# Performing Firmware Malware Analysis

> Use when analyzing firmware images for embedded malware, backdoors, and unauthorized modifications targeting routers, IoT devices, UEFI/BIOS, and embedded systems. Covers firmware extraction, filesystem analysis, binary reverse engineering, and bootkit detection. Activates for requests involving firmware security analysis, IoT malware investigation, UEFI rootkit detection, or embedded device compromise assessment.

- Skill: `oyi77/performing-firmware-malware-analysis` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add oyi77/performing-firmware-malware-analysis`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/oyi77/performing-firmware-malware-analysis/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Security
- License: Apache-2.0
- Author: oyi77 (https://skillmd.com/u/oyi77)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/oyi77/performing-firmware-malware-analysis

---


# Performing Firmware Malware Analysis

## Overview

Cybersecurity skill for performing firmware malware analysis. Follows industry best practices and security standards.

## When to Use
**Trigger phrases:**
- "performing firmware malware analysis"
- "Analyzes firmware images for embedded malware, backdoors, and unauthorized modif"


- A compromised IoT device or router needs firmware analysis to identify implanted backdoors
- Investigating UEFI/BIOS rootkits that persist across OS reinstallations
- Analyzing firmware updates for supply chain compromise or malicious modifications
- Extracting and examining embedded Linux filesystems from IoT device firmware images
- Verifying firmware integrity after a suspected hardware or firmware-level compromise

**Do not use** for standard operating system malware; use PE/ELF analysis tools for OS-level malware on conventional systems.


## When NOT to Use

- When you lack proper authorization for testing
- For production systems without change management
- When the task requires legal or compliance expertise beyond technical scope


## Prerequisites

- binwalk installed for firmware image analysis and extraction (`pip install binwalk`)
- Ghidra with ARM/MIPS architecture support for embedded binary reverse engineering
- UEFI Tool (UEFITool) for UEFI firmware parsing and analysis
- Firmware Analysis Toolkit (FAT) or EMBA for automated firmware analysis
- QEMU for emulating extracted firmware filesystems
- Cross-compilation toolchains for ARM, MIPS, and other embedded architectures

## Workflow

```python
# Example: IOC detection
import re

IOC_PATTERNS = {
    "ip": r"\b(?:\d{1,3}\.){3}\d{1,3}\b",
    "domain": r"\b[a-z0-9-]+\.[a-z]{2,}\b",
    "hash_md5": r"\b[a-f0-9]{32}\b",
    "hash_sha256": r"\b[a-f0-9]{64}\b",
}

def extract_iocs(text: str) -> dict:
    return {k: re.findall(v, text) for k, v in IOC_PATTERNS.items()}
```

1. **Plan Operations** — Define objectives, scope, and success criteria for firmware malware analysis operations.
2. **Prepare Environment** — Set up tools, access, and data sources required for firmware malware analysis.
3. **Execute Core Workflow** — Perform the firmware malware analysis operations following established procedures.
4. **Validate Results** — Verify that results meet quality standards and objectives.
5. **Report Findings** — Document results, observations, and recommendations.
6. **Follow Up** — Track remediation actions and verify fixes where applicable.

## Tools

- **Analysis Platform** — Data processing and visualization
- **Collaboration Tools** — Team coordination and knowledge sharing


## Process

1. **Reconnaissance** — Gather target information, identify attack surface, enumerate services
1. **Analysis/Exploitation** — Execute the technique, analyze results, document findings
1. **Reporting** — Document IOCs, write findings, provide remediation recommendations

## Verification

- [ ] All firmware malware analysis procedures executed completely and documented
- [ ] Findings validated against multiple data sources
- [ ] False positives identified and filtered
- [ ] Results documented with evidence and timestamps
- [ ] Recommendations provided with risk-based prioritization

## Anti-Rationalization Table

| Rationalization | Reality |
|---|---|
| "We are too small to be targeted" | Automated attacks target everyone. Size does not matter. |
| "Security slows us down" | A breach slows you down 100x more. Build security in from the start. |
| "We will fix it after launch" | Vulnerabilities in production are exploited within hours. Fix before deploy. |