IoT Hacking - Netgear AC1750 NightHawk - UART Root Shell

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  • Опубліковано 21 кві 2024
  • ** NOTE: Audio is terrible. It was recorded using the wrong mic the entire time. **
    In this video we show my initial look at the Netgear AC1750 NightHawk device where I drop a UART root shell quickly and then explore the underlying Linux system.
    IoT Hackers Hangout Community Discord Invite:
    / discord
    🛠️ Stuff I Use 🛠️
    🪛 Tools:
    XGecu Universal Programmer: amzn.to/4dIhNWy
    Multimeter: amzn.to/4b9cUUG
    Power Supply: amzn.to/3QBNSpb
    Oscilloscope: amzn.to/3UzoAZM
    Logic Analyzer: amzn.to/4a9IfFu
    USB UART Adapter: amzn.to/4dSbmjB
    iFixit Toolkit: amzn.to/44tTjMB
    🫠 Soldering & Hot Air Rework Tools:
    Soldering Station: amzn.to/4dygJEv
    Microsoldering Pencil: amzn.to/4dxPHwY
    Microsoldering Tips: amzn.to/3QyKhrT
    Rework Station: amzn.to/3JOPV5x
    Air Extraction: amzn.to/3QB28yx
    🔬 Microscope Setup:
    Microscope: amzn.to/4abMMao
    Microscope 0.7X Lens: amzn.to/3wrV1S8
    Microscope LED Ring Light: amzn.to/4btqiTm
    Microscope Camera: amzn.to/3QXSXsb
    About Me:
    My name is Matt Brown and I'm an Hardware Security Researcher and Bug Bounty Hunter. This channel is a place where I share my knowledge and experience finding vulnerabilities in IoT systems.
    - Soli Deo Gloria
    💻 Social:
    twitter: / nmatt0
    linkedin: / mattbrwn
    github: github.com/nmatt0/
    #hacking #iot #cybersecurity #reverseengineering #firmware
  • Наука та технологія

КОМЕНТАРІ • 105

  • @mattbrwn
    @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +31

    NOTE: Audio is terrible. It was recorded using the wrong mic the entire time.

    • @Log4Jake
      @Log4Jake Місяць тому +6

      Still a great vid. Going to try to find some vulns in one of my routers now.

    • @colinofay7237
      @colinofay7237 17 днів тому

      No problem

  • @byronlovesdrifting1
    @byronlovesdrifting1 Місяць тому +27

    Wake up. New Matt Brown video. Off work. Its gonna be a good day

    • @Sircliffe
      @Sircliffe Місяць тому

      Matt who? This is Jim Carrey.

  • @Skyspace187
    @Skyspace187 Місяць тому +14

    Get yourself a number of 4-6mm barrel jacks with some terminal caps on the wired end that you can either gator clip or screw into a bench supply. Way way easier than having to solder onto the board. I work on a bunch of home routers to recycle/refurb them with OpenWRT, DD-WRT, etc. It's pretty easy to keep a handful of barrel jack bench supply adapters around for your exact use. :D

    • @daze8410
      @daze8410 26 днів тому +1

      I just made a barrel to alligator clips before I saw this lol

  • @xDMG15x
    @xDMG15x Місяць тому +8

    That was kind of a dream result!
    I actually have this Netgear router, i can’t think of anything I would want to modify in the fw right now but its good to know I have the option

  • @SlinkyStoney
    @SlinkyStoney Місяць тому +9

    You might want to try those DC barrel connectors with screw terminals on the other end. It is commonly used on analog security cameras.

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +9

      That would have been better, but sometimes perfect is the enemy of forward progress.

    • @SlinkyStoney
      @SlinkyStoney Місяць тому +2

      @@mattbrwn true

  • @theskelet4r
    @theskelet4r Місяць тому

    Amazing Video Matt, Keep it up and thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with the community

  • @tylersharpe9413
    @tylersharpe9413 Місяць тому +3

    Thanks for making these videos. Very informative.

  • @cory4940
    @cory4940 Місяць тому

    Just stumbled upon your channel, so glad I did this stuff is mad interesting 🤙🏽

  • @edwinking4407
    @edwinking4407 Місяць тому +2

    Matt is really coming back.

  • @petergaudiomonte1080
    @petergaudiomonte1080 Місяць тому

    I love this stuff man thank you!

  • @mytechnotalent
    @mytechnotalent Місяць тому +4

    Great one Matt love your hardware reversing vids! I like how you leave nothing abstracted. Hope to see you at DEFCON!

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +3

      I wish I could be at Defcon this year but I won't be able to make it due to some personal reasons. (Very positive ones 😊)

    • @mytechnotalent
      @mytechnotalent Місяць тому

      @@mattbrwn well I appreciate your material so much Matt!

  • @the_beefy1986
    @the_beefy1986 Місяць тому +1

    40:00 (ish): netstat is probably taking a long time because it's trying to do reverse DNS lookups on the IP addresses it's encountering. Try adding a "-n" flag on it next time to avoid this behavior. This same behavior applies to a lot of other common shell utilities such as ping, traceroute, tcpdump, etc.
    Edit: BTW, I've just discovered your channel and am enjoying your videos immensely. I work in security engineering, and I've always been interested in embedded hardware hacking.

  • @examen1996
    @examen1996 Місяць тому +4

    Where did you learn this ? This is so cool, combined with my interest in openwrt and routers this video is extremely interesting.
    There used to be another guy doing reverse engineering and software shananigans with routers, his channel name was Make Me hack, I think you might find his content great for inspiration .
    Keep the videos coming, your channel has the old youtube vibe, and you clearly know your stuff!

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +1

      loved that guys videos but he hasn't posted in awhile :(

  • @erickvond6825
    @erickvond6825 27 днів тому

    In situations like this I would recommend soldering the ground to one of the metal shields as their a little easier to attach a wire to.

  • @pablopoo
    @pablopoo Місяць тому +6

    A device firmware have a lot in common with a docker container. The ro OS is the container, the rw filesystem is the docker volume, and the nvram is the docker environment. (.env)

  • @StevenHokins
    @StevenHokins Місяць тому +1

    Very cool

  • @feff6754
    @feff6754 Місяць тому

    Great content!

  • @antonyjose2231
    @antonyjose2231 Місяць тому

    Hay matt what WM are using for your OS, looks really clean and easy on the resources. Love the videos ❤

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +2

      using i3wm with i3gaps

  • @Electrically-Electronic
    @Electrically-Electronic Місяць тому +5

    I want you to make a video about modifying the firmware in the embedded system. Because during my case I have /bin/psh which is a protected shell for the uart. The only way to get around this is modifying the firmware and assigning /bin/sh for it. When I try to do it, LZMA compression turns out to be a big pain. So looking forward for those videos. Btw this video is good overall.

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +7

      Oh yeah I've ran into systems with those annoying limited shells. It feels like you are so close and yet so far from your goal at the same time.

    • @Electrically-Electronic
      @Electrically-Electronic Місяць тому

      @@mattbrwn yes exactly.

  • @by010
    @by010 28 днів тому

    To be honest, I think its better that way that debug port is clearly marked as such and if you plug into it, the device dosent give you any trouble to get to root. Afterall its your device it does mean to "own" to get the lovely root shell.

  • @Wageslave645
    @Wageslave645 28 днів тому

    That face when he found the same router as yours in e-waste...😔

  • @varuntech5690
    @varuntech5690 Місяць тому +1

    Great video!!!. I just want to know which linux you are using and which window manager it is and it's theme? Thank you.

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +2

      Arch Linux with i3wm

  • @TradieTrev
    @TradieTrev Місяць тому +1

    Matt I noticed wlanconfigd process @27:30 Dare say they leave the UART open for debugging purposes from the factory to load the firmware?
    To mitigate this don't some more secure IoT devices blow an efuse to prevent physical access to the firmware? I have a few quite expensive STM32 devices, but I feel I need the STLink firmware tool to have a crack for a n00b like myself.

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +1

      So the STM32 is a microcontroller which has internal flash. Most/all Linux embedded devices use external flash that is seperate from the CPU. This is why firmware extraction on a microcontroller is harder.

    • @MacGuffin1
      @MacGuffin1 Місяць тому +1

      Phyisical access means 'all bets are off' ie; it's your router, you own it and there's not much point in them bothering to try and lock out UART(If your not microsoft or apple, it's prolly a waste of money for them). Interesting that it uses bitdefender and OpenVPN etc.. Scary how many ports they have open omg...

  • @uzairshaikh7955
    @uzairshaikh7955 Місяць тому

    Just 400 likes? This deserves 400k. Come on netizens, come on yt algo, give him what he deserves. Btw have a subscribe.

  • @Spudz76
    @Spudz76 Місяць тому +1

    netstat needs "-n" to quit trying to do reverse-dns lookups on every IP (which is why it's slow when there is no accessible DNS server)
    also netstat is officially deprecated, 'ss -nlp' is the new command, although some busyboxen may not have that at all

  • @Falney
    @Falney Місяць тому

    You should get your self an assortment of barrel Jack sizes and put connectors on them for your psu.

  • @MattMellen1337
    @MattMellen1337 Місяць тому +1

    @mattbrwn Do you have any experience with Sonicwall devices? I've got uart on a sonicwave 231c that I retrieved from ewaste and would like to dig in on it. I have two, one is factory reset and the other is still sitting while I poke at the open one.

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому

      No experience with that stuff no. Would love to see any progress you make!

  • @nate4379
    @nate4379 Місяць тому +1

    try netstat with -p ( helps to see the process tied to the port) Not uncommon for developers to use non standard ports.

  • @polesouth-ey5qq
    @polesouth-ey5qq Місяць тому +1

    @mattbrwn what is the make/model of your microscope? Maybe list the tech you use in the description. I am a newb. Thanks

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому

      AmScope SM-4NTP 7X-45X

  • @NolanWhitaker-ih1fb
    @NolanWhitaker-ih1fb Місяць тому

    Matt, is there a hardware version for this router?

  • @vergil9397
    @vergil9397 Місяць тому

    I really want to see how you will find somebug on IoT device from the beginning (dump firmware, Reverse,...). Love your contents

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +1

      I think that full arc should be possible on this device.

    • @vergil9397
      @vergil9397 Місяць тому

      @@mattbrwn thats awesome man,

  • @phxsisko
    @phxsisko Місяць тому +2

    I have a pair of R8000's I flashed to DD-WRT for the extra features and especially better security over negears trash firmware. I recently changed out my gateway to a 4x10G/5x2.5G NIC - 8 core Qotom box running an open source firewall - I keep those R8000's around when I need a quick, portable 1G network preconfigured I can take with me on the road (in a car, not a plane).

  • @cjshim8744
    @cjshim8744 Місяць тому

    Bitdefender in an anti virus software, did not expect to see it in there

  • @argentinomacrifuevidaltamb3772
    @argentinomacrifuevidaltamb3772 Місяць тому +1

    Excelente trabajo.

  • @johanbtheman
    @johanbtheman Місяць тому +1

    Cool. Nice man cave as well

  • @worroSfOretsevraH
    @worroSfOretsevraH Місяць тому +1

    Hey Matt.
    Have you ever done any console hacking?
    For example the good old PS3 metldr2 would be a nice challenge. A very, very hard one tho.
    Hackers unfortunately turned away from the PS3 a long time ago, so someone skilled is needed to nail it down for good...

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +1

      No I haven't and unfortunately I gave away my PS3 a few years ago

  • @pablopoo
    @pablopoo Місяць тому

    If you have access to a gen2 unifi switch, please do a video on that devices. Unifi removed the switch console port, so any information on how to access the console will be useful (firmware recovery)

  • @miguelreed2499
    @miguelreed2499 Місяць тому

    There's an app and you can also enable auto updates on netgear devices now.

  • @atrocitus777
    @atrocitus777 Місяць тому

    with those four pins exposed like that could you still have gotten the root shell without soldering the extra wires and just used that usb cable and the power supply?

  • @deeurb916
    @deeurb916 28 днів тому

    Amazing video now. I have been trying to get into my My Wi-Fi pineapple router from hak5(I had a stroke and my life has changed )I forgot my password and it has a uart Port. I guess I'm going to have to test it out. What? What program are you reading the data? But I am no coder LOL I could use your expertise please...

  • @0xbitbybit
    @0xbitbybit Місяць тому +1

    Hey Matt, did you ever finish off the Arlo videos? I watched one yesterday and was pumped for the next one after you said what you were going to do in the next one.......then there is no next one? 😭 you always seem to stop a series right when I need it most, like firmware modification or reverse engineering, noooooo!
    I've been doing this stuff for a while so would be awesome to see your approach to more challenging stuff. You should show us something like a device that has encrypted firmware, or something where binwalk gives you no results and you have to figure it out, or extracting the firmware is much harder because the flash has protections in place you need to change, or show us modifying some firmware to bypass something and re-flashing the device etc.
    Also, please keep showing the raw footage, not edited, the little struggles along the way are the most useful to see! Or you might mention extra things that are super helpful 👍

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +2

      I bricked the Arlo device which ended that video series unfortunately. I am trying to do more long form videos where you see the whole process 😁

    • @0xbitbybit
      @0xbitbybit Місяць тому

      @@mattbrwn Ahh damn! We've all been there haha, keep them coming 🦾

  • @debanjansaha2256
    @debanjansaha2256 Місяць тому

    Great video bro .. very useful and informative video....bro please improve your videos voice quality

  • @Gary-ve6ll
    @Gary-ve6ll Місяць тому +2

    Can you do a cable modem or even a cable set top box would be interesting to see whats inside 🎉

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +2

      ua-cam.com/video/yI7LdGyXsns/v-deo.html

    • @Gary-ve6ll
      @Gary-ve6ll Місяць тому

      @mattbrwn ohhh didn't even see that am of to watch it

  • @dabunnisher29
    @dabunnisher29 Місяць тому

    Hello Matt. Really like your channel. Could you suggest resources and hardware for a noob like me? I have a lot of experience with raspberry pi's and basic electronics, but would like to learn hardware hacking as well. Thank you in advance.

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому

      Do you have a specific thing that you want to learn? Hardware hacking is a wide category that includes a bunch of stuff. But generally I always have fun grabbing a device from ewaste or a thrift store and learning as much as I can about that target device.

    • @dabunnisher29
      @dabunnisher29 Місяць тому

      @@mattbrwn Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my questions. I’m looking for the basics: Essential hardware needed (UART readers, etc.), Essential Software to interact with the target item, and Essential reference material to be able to learn how to interact with the target item. Also, simple projects that a noob would be able to work on. I have Raspberry Pi’s and Raspberry Pi Pico’s (with pico probe). Would I be able to use those to interact with the items?

    • @dabunnisher29
      @dabunnisher29 27 днів тому

      @@mattbrwn Wow.... Thanks for your non-help with resources.

  • @kwindapp
    @kwindapp Місяць тому

    Hi can you hack some Weather Windstations serial? 😀 The Tempest Weatherflow

  • @Gritaremos
    @Gritaremos 26 днів тому

    who's Jeannine? Couldn't help myself and pause the video in the section that was blurred lol

  • @kwindapp
    @kwindapp Місяць тому

    any Anemometer would be 🙏👍👍

  • @whodaFru4551
    @whodaFru4551 Місяць тому +1

    It would drive me crazy getting constantly interrupted by the ping and the other commands outputs, especially if you have to enumerate for hours. Would it be possible to start an ssh server and connect that way to get a proper shell/environment?

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому

      Yep most openwrt devices will have the dropbear ssh server you can start. I definitely setup ssh when doing longer looks at a device like this because of the annoying console output you mentioned.

  • @drewlarson65
    @drewlarson65 Місяць тому +1

    tin the wires first, and keep your poor tip clean...
    also, apply solder to the work, not the iron.
    AND FLUX

  • @crouchermike
    @crouchermike 29 днів тому

    Smart TV?

  • @roran60
    @roran60 Місяць тому +3

    is it possible to compile a custom version of openwrt for this ?

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому +2

      Yep I bet openwrt/ddwrt already supports this device 😀

    • @PCGamer1732
      @PCGamer1732 Місяць тому

      ​@@mattbrwnIndeed they do, I have one with dd-wrt 🔥

  • @thomasvnl
    @thomasvnl Місяць тому

    OpenVPN => Router acts as server, client key/cert are for devices to connect to it

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому

      Yeah that makes sense now that I think about it. Wouldn't have the server key sitting their otherwise...

  • @stan464
    @stan464 Місяць тому

    10:00 shorten those ends before it shorts to the board somewhere.

  • @Gertbfrobe407
    @Gertbfrobe407 Місяць тому +1

    Hey @Matt , I am trying to remotely monitor my home network. How would you do this?
    Currently, I'm looking to use my esp32. Do you know the best method? Or I have a Nexus 7 running nethunter. Ideally, I'd have a battery bank for power, monitoring over WiFi. Any resources or help is appreciated 😊

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому

      When you say you want to monitor your network what specifically do you want to monitor for?

    • @Gertbfrobe407
      @Gertbfrobe407 Місяць тому

      @mattbrwn internet traffic, and any unauthorized access. I think someone is using my credentials to access my stuff. But 2fa sometimes doesn't work even for me. Whatever you think could help.

    • @Gertbfrobe407
      @Gertbfrobe407 Місяць тому

      I want to monitor web traffic. I think someone is using my creds to log on and snoop. So that level of monitoring is what I'm seeking 😅 my iPad and pc are left there, so if they are being accessed w/o permission and then snooping is what I assume is happening.
      P.s. if I just change password I won't catch the culprit.

    • @sleepymarauder4178
      @sleepymarauder4178 Місяць тому

      ​@@Gertbfrobe407You can do a simple wireshark or go full SIEM mode. The book Cybersecurity for Small Networks fits your need perfectly.

  • @D95SI420
    @D95SI420 Місяць тому

    if it can run a aftermarket firmware like dd-wrt or tomato all these types of routers are easy to hack.

  • @Smetwork
    @Smetwork Місяць тому

    One question.. why not make life easier and have a couple barrel plugs with pre soldered wires and just hook them up with clips instead of soldering onto the connector

    • @mattbrwn
      @mattbrwn  Місяць тому

      Sure. But I'm working with what I have. It doesn't have to be perfect. We are engineers not scientists 🙂

    • @bertblankenstein3738
      @bertblankenstein3738 Місяць тому

      I would have just tried a 12V adapter at a lower amp rating. If it didn't work, you could also cut the barrel plug (with some cord) off the adapter with too low a current rating. The soldering while perfectly doable, seems like a lot more work. That said, I'm lacking in gaining root shell access on devices I'm playing with, hence my presence here.

  • @pl46u3
    @pl46u3 Місяць тому

    Vol on 69%

  • @jiinueleo2211
    @jiinueleo2211 Місяць тому +1

    Any other 12v adapter would have worked fine, no need for it to be 2.5 exact. 12 mins start of video was a waste

  • @Plowing
    @Plowing Місяць тому +1

    first

  • @gigglesseven
    @gigglesseven Місяць тому

    vgtr bell
    vegertable

  • @pbehera281
    @pbehera281 Місяць тому +1

    Second

  • @frosty1433
    @frosty1433 Місяць тому

    Hack a Roku

  • @sma2981
    @sma2981 Місяць тому

    that router is beast. you can use merlin firmware.

  • @daze8410
    @daze8410 26 днів тому

    I was able to do this and you do not need 'nvram show', just run 'routerinfo'

    • @daze8410
      @daze8410 26 днів тому

      nvm, just shows defaults