Chapter 09: Embedded Operating Systems: The Hidden Threat
(DDoS) or vulnerability exploitation attacks.
Supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are used for equipment monitoring in large
industries, such as public works and utilities, power generators and dams, transportation systems (such as FAA
40. List at least four best practices for protecting embedded OSs.
The best practices for protecting embedded OSs include the following:
– Identify all embedded systems in an organization.
– Prioritize the systems or functions that depend on these embedded systems.
– Follow the least privileges principle for access to embedded systems.
– Use data transport encryption, when possible, for embedded system communication.
– Configure embedded systems as securely as possible.
– When possible, use cryptographic measures, such as TPM, for booting embedded systems.
– Install patches and updates, when available, to address vulnerabilities.
– Reduce the potential of vulnerabilities by restricting network access.
– Upgrade or replace embedded systems that can’t be fixed or pose an unacceptable risk.
41. What types of embedded systems are found in a typical corporate building?
If you conduct a survey of a typical corporate building, you can find many embedded systems. These systems
include firewalls, switches, routers, Web-filtering appliances, network attached storage (NAS) devices,
networked power switches, printers, scanners, copy machines, video projectors, uninterruptible power supply
(UPS) consoles, Voice over IP (VoIP) phone and voicemail systems, thermostats, HVAC systems, fire
suppression systems, closed-circuit TV systems, elevator management systems, video teleconferencing
workstations and consoles, and intercom systems.
42. Why do many people dismiss the topic of embedded device security?
Many dismiss the topic of embedded device security to focus on more popular security issues. Most of the
media emphasis is on threats that people can understand and relate to, such as the latest network worm, or the
most recent Facebook application attack. However, embedded systems are in all networks and perform
essential functions, such as routing network traffic and blocking suspicious packets.
43. What types of specific systems use VxWorks embedded real-time OS?
Systems using VxWorks include:
– Clementine spacecraft
– Deep Impact space probe
– James Webb Space Telescope (in development)
– Mars exploration rovers Spirit and Opportunity
– Mars Phoenix Lander
– Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
– Radvision 3G communication equipment
– Stardust spacecraft
– SAUVIM (a submersible spacecraft designed for deep-ocean operations)
44. What critical consumer product did the botnet worm psyb0t or the Network Bluepill target?
Home router embedded systems, such as the Linksys WRT54G, were the target of the psyb0t worm. This
worm spread by exploiting outdated or poorly configured router OSs that contained easy–to-guess passwords.
After psyb0t had infected tens of thousands of systems, attackers used it to launch distributed denial-of-service