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Apr. 5, 2007

A security researcher at Juniper Networks, Barnaby Jack says he plans to demonstrate new security vulnerabilities in the ARM and X-Scale microprocessors.

The two microchips are widely used in mobile phone and routers in today's wireless industry.

Jack said "there are interesting quirks in the ARM and X-Scale architectures that make things very easy for an attacker."

Overall, the security concern is that potential hackers could subvert these vulnerabilities to run unauthorized code on a device or steal sensitive information from mobile phones.

The attacker could also redirect Internet traffic on routers to a hacker site set up to steal account and password information as well.

Jack said he discovered the security vulnerability after opening a range of embedded devices and soldering test equipment onto them.

Jack added "it's overwhelming for the hacking community to say, 'I'm sick of software. Let's look at the hardware.'"

Jack says he will disclose details of his attack plan, as well as things that device makers can do to prevent similar ones, at the CanSecWest security conference at the end of April.

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Source: Wireless Week