel.
Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#7>Although the firmware was released last year (August 2019) as I write this article, it uses an old Linux kernel version (3.3.8) released in 2012 compiled with a very old GCC version (4.6) also from 2012! This is what happens whey you pay peanuts for embedded devs and outsource development to the cheapest sweatshop you can find so your products can meet a competitive price point. Sadly this will not change until ther…
Most routers run 2.6.32 kernel.
I have the feeling most home routers are designed by the same OEM shop in Shenzhen.
Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#8Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is mostly related to drivers to soc, not about paying devs
So how did OpenWRT manage to build firmware with up to date components for it? The Qualcomm chips inside of it seem fairly modern for such an old kernel.
Note that openwrt has a big community of contributors and not all devices/features are supported. In contrast the manufacturer firmware is at least feature complete and easy for regular users to set up.
Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is mostly related to drivers to soc, not about paying devs
So how did OpenWRT manage to build firmware with up to date components for it? The Qualcomm chips inside of it seem fairly modern for such an old kernel.
Cause openwrt doesnt care if some feature doesnt work but oem should support all features
Re: Reverse engineering my router's firmware with binwalk
#10>Although the firmware was released last year (August 2019) as I write this article, it uses an old Linux kernel version (3.3.8) released in 2012 compiled with a very old GCC version (4.6) also from 2012! This is what happens whey you pay peanuts for embedded devs and outsource development to the cheapest sweatshop you can find so your products can meet a competitive price point. Sadly this will not change until ther…
Most routers run 2.6.32 kernel.
Is there any particular reason for this? Like some feature that was removed in later versions?