Attacking the firmware

Firmware is software stored as a read-only memory (ROM) on a device used to enable the hardware and provide the device functionality. Firmware isn't just limited to computer systems and network devices, but can be found in nearly every embedded device including washing machines, cameras, refrigerators, ADSL modems, and even TV remote controls. At the time of manufacturing, the software is written into the memory and functions like an operating system on more complex systems like laptops. All the functions performed by the device will be programmed into the firmware. Unlike operating system patches, firmware updates are released less frequently and are monolithic, replacing the entire software stack at once. Since most firmware updates are installed manually and do not have an auto-update function, it can sometimes be problematic or cumbersome to keep embedded systems current. To apply firmware updates, we need to remove the old firmware and replace with the new one...