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Range Extension Attacks on Contactless Smartcards

This research paper discusses the design and implementation of a device called "Ghost" which allows a standard contactless smartcard to communicate with a standard reader from a distance of more than 1 meter. The paper explores the motivation behind these range extension attacks, the system design, experimental results, and potential attack scenarios in various security-oriented applications. The findings highlight the need for enhanced security measures to protect against such attacks.

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Range Extension Attacks on Contactless Smartcards

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  1. Yossef Oren, DvirSchirman, and Avishai Wool: Tel Aviv University Range Extension Attacks on Contactless Smartcards ESORICS 2013

  2. Agenda • Introduction • Contactless smartcards • Attack motivation • System design • Experimental results • Attack scenarios • Conclusions

  3. Contactless smartcards

  4. Contactless smartcards – ISO 14443 • Passive tags • Communication based on inductive coupling • Transmit back data using load modulation • Nominal operation range – 5-10 cm

  5. Attack Motivation • Contactless smartcards are being used in a variety of security oriented applications: • Access control • Payment • E-voting • Smart ID card • Passports • All of them assume the tag is in proximity of the reader

  6. Motivation • If a communication between the reader and the tag could be established from a longer range – the proximity assumption would be broken • Our goal – build a device (a.k.a “Ghost”) which allow a standard tag to communicate with a standard reader from a distance of more than 1m

  7. Range extension attacks Leech Leech Extended range Extended range Relay Ghost Ghost

  8. Related work • Relay attack – extending the nominal communication range between a reader and a tag using a relay channel between two custom made devices (“Ghost” & “Leech”)[KW05, Han05, FHMM11, SC13] • Extended range Leech – a device that allows to read a standard tag from a distance of 30 cm[KW06]

  9. Ghost system design • Design principles: • Two separate antennas: • A large loop antenna for downlink • A mobile monopole HF antenna for uplink • Active load modulation for uplink transmission • PC based relay

  10. OpenPCD2 • An open source & open hardware evaluation board for ISO14443 • Can emulate a tag or a reader • Based on NXP PN532 • www.openpcd.org

  11. Ghost system design

  12. Ghost system design – Relay & Leech • A relay & a Leech were not part of this research, but necessary for the whole system • Relay channel between two OpenPCD2 boards was implemented inside a single PC • Using libnfc’snfc-relay-picc– designed to overcome relay timing limitations • Leech was based on an unmodified OpenPCD2

  13. Ghost system design – Downlink • Receiving antenna: a 39 cm loop antenna designed for prior Leech project • Matching circuit: Based on NXP’s app note • LNA: Mini-Circuits’ ZFL-500LN

  14. Ghost system design – Uplink • Active load modulation: • Producing the spectral image created by load modulation by means of a standard AM modulator

  15. Ghost system design – Uplink • Ghost OpenPCD2 modification: • LOADMOD pin was enabled – outputs modulated subcarrier (847.5 kHz) • The above signal was connected to a detector, in order to extract coded bitstream • The bitstream was pulse modulated on a 14.4075 MHz carrier signal • The HF signal was pre-amplified (Mini-Circuits’ ZHL-32A) & power amplified (RM-Italy KL400)

  16. Ghost system design – Uplink • Transmitting antenna: • Broadband helically wound monopole antenna • We use the magnetic near field emitted from the antenna

  17. Ghost system design

  18. Preliminary experiments • Downlink experiment: • Maximal downlink range was tested with a homemade diode detector ~ 1.5m • Using a spectrum analyzer as a detectora range of ~3.5m was measured

  19. Preliminary experiments • Jamming • By transmitting a continuous signal on 14.4075 MHz the reader can be jammed • Since we couldn’t measure uplink range independently from downlink system, maximal Jamming range was measured in order to evaluate the performance of the uplink system • By transmitting a 29 dBm signal, a jamming range of 2 m was achieved

  20. Range extension experiment – Setup

  21. Range extension experiment – Results • The measured range was highly sensitive to the surrounding environment

  22. Attack Scenarios • E-voting • Using a range extended Ghost and a relay attack, an adversary can mount several attacks on Israel’s proposed e-voting system • Allows the attacker complete control over previously cast votes • Access control • By using a range extended Ghost and a relay setup the attacker can open a secured door without being detected by a guard / security camera

  23. Conclusions • We offer a car mounted range extension setup for ISO 14443 RFID systems • We successfully built a prototype working from 1.15 m (more than 10 times the nominal range)

  24. Conclusions • Extending the nominal communication range of contactless smartcards form a severe threat on the system’s security • Combining with a relay attack the presented device can allow adversary to mount his attack without being detected

  25. Thank you

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