An IoT Pentest or penetration test is the assessment and exploitation of various components present in an IoT device solution to help make the device more secure. Unlike traditional penetration tests, IoT involves several various components, as we have discussed earlier, and whenever we talk about an IoT pentest, all those component needs to be tested.
As for any typical IoT pentest, we as pen testers need to understand the scope and any other constraints and limitations. The testing conditions will vary from product to product and could be anything, ranging from ensuring that it happens between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. (or overnight), to performing the pentesting on a staging The environment provided by the client.
Once you understand the technical scope of the project, it is worth mentioning to the client what kind of IoT pentest (white box, black box, or gray box).
you or your team is going to perform to ensure that both the client and are on the same page.
One of the other things about IoT penetration testing is the requirement of multiple devices. Often during an IoT pentest, certain techniques we use involve destructive methods such as removing a chip from a circuit board for analysis, which would most likely make the device unusable for further analysis.
Attack Surface Mapping
The process of attack surface mapping means mapping out all the various entry points that an attacker could potentially abuse in an IoT device solution. This is the first step, and one of the most important ones, in the entire IoT pen testing methodology. It also involves creating an architecture diagram of the entire product from a pentester’s perspective.
During penetration testing engagements, we often spend one full day on this phase.
How to Perform Attack Surface Mapping?
As soon as you get a new target, take time to understand the device first.
Starting an assessment with incomplete or partial information is one of the biggest mistakes a pentester can make. This means going through all the possible channels and collecting information, such as device
documentation and manuals, online resources, and posts about the product, and any available content or prior research about the device.
When we look at an IoT solution, the entire architecture can be broadly divided into three categories:
- Embedded device.
- Firmware, software, and applications.
- Radio communications.
Structuring the IoT Pentest
IoT Pentest or penetration testing is relatively new compared to other forms of penetration testing, not many people are familiar with how to execute the overall pentest. This section explains how to structure the pentest, the ideal team size, the number of days required, and other relevant details.
Article By: Sayan Chatterjee
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