Skills firmware-analyst
📦
firmware-analyst
Content revision r1 Critical ⚙️ External commands🌐 Network access📁 Filesystem access🔑 Env variables
Analyze Firmware Security
Firmware reviews often require many tools and careful evidence handling. This skill guides authorized extraction, emulation, vulnerability review, and reporting.
Supports: Claude Codex Code(CC)
Do not auto-install this skill.
The canonical policy requires operator review before any installation action.
Install with my Agent
Copy this request to your Agent. It includes the canonical Skill page and manifest.
Agent request
Review the Skillstore skill "firmware-analyst" from https://skillstore.io/skills/sickn33-firmware-analyst.md and its manifest at https://skillstore.io/api/skills/sickn33-firmware-analyst/manifest. Verify the artifact. Do not auto-install. Inspect the skill and report your findings, then wait for an operator or manual installation decision.Your Agent should still show its plan and request any confirmation required by the security policy.
Agent-readable resources
Use these links when an AI agent, crawler, or script needs clean context instead of reading the full page.
Test it
Using "firmware-analyst". Analyze this router firmware image for credential exposure.
Expected outcome:
- The response identifies likely filesystem locations, configuration files, web interface files, and credential patterns to inspect.
- It separates confirmed secrets from placeholders and recommends redaction before sharing results.
Using "firmware-analyst". Help me emulate an ARM firmware sample safely.
Expected outcome:
- The response proposes an isolated lab, architecture confirmation, controlled networking, and limited service startup.
- It warns against privileged execution on a primary workstation.
Using "firmware-analyst". Prepare a firmware security report outline for a vendor.
Expected outcome:
- The response organizes device details, methodology, findings, impact, evidence, proof of concept boundaries, and remediation guidance.
- It includes a section for scope, authorization, and sensitive data handling.
Security Audit
Criticalv6 • 7/9/2026 Open versioned report
The skill is mostly a dual-use firmware security playbook, not an obvious prompt injection or malware loader. Many backtick findings are markdown false positives. The guide still contains commands for device extraction, secret discovery, exploit compilation, command injection probes, and privileged chroot execution. Publication should require stronger authorization, sandboxing, and secret-handling warnings.
1
Files scanned
323
Lines analyzed
18
Review items
0
False positives ignored
Confirmed security concerns (5)
Critical
System password file access
| cat /etc/passwd
The command injection payload includes cat /etc/passwd. Even as a test payload, it demonstrates sensitive system file access on a target.
High
Crypto seed/private key mention
grep -rn "BEGIN RSA PRIVATE KEY" .
The command searches for RSA private key material in extracted firmware. Finding private keys is sensitive and can enable unauthorized access if mishandled.
High
Dual-Use Firmware Extraction and Exploit Testing Workflow
The skill combines firmware extraction, exploit cross-compilation, and command injection payload testing. This is appropriate for authorized audits, but unsafe without a permission gate before risky workflows.
Multiple sections show an end-to-end path from firmware acquisition to exploit testing. Ethical guidance appears later, but the risky command examples are not gated at their point of use.
Low
System reconnaissance
; id
The ; id payload is a system reconnaissance command used in command injection testing. It is dual-use and should be restricted to authorized targets.
Low
System reconnaissance
`whoami`
The whoami payload is a system identity reconnaissance probe. It is acceptable in scoped testing but risky as general marketplace guidance.
Capability review items (18)
These are real local capabilities that may be expected for this skill, so they require review but are not counted as confirmed malicious behavior.
High
Ruby/shell backtick execution
```c
The example shows a vulnerable system command pattern and command injection payloads. Even as testing guidance, these payloads can be used for unauthorized command execution.
High
Ruby/shell backtick execution
```bash
The block instructs apt install, file copying into an extracted rootfs, and sudo chroot execution. Running privileged shells against untrusted firmware root filesystems is high risk.
High
Unix shell invocation
sudo chroot squashfs-root /usr/bin/qemu-arm-static /bin/sh
The command opens an interactive shell inside an extracted firmware rootfs through qemu and chroot. This creates a privileged execution path against untrusted filesystem contents.
High
sudo privilege escalation
sudo chroot squashfs-root /usr/bin/qemu-arm-static /bin/sh
The command explicitly uses sudo with chroot to enter an untrusted firmware rootfs. That can expose the host to malicious files or unsafe privileged execution.
High
sudo privilege escalation
sudo chroot squashfs-root /usr/bin/qemu-arm-static /bin/httpd
The command uses sudo chroot to run a firmware httpd binary under emulation. Executing untrusted firmware services with elevated privileges is dangerous.
High
Non-standard device file access
dd if=/dev/mtd0 of=/tmp/firmware.bin
The dd command reads directly from /dev/mtd0 and writes a firmware dump. Raw flash partition access can expose proprietary firmware and sensitive device data.
High
Generic API/secret keys
grep -r "api_key" .
The grep command searches extracted files for api_key strings. This is expected in firmware audits, but it can reveal live credentials that require secure handling.
Medium
Ruby/shell backtick execution
```bash
The block instructs users to run host commands such as file, binwalk, strings, and grep against firmware. These are legitimate analysis steps but still execute tools on untrusted input and search for secrets.
Medium
Ruby/shell backtick execution
```bash
The block provides extraction commands using binwalk and filesystem unpackers on firmware samples. Running these tools on untrusted images can affect the local filesystem and should be sandboxed.
Medium
Ruby/shell backtick execution
```bash
The block directs recursive find, grep, and checksec commands across extracted files. This can expose credentials, private keys, and sensitive filesystem contents.
Medium
Ruby/shell backtick execution
```bash
The block includes binary inspection commands and cross-compilation of exploit.c. This is dual-use security work and can produce exploit binaries if used outside an authorized lab.
Medium
Ruby/shell backtick execution
`whoami`
The backtick-wrapped whoami payload is listed as a command injection test. It is not executed by the markdown itself, but the skill teaches a shell execution payload.
Medium
Ruby/shell backtick execution
```bash
The block runs local Firmadyne extraction, image creation, network inference, and emulation scripts. These commands can modify local analysis state and should be run only in a controlled lab.
Medium
Shell command substitution
$(id)
The $(id) payload is presented as a command injection test case. It is dual-use reconnaissance syntax and can execute on a vulnerable target.
Medium
Template literal with command substitution
`whoami`
The backtick whoami payload is command substitution syntax used for command injection testing. It is risky if applied outside an authorized assessment.
Medium
Temp directory access
dd if=/dev/mtd0 of=/tmp/firmware.bin
The firmware dump is written to /tmp, which may be shared or less controlled. Extracted firmware can contain secrets, so storage location matters.
Low
Hardcoded URL
wget http://vendor.com/firmware/update.bin
The skill instructs wget from a hardcoded HTTP vendor URL. The domain is likely a placeholder, but cleartext firmware downloads can be tampered with.
Low
Standard device file access
screen /dev/ttyUSB0 115200
The command opens a local serial device path for UART access. This is valid firmware analysis, but it can interact with attached hardware and should require authorization.
Risk Factors
⚙️ External commands (41)
SKILL.md:21-24 SKILL.md:24-31 SKILL.md:31-48 SKILL.md:48-53 SKILL.md:53-69 SKILL.md:69-72 SKILL.md:72-98 SKILL.md:98-101 SKILL.md:101-117 SKILL.md:117-120 SKILL.md:120-134 SKILL.md:134-139 SKILL.md:139-145 SKILL.md:145-148 SKILL.md:148-157 SKILL.md:157-159 SKILL.md:159-162 SKILL.md:162-168 SKILL.md:168-171 SKILL.md:171-176 SKILL.md:176-181 SKILL.md:181-187 SKILL.md:187-190 SKILL.md:190-197 SKILL.md:197-200 SKILL.md:200-206 SKILL.md:206-209 SKILL.md:209-215 SKILL.md:215-220 SKILL.md:220-232 SKILL.md:232-235 SKILL.md:235-249 SKILL.md:249-254 SKILL.md:254-266 SKILL.md:266-269 SKILL.md:269-292 SKILL.md:158 SKILL.md:157-159 SKILL.md:228 SKILL.md:228 SKILL.md:231
🌐 Network access (2)
📁 Filesystem access (3)
🔑 Env variables (1)
Detected Patterns
System password file accessSystem reconnaissance×2
Audited by: codex View Audit History →
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APA citation
sickn33. (2026). firmware-analyst security audit report (audit version 6) [Author version unspecified]. Skillstore. https://skillstore.io/skills/sickn33-firmware-analyst/audits/6BibTeX citation
@techreport{sickn33-sickn33-firmware-analyst-2026,
author = {sickn33},
title = {firmware-analyst security audit report (audit version 6)},
institution = {Skillstore},
year = {2026},
number = {6},
url = {https://skillstore.io/skills/sickn33-firmware-analyst/audits/6},
note = {Author version unspecified}
}CITATION.cff
cff-version: 1.2.0
message: "If you use this Skill, cite its author and this versioned security audit report."
title: "firmware-analyst security audit report (audit version 6)"
version: "unspecified"
type: report
authors:
- name: "sickn33"
date-released: "2026-07-09"
url: "https://skillstore.io/skills/sickn33-firmware-analyst/audits/6"
identifiers:
- type: other
value: "skillstore:sickn33-firmware-analyst:audit:6"
description: "Skillstore immutable audit report identifier"
Skillstore Score
Why this score Evidence Confidence: Medium 55
Architecture
85
Maintainability
87
Content
69
Community
91
Spec Compliance
What You Can Build
Audit IoT Firmware
Review a vendor firmware image for exposed credentials, weak services, insecure updates, and risky default configurations.
Assess Embedded Products
Create a repeatable assessment plan for product firmware before release or after a security report.
Triage Research Samples
Identify architecture, filesystems, likely attack surface, and next analysis steps for lab or CTF firmware samples.
Try These Prompts
Plan a Firmware Review
Help me plan an authorized firmware review for a consumer router. Ask for missing device details, permissions, and success criteria.
Triage an Extracted Filesystem
I extracted a firmware filesystem. Help me prioritize files, services, credentials, and binaries to inspect first.
Prepare Emulation Strategy
Design a safe emulation plan for this firmware. Include architecture checks, isolation steps, network controls, and validation goals.
Document Exploitability and Fixes
Turn my authorized firmware findings into a clear report. Include impact, evidence, reproduction limits, and remediation for each issue.
Best Practices
- Confirm authorization and scope before acquisition, extraction, emulation, or vulnerability testing.
- Work in an isolated lab and treat all firmware images as untrusted.
- Redact credentials, keys, and private device data before sharing reports.
Avoid
- Running privileged emulation against untrusted root filesystems on a primary workstation.
- Publishing discovered secrets, passwords, or private keys in full.
- Testing command injection payloads on devices or services outside the approved scope.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill help analyze?
It helps analyze embedded firmware images, extracted filesystems, binaries, web interfaces, credentials, and update mechanisms.
Can it extract firmware from hardware?
It can guide authorized extraction methods, but users need proper tools, permissions, and lab controls.
Does it run tools automatically?
The skill provides commands and workflow guidance. Any execution should happen only in a trusted, isolated environment.
Is it suitable for bug bounty work?
Yes, when the target is in scope and the program allows firmware analysis, emulation, and vulnerability testing.
How should secrets be handled?
Treat discovered credentials and keys as sensitive evidence. Redact them and follow the owner disclosure process.
What tools does it reference?
It references Binwalk, filesystem extractors, Ghidra, QEMU, Firmadyne, checksec, and common hardware analysis tools.