Embedded security: what is it?
Security-embedded systems offer defenses against all forms of malevolent activity. The security of embedded systems, associated security terminology, software and physical security, and four embedded system attributes that impact security are all covered in this section.
Embedded Systems Security Definition
The goal of the cybersecurity discipline known as embedded systems security is to stop unauthorized users from accessing and using embedded systems. Security for embedded systems offers defenses against all kinds of malevolent activity. To make sure the embedded system has the required security measures in place to lessen the harm from these assaults, cybersecurity experts collaborate with systems design teams.
Preventing unauthorized access to and usage of embedded systems is the main goal of embedded systems security.
Terms related to cybersecurity
As you study embedded system security, it will be useful to understand the following general cybersecurity terms:
A path an attacker or malicious process could follow to breach a system is known as an attack vector. Attack vectors for embedded systems include disks, network protocols, flash drives, and the Internet.
A target point of exposure, or the ultimate objective of the assault vector, is known as an attack surface. A file system, a user application, and a network driver are a few examples of attack surfaces.
A source (human or program) having malevolent intent is called a threat actor.
An attacker is a person who actively engages in malevolent behavior.
A vulnerability is a flaw that a threat actor could use to carry out illegal operations on a computer or embedded system.
For embedded systems, software security against physical security
Physical security and software security are the two categories of security that are applicable to embedded systems.
Physical security measures
Physical security measures, including closed doors and surveillance cameras, prevent unauthorized individuals from entering an embedded device, causing physical harm to it, or stealing it. Access to equipment and critical places is restricted by physical security. Features of a device itself, such as immutable memory technology, tamper-resistant memory, secured key stores, and security enclaves to safeguard important code and data, can also be considered physical security.
Both during initialization and during runtime, software security controls and reacts to malicious activity occurring within the system. Authenticating a device to a network, firewalling network traffic, and rigorously hardening system software are only a few examples of software security features.
Embedded system characteristics that impact security
Numerous embedded systems carry out safety- or mission-critical tasks that are essential to the system’s intended use and the surroundings. Every industry, from home appliances to aerospace and defense, is affected by embedded systems security. The Internet of Things (IoT) is beginning to connect modern embedded devices, which opens up new attack avenues.
Systems that are connected
Turning off a system is the most secure embedded system, followed by a fully isolated system. Embedded software security was less crucial when embedded systems were isolated technological islands with little data. Nowadays, embedded systems are frequently linked to a communications network, increasing the number of threat actors that can affect the system.
Targets of cyberattacks
Modern embedded systems, including mission-critical systems, are popular targets due to their interoperability and connection, the monetary value of data, and their potential to cause significant harm. The range of cyberattacks on embedded systems security includes everything from turning off anti-theft devices in cars and lowering control system performance to instructing printers to send copies of documents to the hacker and gaining access to a smartphone’s data. Everyone, from developers to end users, must act quickly to assist prevent, manage, and patch vulnerabilities caused by cyberattacks on embedded systems.
Every component of the software and hardware architecture must be secure. From the firmware and embedded operating system (OS) to middleware and user applications, every element of the embedded system architecture generates an attack surface. An essential component of embedded systems security, the embedded operating system (OS) performs the primary role as the backbone of security for an embedded system.
