The Agile Embedded Podcast

Offensive Cybersecurity with Ryan Torvik

15 snips
Apr 9, 2025
Ryan Torvik, Founder and CEO of Tulip Tree Technology, dives into the world of offensive cybersecurity and embedded system security. He shares his journey from defense contracting to vulnerability research, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster hackers face. Ryan emphasizes the necessity of integrating security from the start in firmware development. He discusses advanced techniques like Address Space Layout Randomization and the challenges small companies face without dedicated security staff. Plus, he offers resources for anyone looking to learn about cybersecurity and hacking.
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INSIGHT

Offensive Cybersecurity Mindset

  • Offensive cybersecurity requires a different mindset than development, focusing on finding flaws and exploiting unexpected behavior.
  • It involves understanding low-level details like memory allocation and hardware interactions to tear systems apart.
ADVICE

Initial Attack Strategy

  • Begin by analyzing the attack surface and how the system processes data, identifying all possible entry points for data.
  • Check the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) for known vulnerabilities before deeper analysis.
ANECDOTE

Firmware Analysis

  • Pulling firmware from embedded devices is essential for deeper analysis, often requiring specialized hardware like oscilloscopes.
  • Analyzing firmware involves using interactive disassemblers like IDA Pro, Binary Ninja, or Ghidra.
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