A security analyst is reviewing the design of an embedded system. The system is designed to periodically download firmware updates from a public HTTP server and install them. The analyst notes that the update process does not validate a digital signature for the new firmware file before installation. Which of the following vulnerabilities is the MOST significant security risk in this design?
The correct option is 'Malicious update'. The most significant vulnerability in this design is that the lack of digital signature validation allows an attacker to introduce a malicious update. An attacker could use an on-path attack to provide a compromised firmware file. Because the device does not verify the file's authenticity and integrity, it will install the malicious firmware, potentially leading to a full system compromise. VM escape is a vulnerability specific to virtualized environments. A TOCTOU attack is a type of race condition. Directory traversal is an attack to access unauthorized files. None of these other options describe the primary flaw in the described firmware update process.
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What is firmware and why is it important for devices?
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What is signature validation and how does it enhance security?
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What are the potential consequences of not validating firmware updates?