Category Archives: Tutorials

Reverse Engineering Firmware: Linksys WAG120N

  By Craig | May 29, 2011 - 1:59 am | ,
89 Comments

The ability to analyze a firmware image and extract data from it is extremely useful. It can allow you to analyze an embedded device for bugs, vulnerabilities, or GPL violations without ever having access to the device.

In this tutorial, we’ll be examining the firmware update file for the Linksys WAG120N with the intent of finding and extracting the kernel and file system from the firmware image. The firmware image used is for the WAG120N hardware version 1.0, firmware version 1.00.16 (ETSI) Annex B, released on 08/16/2010 and is currently available for download from the Linksys Web site.

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Embedded Code Reuse

  By Craig | December 20, 2010 - 2:57 am |
10 Comments

When examining embedded devices, it is not uncommon to find that two or more of them share common code, and even common hardware. This probably comes as no surprise, as re-using code and hardware designs helps lower production costs. What might be a little more surprising is when you find two devices from two different vendors that share the same code or hardware.

It’s important to be able to identify devices that use the same code or design. If you find a bug or vulnerability in one device, it’s likely that it affects other devices as well. Likewise, if you are having trouble reversing or analyzing a particular device, work that others have done on similar products can help put you on the right track.

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