Found a way to resist the attack on 3D printers



    In 2016, an article was published at Geektimes about hacking 3D printers in order to introduce changes that lead to the destruction of the created object during its operation. In short, we are talking about an attack on enterprises that use 3D printers to create parts or their parts in order to change the configuration of manufactured elements. For example, it can be a copter screw, parts of the car body, machine parts, and much more. The scientists' study was called “dr0wned - Cyber-Physical Attack with Additive Manufacturing” . In its course, experts gained access to the model files of the propeller parts of the drone, changed the parameters of the model, manufactured the parts and launched the drone. As a result, the propeller collapsed in flight and the copter fell from a great height.

    It is clear that this was only a demonstration of the possibility of an attack, which could be much larger if it was a question of real production. Only now, after almost a year, experts from another team found a way to help withstand the theoretical cracker of 3D printers. The results of this project were presented in Vancouver at the USENIX Security Symposium.

    Among other methods of tracking possible damage to parts that are printed on a 3D printer - analysis of the sounds of the device, tracking the movement of the manipulator, plus the injection of gold microparticles into the source material in order to make sure that everything goes according to plan.



    The paper describes how researchers tested their assumptions in practice. Initially, three printers were purchased - Lulzbot Taz 6, Lulzbot Mini and Orion Delta. After that, “crackers” changed the firmware of the systems, forcing the device to print parts with defects. In some cases (yes, what’s the majority) it was difficult to judge the quality of the part and its compliance with the original drawing. But all these parts were defective and would deteriorate very quickly during operation.

    Scientists thought about the possibility of using software like firewalls and antiviruses. But it is not a panacea, since zero-day vulnerabilities and other surprises have not been canceled. Therefore, it was decided to develop a different way of protecting devices and the parts they create.

    This method consists of three steps. At the first stage, the printer makes the part according to the correct drawing. Sounds of the operation of the device are recorded and stored as a reference. Subsequently, the sounds of other printers of the same model will be recorded, which are working on creating the same part. If there are significant discrepancies in any case, the part and printer are carefully checked.


    The second stage is similar to the first - in this case, the movement of the reference printer is monitored. If the movements of other printers of the same model differ from the standard in the manufacture of the same part, then everything is carefully checked.

    Finally, during the third stage of the work described in the document, during the manufacture of the part, microparticles of gold are introduced into the starting material. They are introduced not randomly, but at a specific time, so that the particle takes a certain place in the part. Further, all details are checked for the correctness of the location of gold. If everything is within the normal range - ok, the part can be used. But for fidelity, the computer analyzes the sound recording of the printer and its movement. Are all three steps tested? The item is sent to the place of use.

    It is clear that the danger of hacking 3D printers is most relevant for industrial systems, rather than home devices. Yes, if a home system is hacked, it will be unpleasant for the owner, but it will be possible to solve the problem relatively quickly. But hacking industrial devices is not so straightforward. As mentioned above, complex and expensive devices that are made using printers can be affected, not to mention people.

    “Imagine that a whole factory of 3D printers is working on the manufacture of a certain kind of objects. They have no way of knowing if there are defects in the details, defects that cannot be seen with the naked eye. The result can be disastrous, and no one will understand where the problem came from, ”the authors of the project said in a statement.

    The method proposed by scientists can be used to determine the possible marriage, unprovoked by man.

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