Live Webinar: Secure and Reliable Firmware Updates with wolfBoot in 2024
Join us for a webinar on ‘Secure and Reliable Firmware Updates with wolfBoot,’ presented by wolfSSL Senior Engineer and security expert, Daniele on February 1st at 10 am PT.
Save the date: February 1st | 10 am PT
Explore the challenges associated with connected embedded systems that allow remote updates of various artifacts and how a secure boot mechanism emerges as a robust solution. In such systems, it is crucial to address security risks. Daniele will provide a comprehensive guide on securing embedded systems, emphasizing the importance of a secure boot mechanism and showcasing wolfBoot as a leading solution in the realm of firmware security.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn the best solutions for securing your firmware. Daniele will take you through the possibilities of real-life secure firmware update solutions, designed using the latest standards and best cryptographic algorithms. Register now to secure your spot while seats are still available.
As always, our webinars will include Q&A sessions throughout. If you have questions about any of the above, please contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247.
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Handshake Message Coalescing Vulnerability
wolfSSL prior to version 5.6.6 had a vulnerability where the (D)TLS key boundaries were not properly checked. As a result, it was possible to combine (D)TLS messages using different keys into one (D)TLS record. The most extreme edge case is that, in (D)TLS 1.3, it was possible that an unencrypted (D)TLS 1.3 record from the server containing first a ServerHello message and then the rest of the first server flight would be accepted by a wolfSSL client. In (D)TLS 1.3 the handshake is encrypted after the ServerHello but a wolfSSL client would accept an unencrypted flight from the server. This does not compromise key negotiation and authentication so it is assigned a low severity rating.
We would like to thank Johannes Wilson for the report (Sectra Communications and Linköping University). The fix for this issue is located in the following GitHub Pull Request: #7029.
If you have questions about any of the above, please contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247.
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wolfBoot v2.0.0 intel x86_64 support
wolfBoot v2.0.0 introduced support for the Intel x86-64 bit architecture by leveraging the Intel Firmware Support Package (Intel FSP) and several new exciting and interesting features: TPM integration, Multiboot2/ELF support, PCI support, AHCI support, SATA security features, and others.
On Intel x86_64, wolfBoot uses a dual stage design. In the first stage, It initializes the memory and the hardware with the help of Intel FSP. Intel FSP allows BIOS and bootloader developers to focus on the critical features and broad support without worrying about the hardware initialization details. After the memory and silicon initialization, wolfBoot enumerates and configures all PCI devices in the system.
In the second stage, when the hardware is up and ready, wolfBoot does the necessary steps to read, decrypt, verify, and safely boot the main application. We added support for AHCI controller, SATA disks and ATA security commands: the main application can now be stored in a password-locked hard drive!
In both stages, wolfBoot verifies each component loaded, either from system ROM or from the hard disk, plus the TPM support allows very interesting scenarios. First, it enables TPM-assisted measured boot: each component loaded into the system is “measured”, taking part in an integrity proof managed inside the TPM itself so that certain operations are allowed only if the system is in a trustful state. The TPM can store (“seal”) secrets that can be recovered (“unsealed”) only if the system is in a precise state. If compromised software is running on the target, the secret never leaves the TPM.
In wolfBoot we leverage this by sealing the disk password (randomly generated at the first boot) in the TPM and binding the unsealing to a precise state of the system. If the loaded components are compromised or if the disk is removed from the device for direct tampering, the disk can’t be unlocked at all!
Once the disk is unlocked, it’s time to load the application in the right place and communicate the current hardware situation before booting. wolfboot supports the Multiboot2 standards to communicate with the main application and it supports the Executable and Linkable Format (ELF) format, one of the most ubiquitous object file formats for binary distribution, to load the application in the right places into the memory. As it supports memory virtualization, the application can be loaded anywhere in the address space, even above the 4GB limit.
And, as always, all current features of wolfBoot such as verified boot, OTA firmware secure update with power-fail tolerance, delta updates, encrypted firmware, and post-quantum firmware verification, will be directly available on the Intel x86-64 architecture.
All these new features are supported on the VX3060 Kontron board and can be tested on QEMU, but new hardware will be supported soon. If you have a new Intel-based board you would like to have supported or for any other comments, feedback or questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247.
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Sniffing TLS Traffic
Do you have a need to capture and/or analyze TLS traffic? The wolfSSL library includes a useful tool that you can leverage. The wolfSSL sniffer can be used to capture TLS packets and even decrypt them when at least one of the keys is known. This can be done with both live and recorded PCAP traces.
This could be useful for several reasons, including:
- Analyzing Network Problems
- Detecting network misuse by internal and external users
- Monitoring network usage and data in motion
- Debugging client/server communications
The sniffer supports both TLS v1.2 and TLS v1.3. It can be integrated into any application using our sniffer API’s and it even comes with a complete working example!
See here for more detailed documentation.
Have any questions, comments, or suggestions? Contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247.
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wolfSSL Rust Wrapper coming soon
Rust support is coming to wolfSSL this year! The wolfSSL embedded TLS library is a lightweight, portable, C-language-based SSL/TLS library known for its low footprint, speed, and feature set. Users have been able to take advantage of our library not only in C but also in their Java, C#, Python, and JavaScript projects using the various wrappers we provide. This year, we’re planning to add Rust to that list.
Similar to C, Rust is a low-level programming language with direct access to hardware and memory, which will make our wolfSSL Rust Wrapper a great SSL/TLS solution for embedded and IoT development for Rust projects. The wrapper will also service Rust users with performance and/or FIPS requirements.
Are you interested in a Rust wrapper?
If you have questions about any of the above, please contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247.
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Live Webinar: Medical Device Security: Key Strategies for Cybersecurity and Data Protection
You are invited to join a webinar on “Medical Device Security: Key Strategies for Cybersecurity and Data Protection” scheduled for January 25th at 10 am PT. wolfSSL’s Senior Software Engineer, Eric, will delve into the topic of medical device security. As the complexity and connectivity of medical devices have increased, it is essential to maintain a high-quality security system to safeguard your data. Eric will showcase various use cases, demonstrate how wolfSSL products can enhance your security systems, explain the reasons why people choose wolfSSL for medical devices, and much more.
Save the date: January 25th at 10 am PT
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn how you can protect your data from threats and provide peace of mind to your patients. Register today, and let us show you how you can leverage your security with wolfSSL!
As always, our webinars will include Q&A sessions throughout. If you have questions about any of the above, please contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247.
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The Quantum Arena
It is always very interesting to see news articles about technical advances in the Quantum Arena. For example: https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3246752/china-and-russia-test-hack-proof-quantum-communication-link-brics-countries
This article talks about cooperation between China and Russia to make QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) between the two countries a reality. While only an experiment, this is a landmark achievement for the BRICS group of countries.
This is a great reminder that at a nation state level, most countries are diplomatically friendly while at the same time locked in fierce competition to gain technical superiority over each other. The Quantum Arena is one of those places where competition occurs. Of course, one of the other aspects of this arena is quantum computing. As the “Five Eyes” countries pour resources into developing quantum computers, so too do the BRICS countries. As competition heats up, it seems efforts are being redoubled to get to the first CRQC (Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computer) on both sides.
Will you be ready upon the arrival of the first CRQC?
If you have questions about any of the above, please contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247.
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X.509 Alternative Public Key and Signature
For people who work in the world of PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) and security protocols, when you think of certificates, RFC 5280 instantly comes to mind. However, it is interesting to note that this document was written in 2008 and is the IETF’s specification of X.509 which is itself a standard that is maintained by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union). The X.509 standard was updated in 2019.
One of the additions to X.509 made in 2019 is the concept of alternative cryptographic digital signature algorithm extensions. They are defined and discussed in technical detail in section 9.8 of the 2019 update to X.509.
Briefly, it introduces 3 new non-critical X.509 certificate extensions:
- Subject Alternative Public Key Information
- Alternative Signature Algorithm
- Alternative Signature Value
The main purpose of these extensions is to allow for 2 algorithms to be used in a certificate chain. The reason this is needed is to help ease the migration to post-quantum cryptography.
Do you think having an optional second alternative digital signature algorithm public key and signature in your certificates would be useful? If so, send a message to facts@wolfSSL.com and let us know your needs and use case for these X.509 extensions!
If you have questions about any of the above, please contact us at facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247.
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wolfSSL Support for the Espressif ESP-IDF v5.2 Beta
Recently Espressif announced their ESP-IDF v5.2 Beta 1 on GitHub. The same day we found out about this exciting new version, we confirmed that all the wolfSSL Espressif ESP32 Examples are working in that environment. So far the “beta” looks to be well polished from our perspective. Last week, we learned about the ESP-IDF v5.2 Beta 2 on GitHub. The final release should be quite nice.
We have both core performance, benchmark, and client-server examples as well as additional examples for the ESP32.
Incorporating wolfSSL in your Espressif project has never been easier. As announced in the summer of 2023 – wolfSSL is now available in the Espressif ESP Registry of managed components: this one line adds wolfSSL to your project:
# Add wolfSSL component to existing ESP-IDF project idf.py add-dependency "wolfssl/wolfssl"
Get Started with wolfSSL
Additional information on getting Started with wolfSSL on the Espressif environment is available on the wolfSSL GitHub repository as well as this YouTube recording:
Find out more
If you have any feedback, questions, or require support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via facts@wolfSSL.com or call us at +1 425 245 8247, or open an issue on GitHub.
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wolfSSH – Now Available as an Espressif Managed Component Includes SSH Echo Server Example
Not long ago, we announced preview support for new Espressif Managed Components. This is in addition to the core wolfssl managed component. Today you can add SSH capabilities to your toolbox by visiting this link:
https://components.espressif.com/components/wolfssl/wolfssh
If the ESP Registry page does not fully load with all the text, try holding down the “ctrl” key when pressing the refresh button in your browser. The CDN seems to occasionally cache incomplete web content.
Getting started with wolfSSL and wolfSSH has never been easier! You can add wolfSSH to your project with this command:
idf.py add-dependency “wolfssl/wolfssh”
We’ve also included a complete example project to connect to the AWS IoT MQTT. Just click the little “copy” icon and paste into a command prompt after the ESP-IDF has been installed:
Try it
Here’s an example of how the example can be created, built, and flashed onto your ESP32:
# Setup the ESP-IDF Environment (your actual path may vary)
. ~/esp/esp-idf/export.sh
# Download and create the example
idf.py create-project-from-example “wolfssl/wolfssh:wolfssh_echoserver”
cd wolfssl_echoserver
# Set your SSID and wifi Password in Example Connection Configuration
idf.py menuconfig
# Flash the code to your ESP32
idf.py -p /dev/ttyS9 -b 115200 flash monitor
The full wolfSSL repository for wolfSSH contains even more examples for not only this Echo Server Example, but many other target platforms as well.
Get Started with wolfSSL
Additional information on getting Started with wolfSSL on the Espressif environment is available on the wolfSSL GitHub repository as well as this YouTube recording:
Find out more
If you have any feedback, questions, or require support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via facts@wolfSSL.com, call us at +1 425 245 8247, or open an issue on GitHub.
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