Reverse Engineering Notes - Operating Systems - Windows Embedded Standard 6.1

Operating Systems - Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 

 

Introduction:

Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 is an operating system developed by Microsoft for use in embedded devices such as kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, and industrial control systems. Although it is not as widely used as some of the more common Windows operating systems, it still presents an interesting target for security researchers and vulnerability hunters due to its unique features and potential security issues. In this blog post, we will explore some of the security issues associated with Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 and provide some guidance for reverse engineers and security researchers who may be interested in exploring this operating system further.

Security Issues:

One of the most significant security issues associated with Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 is its susceptibility to malware and other types of attacks. This is due in part to the fact that the operating system is often used in embedded devices that may not be as well-protected as traditional desktop computers or servers. As a result, attackers may be able to exploit vulnerabilities in the operating system to gain access to sensitive information or cause damage to the device or system.

Another potential security issue with Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 is its use of outdated software and technologies. For example, the operating system is based on Windows 7, which is no longer supported by Microsoft as of January 14, 2020. This means that security updates and patches for the operating system are no longer available, leaving devices that run on Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 vulnerable to newly discovered vulnerabilities and exploits.

In addition to these issues, Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 may also be vulnerable to attacks that target specific applications or components of the operating system. For example, the operating system includes several components that are commonly used in embedded devices, such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. If these components are not properly secured or configured, they may be susceptible to attacks such as cross-site scripting (XSS) or remote code execution (RCE).

Reverse Engineering and Security Research:

For reverse engineers and security researchers, Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 presents an interesting target for exploration and analysis. One of the unique features of this operating system is its use of embedded devices, which may have different hardware configurations and software requirements than traditional desktop computers or servers. This means that researchers may need to use specialized tools and techniques to analyze the operating system and identify potential vulnerabilities or exploits.

One tool that may be useful for reverse engineers and security researchers working with Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 is IDA Pro, a popular disassembler and debugger. IDA Pro can be used to analyze the code of the operating system and identify potential vulnerabilities or exploits. For example, researchers may use IDA Pro to identify buffer overflow vulnerabilities in the operating system or to trace the flow of execution through different components of the operating system.

Another useful tool for reverse engineers and security researchers is the Metasploit Framework, an open-source framework for developing and executing exploits. Metasploit can be used to test the security of Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 and to develop proof-of-concept exploits for vulnerabilities that are discovered.

C++ Source Code Examples:

To provide a concrete example of how to develop an exploit for Windows Embedded Standard 6.1, we will walk through a simple buffer overflow exploit using C++ code. In this example, we will assume that we have identified a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Internet Explorer component of the operating system.

First, we will need to develop a payload that will be injected into the vulnerable component of the operating system. For this example, we will use a simple payload that opens a command prompt on the target system:

#include <windows.h>
int main()
{
    system("cmd.exe");
    return 0;
}

Next, to develop the exploit function, we will need to identify the location of the vulnerable buffer and the point at which we can overwrite the return address to redirect the flow of execution to our payload.

Assuming that we have identified the location of the vulnerable buffer at a memory address buffer_address and the location of the return address at a memory address return_address, we can develop an exploit function as follows:

#include <windows.h>
#include <string.h>

#define BUFFER_SIZE 1024

void exploit_function()
{
    char buffer[BUFFER_SIZE];
    memset(buffer, 0x00, BUFFER_SIZE);
    
    // fill buffer with payload
    // replace this with your actual payload code
    // for this example, we will use a simple payload that opens a command prompt
    char payload[] = "\x68\x65\x78\x65\x20\x2f\x63\x20\x63\x6d\x64\x2e\x65\x78\x65\x00";
    memcpy(buffer, payload, strlen(payload));
    
    // overwrite return address with address of our buffer
    char *return_address = (char*)0x01234567; // replace with actual return address
    memcpy(return_address, &buffer, sizeof(buffer));
}

In this example, we first declare a buffer of size BUFFER_SIZE and fill it with null bytes using the memset() function. We then copy our payload into the buffer using the memcpy() function.

Next, we overwrite the return address with the address of our buffer using the memcpy() function. We assume that we have already identified the location of the return address and have stored it in the return_address variable.

Finally, we can call the exploit_function() from our main program to trigger the buffer overflow and redirect the flow of execution to our payload.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 presents a unique target for security researchers and vulnerability hunters due to its use in embedded devices and potential security issues. By using specialized tools and techniques, researchers can analyze the operating system and identify potential vulnerabilities or exploits. In this blog post, we have discussed some of the security issues associated with Windows Embedded Standard 6.1 and provided an example of how to develop a buffer overflow exploit using C++ code. With continued research and exploration, we can gain a better understanding of the security risks associated with this operating system and work to mitigate those risks to ensure the safety and security of embedded devices.