Timo Kasper Crete, Greece May 10, 2007 An Embedded System for Practical Security Analysis of Contactless Smartcards Timo Kasper, Dario Carluccio and Christof Paar Communication Security Group Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

Timo Kasper May 10, Outline 1.Background 2.RFID Basics (ISO 14443) 3.Security Weaknesses 4.Design and Development of an Embedded System 5.Selected Applications and Results 6.Conclusion

Timo Kasper May 10, Background Many standards for RFID coexist, differing in - Frequency: kHz … GHz, - Data rate: 2400 bit/s … 1 Mbit/s, - Range: < 1 centimetre … several metres, - Coupling method: backscattering, inductive, … RFID = Radio Frequency IDentification

Timo Kasper May 10, Background ISO is widely deployed in security sensitive applications: - RFID augmented credit cards (Visa Wave, MasterCard PayPass), - Ticketing (Philips Mifare, Smart Labels), - Electronic passport, student identity cards, mobile phones (NFC), … Many standards for RFID coexist, differing in - Frequency: kHz … GHz, - Data rate: 2400 bit/s … 1 Mbit/s, - Range: < 1 centimetre … several metres, - Coupling method: backscattering, inductive, … RFID = Radio Frequency IDentification

Timo Kasper May 10, RFID Basics (ISO 14443) reader generates field with MHz carrier frequency supplies tag with clock and energy via inductive coupling

Timo Kasper May 10, RFID Basics (ISO 14443) reader generates field with MHz carrier frequency supplies tag with clock and energy via inductive coupling reader transmits data by creating short pauses in the field

Timo Kasper May 10, RFID Basics (ISO 14443) reader generates field with MHz carrier frequency supplies tag with clock and energy via inductive coupling reader transmits data by creating short pauses in the field tag answers employing load modulation

Timo Kasper May 10, RFID Basics (ISO 14443) reader generates field with MHz carrier frequency supplies tag with clock and energy via inductive coupling reader transmits data by creating short pauses in the field tag answers employing load modulation operating range: 8…15 cm, data rate 106…847 kBit/s

Timo Kasper May 10, RFID Basics (ISO 14443) reader generates field with MHz carrier frequency supplies tag with clock and energy via inductive coupling reader transmits data by creating short pauses in the field tag answers employing load modulation operating range: 8…15 cm, data rate 106…847 kBit/s

Timo Kasper May 10, Security Weaknesses contactless interface (e.g. ISO 14443) brings new opportunities for attackers - read out a tag actively (range: up to 25 cm), maybe unnoticed - replay attack, - relay („man in the middle“) attack, - eavesdropping of the communication from a distance of several meters

Timo Kasper May 10, Security Weaknesses contactless interface (e.g. ISO 14443) brings new opportunities for attackers - read out a tag actively (range: up to 25 cm), maybe unnoticed - replay attack, - relay („man in the middle“) attack, - eavesdropping of the communication from a distance of several metres maximum energy consumption of a contactless smartcard is limited, reduce manufacturing costs  small chip area,  measures for security / privacy may be not implemented or very lightweight !

Timo Kasper May 10, Our Contribution Idea: Design a cost-effective embedded system which makes it possible to communicate with a contactless smartcard on the physical layer, emulate any ISO 14443(A) compliant RFID tag / smartcard.  perform replay-, man in the middle-, and other attacks,  analyse protocols, i.e., logging of the communication data,  implement and test new protocols and countermeasures,  assist side-channel attacks (DEMA, …),  test different antennas / power amplifiers.

Timo Kasper May 10, Embedded System – The Reader RF interface: transparently operating EM4094 transceiver Atmel ATMega32 microcontroller clocked at MHz specially designed circuits for signal conditioning / processing

Timo Kasper May 10, Embedded System – The Fake Tag appears like an authentic ISO 14443(A) compliant transponder perform load modulation with subcarrier, as specified acquire data from the field and reduce bandwidth designed to cooperate with the bit level reader

Timo Kasper May 10, Embedded System – Realization (Bit-Level) Reader Fake Tag

Timo Kasper May 10, Embedded System - Overview RFID tool: provide ISO compliant interface and emulation of a tag oscilloscope: measure / acquire information (e.g. electromagnetic emanation) PC: control process sequence and evaluate / analyse the data stand-alone operation modes implemented

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack DEMA = Differential ElectroMagnetic Analysis

Timo Kasper May 10, Application: Relay Attack Relay attacks have been carried out successfully with electronic passport (issued in Germany) student identity card (used at the Ruhr University in Bochum) Philips „Classic Mifare“ & „DESFire“ cryptographically enabled smartcards Atmel AT88SC153 smartcard tickets for the football world championship 2006

Timo Kasper May 10, Applications and Results Ticket for FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany successful relay attack (all data read out remotely via the Fake Tag) embedded Mifare Ultralight chip  64 Byte data, providing NO encryption  with developed hardware: (simple) Replay Attack feasible!

Timo Kasper May 10, Applications and Results Timing Analysis of an „ACG Dual 2.1 Passport Reader Module“ reaction of the ACG reader to purposedly delayed answer of a transponder compliance with the „Frame Delay Time“, exactly defined in the ISO 14443, could not be observed  facilitates relay attack

Timo Kasper May 10, Applications and Results Investigations with regard to tuning and range antennas made out of thin copper wire antennas on PCBs

Timo Kasper May 10, Future Works improved „Man in the Middle“ attack: modify the relayed information in real time increase reader operating range to 25 cm implement and test new protocols / countermeasures assist / perform other attacks: remote power analysis fault analysis improve Differential Electro-Magnetic Analysis

Timo Kasper May 10, Conclusion cost-effective design of a freely programmable RFID reader and Fake Tag  emulation of any ISO 14443A complaint tag Replay-attack (play-back of previously recorded data) Relay-attack (real-time relaying of the data in both directions) Timing Analysis of a commercial RFID reader Different types of antennas were built and tested promising applications & extensions: - Remote Power Analysis - DEMA - Fault Analysis Recommendation: Shield RFID tags / contactless smartcards to protect your privacy (e.g., one layer of aluminum foil) !

Timo Kasper Crete, Greece May 10, 2007 Thanks for your attention!