Reverse Engineering and Hardware Forensics for Security Analysts Essentials Training by Tonex
This intensive two-day training provides a deep dive into the techniques and tools used in reverse engineering and hardware forensics. Designed specifically for security analysts and professionals in high-stakes environments such as aerospace and defense, the course covers interfaces like JTAG, UART, and SWD, along with firmware extraction, circuit board diagnostics, and chip-level analysis. The ability to identify vulnerabilities at the hardware level plays a crucial role in cybersecurity—helping prevent embedded exploits, hardware backdoors, and unauthorized firmware tampering. By understanding the forensic process, participants gain critical skills in uncovering threats to embedded systems and protecting secure assets.
Audience:
- Cybersecurity Professionals
- Security Researchers
- Embedded Systems Engineers
- Defense Analysts
- Aerospace System Integrators
- Critical Infrastructure Security Teams
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the fundamentals of hardware reverse engineering
- Learn to identify and utilize debug interfaces like JTAG, UART, and SWD
- Acquire skills to safely extract and analyze firmware
- Develop board-level diagnostic and analysis capabilities
- Interpret silicon-level anomalies for forensic purposes
- Assess embedded systems for vulnerabilities and unauthorized modifications
Module 1: Hardware Interfaces Overview
- Introduction to JTAG, UART, and SWD
- Understanding pinout identification
- Serial communication basics
- Debugging protocols and signal behavior
- Physical layer tapping techniques
- Common interface security risks
Module 2: Firmware Extraction Techniques
- Overview of flash memory types
- Identifying and accessing memory chips
- Dumping firmware via JTAG/UART
- Extracting code from SPI and I2C
- Ensuring data integrity and structure
- Legal and ethical considerations
Module 3: Board-Level Analysis
- PCB component identification
- Power analysis and supply mapping
- Signal tracing and routing inspection
- Board schematics and layout reading
- Identifying hidden or suspicious components
- Anomaly detection in board architecture
Module 4: Reverse Engineering Fundamentals
- Binary analysis with Ghidra
- Firmware disassembly basics
- Recognizing patterns and signatures
- Static vs dynamic code analysis
- Identifying embedded system vulnerabilities
- Common firmware obfuscation techniques
Module 5: Silicon Fingerprinting and Identification
- Understanding die markings and layouts
- Techniques for silicon analysis
- Forensic use of ChipWhisperer
- Detecting counterfeit or altered ICs
- Microcontroller behavior profiling
- Challenges in chip-level inspection
Module 6: Hardware Forensics in Security Ops
- Role of hardware forensics in cyber defense
- Hardware indicators of compromise (IoC)
- Capturing and logging forensic artifacts
- Reconstructing attack vectors
- Securing evidence from embedded systems
- Integrating findings into threat reports
Master the intricacies of hardware reverse engineering and embedded forensics with Tonex’s expert-led training. Equip yourself with the knowledge and hands-on techniques essential for safeguarding modern hardware systems. Register now to elevate your cybersecurity proficiency in defending embedded platforms and critical infrastructure.