Pierluigi Paganini October 11, 2016

MITRE has challenged the security community to devise new methods that could help in detecting rogue IoT devices on a network.

The non-profit research and development organization MITRE has challenged security researchers to propose new methods and technologies that could help in detecting rogue Internet of Things (IoT) devices on a network.

The goal of the Unique Identification of IoT Devices Challenge is to prevent abuses of IoT devices devising a solution that can help administrators monitor IoT devices.

Flawed IoT devices and poorly configured smart objects are a privileged target for hackers that compromise them to compose powerful botnet.

Recently IoT botnets were observed launching massive DDoS attacks against the OVH websites and the KrebsonSecurity.com.

Mitre will give a $50,000 reward to the researchers who will propose a non-traditional method for enumerating IoT devices through passive network monitoring.

“The MITRE Challenge, Unique Identification of IoT Devices, seeks to discover possible solutions to this potential threat so our sponsors can reap the benefits of this technological evolution, while minimizing the risks.” states the MITRE.

“We are looking for non-traditional approaches for identifying IoT devices. In the future, manufacturers may embed unique digital signatures into each device. For today, we need to be able to monitor the products already in use.

We’re looking for a game-changing approach to identifying devices that would require no modification to the existing inventory, e.g., no change in protocols or manufacturing.”

MITRE Unique Identification of IoT Devices Challenge offers participants from around the world the recognition and promotion for coming up with a game-changing solution, and the opportunity to connect with government agencies looking for IoT solutions.

The challenge, that will begin in November, is open to research teams, companies and also to individuals.

Participants will have six weeks to propose their solutions for detecting bogus IoT devices.

MITRE has created a testbed network composed of a wide range of devices having different characteristics.

“The MITRE IoT team has built a model home network to serve as a testbed for the Challenge. This robust home system includes a broad array of affordable devices with diverse operating characteristics. We believe that the identification techniques that prove effective in a home system will translate to industrial, healthcare, military, smart city, and other IoT networks.” reads the MITRE.

According to EurActiv, the European Commission is working on a legislation aimed at securing IoT devices. The legislation will force vendors and manufacturers to adopt a security by design approach for their smart objects.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs – IoT Devices , Mitre)