Stay updated on firmware security: Explore the latest threats, updates, and protection strategies for safeguarding critical system software.
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Background for this topic.
Firmware is software stored in a device’s nonvolatile memory that initializes and controls hardware, often before an operating system or application runs. It may reside in computers, network equipment, phones, industrial controllers, storage devices, and embedded components. Firmware can be updated, so it is not necessarily permanent or read-only.
Firmware matters to security because vulnerabilities or unauthorized changes can affect a device beneath the operating system and may persist across software reinstallation. Important controls include authenticated, cryptographically signed updates; secure boot, which verifies code before execution; protection against unauthorized flashing and downgrade attacks; and a reliable recovery mechanism. Practitioners also need firmware inventories, vulnerability tracking, and a supported update process, since obscure components can remain unpatched or use insecure update mechanisms. During an investigation, verifying firmware integrity and the device’s boot chain can help distinguish an operating-system compromise from a deeper modification.
Acer has released a firmware update to address a security vulnerability that could be potentially weaponized to turn off UEFI Secure Boot on affected machines
The manufacturer is working to fix a vulnerability — similar to a previous problem in Lenovo laptops — that allows threat actors to modify or disable Secure Boot settings to load malware.
Over a dozen security flaws have been discovered in baseboard management controller (BMC) firmware from Lanner that could expose operational technology (OT) and internet of things (IoT) networks to remote attacks