Table of Contents

Comprehensive IoT Security Testing Methodology for Robotic Vacuum

Phase 1: Reconnaissance & Information Gathering

1.1 Physical Inspection

What and how many buttons are present
External interfacing options: Ethernet port, SD card slot, and more
Read the Manual - What does it tell you about the firmware?
What kind of display the device has
Power and voltage requirements for the device
If the device carries any certifications and what they mean
What kind of screws the device uses
If the device looks like other devices with similar functionalities (maybe it’s just a rebranded model)
Identify all sensors (LIDAR, cameras, cliff sensors, bump sensors)
Wireless capabilities (WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, proprietary RF)
Speakers/microphones (privacy concerns if present)
Charging dock interfaces and communication methods
Model and firmware version markings

1.2 Documentation & Background Research

Review user manual, quick start guides, privacy policy
Check FCC filings (reveals internal components, frequencies used)
Research known vulnerabilities in similar devices
Identify manufacturer’s security update policy

1.3 Network Reconnaissance

Map all network communications (cloud services, mobile app, local network)
Identify domains, IP addresses, ports used
Document certificates and API endpoints
Perform DNS enumeration for associated services

Phase 2: Hardware Security Analysis

2.1 Internal Inspection & Interface Testing

Disassemble the device (document with photos)
Identify chipsets: processor, memory, wireless modules, storage
Locate debug interfaces: UART, JTAG, SWD ports
Check for security chips: TPM, secure elements
Examine PCB for test points and accessible interfaces
Identify flash storage chips for potential extraction

2.2 Hardware Exploitation

UART/Serial console access: Can you get a shell?
JTAG/SWD debugging: Is it enabled and accessible?
Firmware extraction: Dump from flash chips using tools like flashrom or Bus Pirate
Side-channel analysis: Power analysis during crypto operations (if applicable)
Physical tampering tests: Tamper-evident seals, secure boot verification
Debug interface protection: Disabled in production?

Phase 3: Firmware & Software Analysis

3.1 Firmware Acquisition & Extraction

Extract from device (hardware method)
Download from manufacturer’s website/update servers
Intercept during OTA (Over-The-Air) updates

3.2 Firmware Reverse Engineering & Static Analysis

Unpack firmware: Use binwalk to identify and extract filesystem
Analyze file system: Look for hardcoded credentials, API keys, certificates
Binary analysis: Identify vulnerable functions, insecure crypto implementations
Check for sensitive data: WiFi passwords, user data, maps/floor plans
Authentication mechanisms: How does firmware verify updates?
Look for backdoors: Undocumented accounts, services, or functionality
Identify outdated libraries and known CVEs
Check for unsafe functions (strcpy, gets, etc.)
Review cryptographic implementations

3.3 Update Mechanism Testing

Update authentication: Is update signed? Can signature be bypassed?
Downgrade attacks: Can you install older, vulnerable firmware?
Update channel security: HTTPS? Certificate validation?
Rollback mechanisms: Are there safeguards?

Phase 4: Network & Communications Security

4.1 Wireless Protocol Analysis

WiFi security: WPA2/WPA3 implementation, deauth vulnerabilities
Bluetooth: Pairing process, encryption, available services
Proprietary protocols: Reverse engineer if present

4.2 Network Traffic Analysis & MITM Testing

Packet capture: Sniff all traffic (Wireshark, tcpdump)
TLS/SSL analysis: Certificate validation, pinning, cipher suites
Man-in-the-Middle testing: Can you intercept/modify communications?
Data leakage: What PII is transmitted? Is it encrypted?

4.3 Cloud Service & API Security Testing

API endpoint enumeration
Authentication & Authorization: Bypass attempts, IDOR, horizontal/vertical privilege escalation
Input validation: Command injection, buffer overflows, format strings, XML/JSON injection
Rate limiting and brute force protection
Session management: Token expiration, fixation, hijacking
Default credentials and weak password policies

Phase 5: Web & Mobile Application Security

5.1 Web Interface Testing (if present)

OWASP Top 10: XSS, SQLi, CSRF, command injection, file upload vulnerabilities
Authentication and session management
Input validation: All injection types (SQL, command, XML, etc.)
Authorization testing: Privilege escalation, access control bypass

5.2 Mobile Application Analysis

Static analysis: Decompile app (APK/IPA), find hardcoded secrets, insecure data storage, code obfuscation
Dynamic analysis: Runtime manipulation (Frida, Objection), certificate pinning bypass, local authentication bypass
Inter-app communication vulnerabilities

5.3 App-to-Device Communication Security

Pairing/binding process security
Command injection testing
Replay attacks: Can you replay captured commands?
Input validation on device commands

Phase 6: Privacy & Data Protection

6.1 Data Storage & Retention

Local storage: How is data stored on device? Encrypted?
Cloud storage: Where is data hosted? Compliance (GDPR, CCPA)?
Data retention: How long is data kept?

6.2 Privacy Testing

Mapping data: Are floor plans/images stored securely?
Voice data (if applicable): Recording, storage, transmission
Camera footage (if applicable): Access controls, encryption
Usage patterns: What telemetry is collected?
Device binding: How tightly is device tied to owner?
Factory reset security: Does it properly wipe data?
Lost device scenario: Can new owner access previous data?

Phase 7: Resilience & Physical Security Testing

7.1 Denial of Service Testing

Network flooding
Malformed packet injection
Resource exhaustion
Physical DoS: Sensor jamming, interference

7.2 Physical Security & Fault Injection

Button combinations: Hidden menus or debug modes
Sensor manipulation: Can you fool sensors to gain access or cause malfunction?
Power glitching during critical operations
Clock glitching for hardware attacks

Phase 8: Compliance & Standards Verification

8.1 Standards Compliance Assessment

OWASP IoT Top 10 compliance checklist
ETSI EN 303 645 requirements verification
NIST IoT guidelines adherence
Certification verification: UL, CE, FCC compliance actual vs. claimed

8.2 Privacy Regulation Compliance

GDPR compliance: Data protection measures, user rights implementation
CCPA compliance: Consumer privacy protections
Regional regulations: UK PSTI Act, California IoT Security Law (SB-327)

Recommended Tools

Hardware

Bus Pirate
Logic analyzer
UART adapters
Soldering kit

Firmware

binwalk
firmware-mod-kit
Ghidra
IDA Pro

Network

Wireshark
Burp Suite
mitmproxy
Nmap

Mobile

Frida
Objection
apktool
jadx
MobSF

Fuzzing

Sulley
boofuzz
AFL

References & Industry Standards

Why This Methodology is Industry Standard

Established Security Frameworks

Our methodology aligns with recognized IoT security testing standards:

OWASP IoT Top 10 (2018)

Industry-recognized framework identifying the most critical IoT security risks
Covers weak/guessable passwords, insecure network services, insecure ecosystem interfaces, lack of secure update mechanisms, insecure data transfer and storage, lack of device management, insecure default settings, lack of physical hardening, insecure software/firmware, and insufficient privacy protection
Reference: https://owasp.org/www-pdf-archive/OWASP-IoT-Top-10-2018-final.pdf

NIST Cybersecurity Framework

U.S. government standard for cybersecurity risk management
Provides structured approach: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover
IoT-specific guidance in NISTIR 8259 series
Reference: https://www.nist.gov/cyberframework

ETSI EN 303 645 (European Standard)

First global standard for IoT security
Mandates secure update mechanisms, credential management, vulnerability disclosure
Adopted by UK as law (Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2022)
Reference: https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/303600_303699/303645/02.01.01_60/en_303645v020101p.pdf

IoT Security Foundation (IoTSF) Guidelines

Best practice framework for IoT security
Covers entire product lifecycle from design to decommissioning
Reference: https://www.iotsecurityfoundation.org/

Penetration Testing Standards

PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard)

Defines 7 phases: Pre-engagement, Intelligence Gathering, Threat Modeling, Vulnerability Analysis, Exploitation, Post Exploitation, Reporting
Our methodology maps directly to these phases
Reference: http://www.pentest-standard.org/

OSSTMM (Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual)

Scientific methodology for security testing
Provides metrics for measuring security
Reference: https://www.isecom.org/OSSTMM.3.pdf

NIST SP 800-115 (Technical Guide to Information Security Testing)

U.S. government guideline for security assessment techniques
Covers review, target identification, analysis, validation, and reporting
Reference: https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/detail/sp/800-115/final

Why Clients Should Expect Assurance

Regulatory Compliance

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

Article 32 requires “appropriate technical and organizational measures” for security
IoT devices collecting personal data (floor plans, usage patterns, camera footage) must demonstrate security
Non-compliance fines: up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover
Your testing demonstrates due diligence in protecting user data

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) / California IoT Security Law (SB-327)

Requires reasonable security features in connected devices
Mandates unique passwords and security updates
Our testing verifies compliance with these requirements

UK Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act 2022

Makes ETSI EN 303 645 legally enforceable
Manufacturers liable for insecure products
Our assessment helps demonstrate legal compliance

Business Risk Mitigation

Brand Protection

IoT security breaches make headlines: Mirai botnet (2016), Ring camera hacks (2019), Peloton data exposure (2021)
Average cost of IoT data breach: $4.24 million (IBM Security 2021)
Proactive security testing prevents reputational damage

Market Access

Retailers (Amazon, Best Buy) increasingly require security certifications
Insurance companies demand security assessments for cyber liability coverage
B2B customers require vendor security documentation

Vulnerability Disclosure

Coordinated disclosure prevents zero-day exploitation
Demonstrates responsible security practices to stakeholders
Can qualify for CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) credits

Technical Assurance

Defense in Depth Validation

Our multi-phase approach tests all layers: hardware, firmware, network, application, cloud
Identifies single points of failure
Validates manufacturer security claims

Attack Surface Mapping

Comprehensive identification of all entry points
Prioritized risk assessment based on exploitability and impact
Actionable remediation roadmap

Real-World Threat Simulation

Testing mimics actual attacker techniques (MITRE ATT&CK framework)
Goes beyond automated scanning to manual expert analysis
Identifies logic flaws and business logic vulnerabilities automated tools miss

Assurance Deliverables

Following our 12-week assessment, the client receives:

Executive Summary

High-level risk overview for business decision-makers
Compliance status against relevant standards
Business impact analysis

Technical Report

Detailed findings with CVSS scores (Common Vulnerability Scoring System)
Proof-of-concept exploits and evidence
Step-by-step reproduction instructions
Remediation recommendations with priority rankings

Compliance Mapping

OWASP IoT Top 10 compliance checklist
ETSI EN 303 645 requirements coverage
GDPR/privacy regulation assessment

Remediation Roadmap

Prioritized action plan (Critical/High/Medium/Low)
Estimated effort and timelines
Retest recommendations

Security Certificate (upon successful remediation)

Third-party verification of security posture
Can be used for marketing, insurance, B2B sales
Valid for defined period (typically 12 months)

Academic and Industry Recognition

Academic Research

Our methodology incorporates findings from peer-reviewed IoT security research
References: IEEE Security & Privacy, USENIX Security Symposium, ACM CCS

Industry Certifications Our Team Holds

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
GIAC Mobile Device Security Analyst (GMOB)
Hardware hacking certifications

Previous Case Studies

Similar methodologies identified critical vulnerabilities in consumer IoT devices
Example: Research on robot vacuums found issues with LIDAR data exposure, unencrypted communications, and authentication bypass (Dennis Giese, DEF CON 26)

Quality Assurance

Peer Review Process

All findings verified by second team member
False positive elimination
Consistent severity rating using CVSS v3.1

Professional Standards

Adherence to ethical hacking guidelines
No destructive testing without explicit permission
Responsible disclosure timeline (typically 90 days)
Data handling according to confidentiality agreements

Return on Investment

Cost Avoidance

Post-release vulnerability discovery: 10-100x more expensive to fix
Recall costs: millions in logistics, brand damage, legal exposure
Our assessment: preventive investment

Market Advantage

Security as differentiator in competitive market
“Security Tested” badge for marketing
Faster time-to-market with confidence

Insurance Benefits

Lower cyber liability insurance premiums
Better terms with documented security posture
Protection against litigation

References & Further Reading

OWASP IoT Security Project: https://owasp.org/www-project-internet-of-things/
NIST IoT Cybersecurity Resources: https://www.nist.gov/programs-projects/nist-cybersecurity-iot-program
IoT Security Foundation: https://www.iotsecurityfoundation.org/best-practice-guidelines/
Practical IoT Hacking by Fotios Chantzis et al. (No Starch Press, 2021)
The IoT Hacker’s Handbook by Aditya Gupta (Apress, 2019)
DEF CON IoT Village Talks: Historical vulnerabilities in consumer robots
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE): https://cve.mitre.org/
MITRE ATT&CK for ICS: Attack patterns applicable to embedded systems