Windows 7 Firewire Attacks - and Defense Techniques

[Security Research Publications <publications () securityresearch at>]

Hello,

In the course of the Windows 7 RTM release, the Security Research Lab would like to share some results on firewire/DMA 
based hacks and Windows 7, which is susceptible to such attacks.

While the attack vector itself is already known from previous Windows versions, we also describe the impact of 
Firewire-based Windows authentication bypassing on Microsoft's full-disk encryption solution BitLocker, the Encrypted 
File System (EFS) and Windows domains. A comprehensive section on countermeasures on different layers concludes this 
whitepaper, which can be downloaded from:

http://www.securityresearch.at/publications/windows7_firewire_physical_attacks.pdf

Moreover, we have developed a software solution to protect against Firewire-based physical security attacks on Windows 
systems which is discussed in a separate whitepaper:

http://www.securityresearch.at/publications/windows_firewire_blocker.pdf

The software can be downloaded here - use at your own risk:

http://www.securityresearch.at/publications/firewireblocker.zip 

Kind regards,
Benjamin

--
Dipl.-Ing. Mag. Mag. Benjamin Böck
IS Services & Audit
Security Research Sicherheitsforschung GmbH
Office: Sommerpalais Harrach / Favoritenstr. 16 / 1040 Wien
M: bboeck () securityresearch at
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F: +43 1 505 8888
http://www.securityresearch.at

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