As enterprises become more software-centric, cybersecurity efforts have largely concentrated on safeguarding these digital elements. However, the underlying hardware is also becoming a prime target for attackers. According to a recent report from HP Wolf Security, there is a growing trend of threat actors focusing on physical supply chains, tampering with device hardware, and firmware integrity. This development is increasingly alarming for enterprise leaders.
A startling statistic from the HP Wolf Security report reveals that one in five businesses have been impacted by attacks on hardware supply chains. Additionally, 91% of IT and security decision-makers believe that nation-state threat actors will target physical PCs, laptops, printers, and other devices.
Alex Holland, principal threat researcher at HP Security Lab, emphasizes the gravity of these attacks, noting that if an attacker compromises a device at the firmware or hardware layer, they gain extensive visibility and control over the machine.
The findings from HP Wolf’s ongoing research into physical platform security are based on a survey of 800 IT and security decision-makers, shared ahead of the Black Hat cybersecurity conference.
Enterprises Face Growing Hardware Supply Chain Threats, Reports HP Wolf Security
Notably, 19% of organizations have faced nation-state actors targeting physical PC, laptop, or printer supply chains, and over half of the respondents can’t verify if their hardware and firmware have been tampered with during manufacturing or transit. Moreover, a significant percentage of respondents believe future nation-state attacks will involve poisoning hardware supply chains to introduce malware.
Attackers have several methods to disrupt the hardware supply chain, including denial of availability, where ransomware campaigns target factories to prevent device assembly and delay deliveries. Another tactic involves infiltrating factory infrastructure to modify hardware components, such as turning off security features.
Devices can also be intercepted and tampered with during transit at shipping ports and other intermediary locations, creating a substantial risk of device tampering.
Firmware and hardware attacks present significant challenges because they operate below the operating system level, where most security tools are ineffective. Compromising firmware makes detection difficult with standard security tools, posing a real challenge for IT security teams.
Moreover, firmware vulnerabilities are notoriously hard to fix, often requiring manual intervention to reflash compromised firmware with a known good copy, which is cumbersome and time-consuming.
To mitigate these risks, organizations can employ various measures to protect their hardware. One such measure is using platform certificates generated during assembly to verify device integrity upon delivery. Tools like HP Sure Admin, which uses public key cryptography, eliminate the need for passwords, enhancing security.
Additionally, HP Tamper Lock helps prevent physical tampering by placing the system in a secure lockdown state if tampering is detected. Despite the low prevalence of physical attacks, ensuring strong supply chain security is critical for overall organizational security, ensuring devices are built as intended and remain tamper-free.
