BadUSB Attack

What is a BadUSB?

A BadUSB is a harmful USB device. It looks like a normal USB stick but acts like something else, such as a keyboard or network adapter. When plugged into a computer, it can launch attacks or take control of the system.

The term “BadUSB” comes from a 2014 security talk. Researchers showed that USB firmware can be changed to perform dangerous actions. These actions operate at a low-level code and are not detected by traditional network security tools.

What is a BadUSB attack?

A BadUSB attack involves using a USB device that pretends to be something it is not. Hackers manipulate identity attributes, to make it appear legitimate. Once connected, the BadUSB can automatically execute malware or compromise the system, all without the user’s knowledge.

Real-World BadUSB Attack

A company received a letter with a $50 Best Buy gift card and a USB stick. When plugged in, the USB showed a shopping list. But the company suspected something was wrong and called cyber security experts.

They found it was a BadUSB attack.

Hackers like DarkHotel and RevengeHotels have used similar hardware tools to attack Hotels business.

This BadUSB acted like a keyboard. First, it typed out a PowerShell command, then it loaded malware to complete the hardware attack. As a result, the company lost data, and their network was shut down.

How BadUSB Attacks Evade Security?

BadUSB attacks target the low-level code that controls device hardware. Most security tools focus on data transfers and ignore low level code. Because no one checks this code, harmful changes go unnoticed. This lets BadUSB attacks bypass traditional defenses.

Compromised BadUSB devices can pretend to be trusted USB devices, such as keyboards or storage drives. Operating systems trust these standard device types and security software does not verify their behavior.

These BadUSB attacks often use small control chips like the Arduino ATMEGA32U4, or the USB Rubber Ducky. The operating system recognizes these devices as legitimate, allowing them to send commands without raising suspicion.

This creates a serious risk because employees or users may connect BadUSB devices and trigger a hardware attack.

BadUSB Detection Challenges

BadUSB often appear as Human Interface Devices (HID), such as keyboards or mouse. Some combine multiple functions, like keyboard and mouse together. This makes them harder to detect.

The use of USB hubs adds another layer of complexity. One USB port can connect many devices through a hub. This makes it harder to track and identify each device. This makes it more likely that a rogue device won’t be noticed.

Sepio monitors all connected hardware assets in real time. Including Human Interface Devices (HIDs), USB storage, and more. It monitors the physical layer to detect and block BadUSB threats. This stops hardware attack tools from causing harm.

See What You Have Been Missing

Sepio’s Cyber Physical Systems Protection Platform gives you comprehensive control over all your network assets. By using physical layer data, Sepio delivers clear and useful insights. This helps security teams to manage assets faster than ever. Additionally, it also protects against hardware attacks like BadUSB threats that bypass traditional security tools.

A New Dimension of Asset Visibility

Sepio uses physical layer data to find the true source of asset risks. It goes beyond usual monitoring to give you a full view of your asset landscape. Sepio works easily with your existing security tools, making them even more effective. This approach provides practical security, essential for managing risks like BadUSB attacks.

Objective, Holistic Asset Intelligence

Sepio creates a unique Asset DNA profile for every connected device. As a result, it provides a trusted view into Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). This way, you gain accurate, data-driven risk management, which is especially critical for identifying hidden BadUSBs.

Granular Control and Automated Mitigation

Sepio lets you set detailed policies to control hardware use. You can base policies on risk scores, vendor, or custom tags. If a device breaks the rules, Sepio automatic blocks rogue devices or known attack tools, such as BadUSBs. It integrates with other platforms such as NACs and SOARs to enforce these actions instantly, without any manual work.

Key Benefits

• Full view of all IT, OT, IoT, and IoXT assets, without probing network traffic
• Automatically blocks rogue network devices, including BadUSB threats.
• Protection against insider threats and supply chain attacks

BadUSB Protection

As more devices connect to networks, it becomes increasingly important to track every device. Therefore, a strong cyber security plan must always monitor all USB ports to stop hardware attack tools from gaining access to your network. By doing this, the risk of a successful BadUSB attack is greatly reduced.

Sepio protects against BadUSB attacks by using physical layer data. This gives control over USB devices at the hardware level. Moreover, Sepio accurately identifies and verifies every connected asset, finding fake identities that other security tools miss.

Sepio also monitors connected assets behavior in real time. It flags suspicious actions, such as fake or unusual activity, to detect hardware based threats immediately. Using a Zero Trust Hardware (ZTA) approach, only trusted USB devices are allowed to connect.

With Sepio, organizations not only gain effective defense against BadUSB threats but also achieve full control of their physical attack surface.

Hardware Level Security

Talk to an expert to learn how Sepio can protect your network. In addition, discover how to stop BadUSB attacks by seeing all connected devices. Make sure your hardware is fully protected.