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Undocumented Commands Found In Bluetooth Chip Manufactured in China Used By a Billion Devices. (www.tarlogic.com)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Tea@programming.dev to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Source Link Privacy.Privacy test result

https://themarkup.org/blacklight?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tarlogic.com%2Fnews%2Fbackdoor-esp32-chip-infect-ot-devices%2F&device=mobile&location=us-ca&force=false

Tarlogic Security has detected a backdoor in the ESP32, a microcontroller that enables WiFi and Bluetooth connection and is present in millions of mass-market IoT devices. Exploitation of this backdoor would allow hostile actors to conduct impersonation attacks and permanently infect sensitive devices such as mobile phones, computers, smart locks or medical equipment by bypassing code audit controls.

Update: The ESP32 "backdoor" that wasn't.

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[-] Dasus@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Haha. I wear cheap Chinese bluetooth literally on my skull like 95% of the time, web when sleeping.

Hope they enjoy my thoughts.

[-] mechoman444@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

The Chinese adding back doors into their software/hardware.

Say it ain't so!

[-] Dekkia@this.doesnotcut.it 1 points 2 months ago

It ain't so.

To use the "backdoor" an attacker needs to have full access to the esp32 powered device already.

It's like claiming that being able to leave your desk without locking your PC is a backdoor in your OS.

[-] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 1 points 1 month ago

Yes, this is about undocumented instructions found in the silicon but they are not executable unless the ESP32's firmware uses them. Firmware cannot be edited to use them unless you have an existing vulnerability such as physical access or insecure OTA in existing firmware (as far as researchers know).

It is good to question the "backdoor" allegations - maybe the instructions' microcode was buggy and they didn't want to release it.

[-] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 1 points 2 months ago

Say it ain't so
Your bug is a heartbleeder
Say it ain't so
My NIC is a bytetaker

[-] turnip@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 months ago

Like a PRISM for China, is every powerful country just backdooring each other?

[-] Fart@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Thats hot.

[-] match@pawb.social -1 points 2 months ago

tech backdoors are only okay when us good guys require em

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

Where did anyone say anything remotely like that?

[-] ChairmanMeow@programming.dev 0 points 2 months ago

I think it's sarcasm mate.

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

I wouldnt be so sure about that. I've heard people say stuff that was mindbogglingly dumber than that, completely seriously.

[-] match@pawb.social 0 points 1 month ago

it was in fact sarcasm

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

thats what /s is for.

[-] SoftestSapphic@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

Hey look china got caught putting backdoors in hardware AGAIN

[-] Thrawne@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

Fukin dmnit! I just spent the last several months fine tuning a PCB design supporting this platform. I have , what i believe to be my last iteration, being sent to fab now. I have to look i to this. My solution isnt using bluetooth, so i dont know if im vulnerable.

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[-] mystik@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

I have a bunch of ESP32's that ... I can update and replace the firmware on, if i reset it the right way with a usb cable. the web site doesn't explain it any way how this is any worse than that...?

[-] embed_me@programming.dev 0 points 2 months ago

The website is also the guy trying to sell the solution so I'm just sceptical for now

[-] CosmoNova@lemmy.world 0 points 2 months ago

Not the first time a backdoor was found on Chinese made hardware and it won‘t be the last time. Decoupling can‘t happen quickly enough.

[-] fuamerikkka@lemm.ee 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

This turned racist / xenophobic real quickly.

There have been several other posts about this without mentioning China at all, especially in the post itself.

No where in the article does it say "chinese", literally anywhere.

Check your racism.

Edited to remove where I stated it was manufactured. I did a quick search and found a couple mentions, but did not thoroughly check sourced. Apologies.

[-] ManixT@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I agree we shouldn't be racist against Chinese people, but you're ignorant. From wikipedia: ESP32 is created and developed by Espressif Systems, a Chinese company based in Shanghai, and is manufactured by TSMC using their 40 nm process.It is a successor to the ESP8266 microcontroller.

So it's designed/developed in China and manufactured in Taiwan; not China.

[-] fuamerikkka@lemm.ee -2 points 1 month ago

Dog whistling.

This has nothing to do with the chip or who makes it.

It's the way it's written.

You missed the point.

[-] TJDetweiler@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 month ago

Gold medal for your performance in mental gymnastics.

[-] fuamerikkka@lemm.ee -1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Like how I clearly said the article had been posted before without mentioning China, especially in the article itsef, never mind in the post? Which obviously shows it was more about the title of the post?

I bow to YOUR mental gymnastics and ignorance combined with brute confidence.

Tell me you don't know anything about anti racism without telling me you don't know anything about anti racism.

Read a book.

You'll sound less stupid (maybe).

But you don't think buying a Tesla, Tesla stock, makes you a Nazi or a Nazi sympathizer so...

This is why we're in the state are in.

Poison thrown at the wrong people.

I'm not stealing your money, firing you, taking away your rights as a human being. I don't think you're a 'parasite'.

I'm not the 1%, neither are you.

Focus on the real enemy. Then things will get done.

[-] SynopsisTantilize@lemm.ee 0 points 1 month ago

No. Fuck the Chinese. All 17billion of them.

/s

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this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2025
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