Secure Embedded Systems Need Microkernels continued

The main reason that embedded systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable is the pervasive use of wireless communication. Besides the already ubiquitous mobile phones, PDAs, and laptops, there is a set of devices, now quite common, whose primary purpose is not communication but which benefit from wireless communication. These include vehicles, access tokens, domestic appliances, and medical devices, among others.

In the world of wireless connectivity, physical access is no longer required in order to compromise a device, and the environment in which such devices operate is increasingly hostile. Devices can be attacked by an invisible foe behind an opaque wall. If the device is connected to the Internet, the attacker can be located anywhere in the world. Furthermore, users who download executable code on their mobile devices open up these devices to attacks from within (by viruses and worms).

Previously, compromised equipment would most likely result in inconvenience and annoyance. Now that devices hold increasing amounts of sensitive personal data, the consequences of security breaches are much more serious.

Moreover, the whole wireless communication infrastructure is potentially vulnerable. Until recently, low-level communication operations were all done by hardware, which is secure from subversion except by the application of physical force. But now even the lowest-level functionality has moved into software (software-defined radio), making it vulnerable to attacks that change the software.

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