Symbolic Execution for BIOS Security

Authors: 

Oleksandr Bazhaniuk, John Loucaides, Lee Rosenbaum, Mark R. Tuttle, and Vincent Zimmer, Intel Corporation

Abstract: 

We are building a tool that uses symbolic execution to search for BIOS security vulnerabilities including dangerous memory references (call outs) by SMM interrupt handlers in UEFI-compliant implementations of BIOS. Our tool currently applies only to interrupt handlers for SMM variables. Given a snapshot of SMRAM, the base address of SMRAM, and the address of the variable interrupt handler in SMRAM, the tool uses S2E to run the KLEE symbolic execution engine to search for concrete examples of a call to the interrupt handler that causes the handler to read memory outside of SMRAM. This is a work in progress. We discuss our approach, our current status, our plans for the tool, and the obstacles we face.

Open Access Media

USENIX is committed to Open Access to the research presented at our events. Papers and proceedings are freely available to everyone once the event begins. Any video, audio, and/or slides that are posted after the event are also free and open to everyone. Support USENIX and our commitment to Open Access.

Bazhaniuk PDF
View the slides
BibTeX
@inproceedings {191950,
author = {Oleksandr Bazhaniuk and John Loucaides and Lee Rosenbaum and Mark R. Tuttle and Vincent Zimmer},
title = {Symbolic Execution for {BIOS} Security},
booktitle = {9th {USENIX} Workshop on Offensive Technologies ({WOOT} 15)},
year = {2015},
address = {Washington, D.C.},
url = {https://www.usenix.org/conference/woot15/workshop-program/presentation/bazhaniuk},
publisher = {{USENIX} Association},
month = aug,
}
Download