IoT Security and Malware

  1. IoT Malware: Characteristics and Lifecycle
    1. Defining IoT Malware
      1. Differences from Traditional PC/Server Malware
        1. Targeting Embedded Architectures
          1. Limited System Resources
            1. Specialized Hardware Platforms
              1. Real-Time Operating Constraints
              2. Exploiting IoT-Specific Vulnerabilities
                1. Weak Default Credentials
                  1. Insecure Communication Protocols
                    1. Physical Access Vulnerabilities
                  2. Cross-Compilation and Multi-Architecture Support
                    1. ARM, MIPS, x86, PowerPC
                      1. ARM Cortex-M Targets
                        1. MIPS32 and MIPS64 Variants
                          1. x86 Embedded Systems
                            1. PowerPC Industrial Controllers
                            2. Use of Cross-Platform Toolchains
                              1. GCC Cross-Compilers
                                1. LLVM/Clang Toolchains
                                  1. Vendor-Specific Development Kits
                              2. The IoT Malware Lifecycle
                                1. Initial Infection and Propagation
                                  1. Scanning for Vulnerable Devices
                                    1. Port Scanning Techniques
                                      1. Service Fingerprinting
                                        1. Vulnerability Assessment
                                        2. Brute-Forcing Credentials
                                          1. Dictionary Attacks
                                            1. Credential Stuffing
                                              1. Password Spraying
                                              2. Exploiting Known Vulnerabilities
                                                1. Buffer Overflow Exploits
                                                  1. Command Injection Attacks
                                                    1. Authentication Bypass
                                                    2. Leveraging Default or Hardcoded Credentials
                                                      1. Factory Default Passwords
                                                        1. Vendor Backdoors
                                                          1. Hardcoded API Keys
                                                        2. Establishing Persistence
                                                          1. Modifying Startup Scripts
                                                            1. Init Script Modification
                                                              1. Cron Job Installation
                                                                1. Service Registration
                                                                2. Disabling Security Features
                                                                  1. Firewall Rule Modification
                                                                    1. Antivirus Disabling
                                                                      1. Logging Suppression
                                                                      2. Hiding Malware Processes
                                                                        1. Process Name Masquerading
                                                                          1. Rootkit Installation
                                                                            1. Memory-Only Execution
                                                                          2. Command and Control (C2) Communication
                                                                            1. Centralized C2 Models
                                                                              1. HTTP/HTTPS C2 Channels
                                                                                1. IRC-Based Communication
                                                                                  1. DNS Tunneling
                                                                                  2. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) C2 Models
                                                                                    1. Distributed Hash Tables (DHT)
                                                                                      1. Blockchain-Based C2
                                                                                        1. Mesh Network Communication
                                                                                        2. Use of Obfuscated Channels
                                                                                          1. Domain Generation Algorithms (DGA)
                                                                                            1. Fast Flux Networks
                                                                                              1. Protocol Tunneling
                                                                                              2. Use of Encrypted Channels
                                                                                                1. TLS/SSL Encryption
                                                                                                  1. Custom Encryption Schemes
                                                                                                    1. Steganographic Communication
                                                                                                  2. Payload Execution
                                                                                                    1. Launching Attacks
                                                                                                      1. DDoS Attack Coordination
                                                                                                        1. Spam Distribution
                                                                                                          1. Cryptocurrency Mining
                                                                                                          2. Downloading Additional Payloads
                                                                                                            1. Modular Malware Components
                                                                                                              1. Plugin Architecture
                                                                                                                1. Dynamic Code Loading
                                                                                                                2. Data Exfiltration
                                                                                                                  1. Credential Harvesting
                                                                                                                    1. Sensitive Data Collection
                                                                                                                      1. Network Traffic Monitoring
                                                                                                                  2. Notable IoT Malware Families
                                                                                                                    1. Mirai and its Variants
                                                                                                                      1. Scanner and Brute-Forcer Components
                                                                                                                        1. Telnet Brute Force Module
                                                                                                                          1. SSH Attack Module
                                                                                                                            1. HTTP Authentication Attacks
                                                                                                                            2. C2 Protocol Analysis
                                                                                                                              1. Binary Protocol Structure
                                                                                                                                1. Command Encoding Schemes
                                                                                                                                  1. Heartbeat Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                  2. DDoS Attack Payloads
                                                                                                                                    1. UDP Flood Attacks
                                                                                                                                      1. TCP SYN Floods
                                                                                                                                        1. HTTP GET/POST Floods
                                                                                                                                          1. GRE IP Floods
                                                                                                                                          2. Evolution and Forks
                                                                                                                                            1. Satori Variant
                                                                                                                                              1. Okiru Variant
                                                                                                                                                1. Masuta Variant
                                                                                                                                                  1. IoTroop/Reaper
                                                                                                                                                2. BrickerBot
                                                                                                                                                  1. Permanent Denial of Service (PDoS) Malware
                                                                                                                                                    1. Destructive Intent
                                                                                                                                                      1. Vigilante Malware Concept
                                                                                                                                                      2. Device Bricking Techniques
                                                                                                                                                        1. Firmware Corruption
                                                                                                                                                          1. Configuration Destruction
                                                                                                                                                            1. Storage Device Damage
                                                                                                                                                          2. Hajime
                                                                                                                                                            1. P2P Botnet Architecture
                                                                                                                                                              1. BitTorrent DHT Protocol
                                                                                                                                                                1. Decentralized Command Structure
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Resilient Network Topology
                                                                                                                                                                  2. "White Hat" Functionality
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Security Improvement Claims
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Competing with Mirai
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Defensive Capabilities
                                                                                                                                                                      2. Silex
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Destructive Malware
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Intentional Device Destruction
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Rapid Propagation Methods
                                                                                                                                                                            2. Device Storage Wiping
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Flash Memory Erasure
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Configuration Reset
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Bootloader Corruption
                                                                                                                                                                                2. Mozi
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. P2P Botnet Structure
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. DHT-Based Communication
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Peer Discovery Mechanisms
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Resilient Network Architecture
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. DHT and KRPC Protocols
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Kademlia DHT Implementation
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. KRPC Message Format
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Node Routing Tables

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                                                                                                                                                                                        3. Common IoT Vulnerabilities

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                                                                                                                                                                                        5. Analysis of IoT Malware