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Crypted controllers
Posted: November 12th, 2009, 23:32
by quasimodo
I have recently started to look more into NAND Recovery since the demand is getting bigger and I receive more requests. Do any of the Commercial Flash Readers have the ability to decode the data that have been encrypted by some of the controllers. Specifically I am interested in SanDisk. Does PC3K Flash and or Salvation's Tool have the ability to deal with 20-99-00128-3 for example?
Thanks!
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 0:03
by Doomer
nope
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 3:07
by drc
Out of curiosity Doomer do you guys have any way of dealing with this short of having a big stock of working controllers to match?
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 8:34
by quasimodo
From my understanding SanDisk for example uses the AES Algorithm and the key is unique per each controller. Would it be possible to read the encryption key directly from the controller chip? I have not looked into this, but if the encoding of the controller is understood then finding and reading out the key should be a theoretical option.
Has anyone tried this?
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 8:50
by dobrevjetser
Yesterday i talked to someone from sandisk, and he says they recover themselves defective flash cards with encryption. They send it to ireland where they replace the controller. Would the key be not so unique after all ?
Or is he just talking BS

?
Dobre
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 9:32
by drc
I'm pretty sure I have seen other folks looking for specific controllers to recover with
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 10:35
by quasimodo
....Interesting
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 17:32
by drc
I had not heard of sandisk performing recovery though, I assume this is a paid service?
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 17:34
by drc
Looking at their website it looks like they just recommend sending it to these guys:
http://lc-tech.com/services/recoveryservices.htmlIt can't be too hard as the only charge $75-$125... either that or they have a very low success rate

Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 13th, 2009, 18:29
by pcimage
I think you'll find these guys only do logical recoveries for that price.
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: November 16th, 2009, 4:01
by dobrevjetser
That guy from Sandisk talked as if it was Sandisk themselves doing the recovery, although i find it strange also. And yes, it was a paid service.
Dobre
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 6th, 2010, 2:28
by quasimodo
Any updates on this thread. Is anyone successfully performing recoveries on crypted controllers?
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 6th, 2010, 3:57
by pninja
quasimodo wrote:Any updates on this thread. Is anyone successfully performing recoveries on crypted controllers?
According to SD, their SD-Falsh handles controller encrypted data too.
However, I tried MSI controller encrypted 2GB chip and SD failed to find any valid data node on it.
I am not sure about PC-3K flash.
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 6th, 2010, 7:02
by zebong
i am waiting for the new version of pc3kflash.
Lets see what ACE lab will make it for us.
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 6th, 2010, 9:16
by drc
pninja wrote:According to SD, their SD-Falsh handles controller encrypted data too.
I'm sure it has no problem removing the mix and producing a still-encrypted image of the drive

Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 7th, 2010, 2:32
by pninja
drccsc wrote:pninja wrote:According to SD, their SD-Falsh handles controller encrypted data too.
I'm sure it has no problem removing the mix and producing a still-encrypted image of the drive

Yes it can. Problem is how to handle the encrypted image.
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 7th, 2010, 10:16
by drc
pninja wrote:Problem is how to handle the encrypted image.
Right, and if they say their tool can do that then I say BS.
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 7th, 2010, 14:01
by quasimodo
pninja wrote:quasimodo wrote:Any updates on this thread. Is anyone successfully performing recoveries on crypted controllers?
According to SD, their SD-Falsh handles controller encrypted data too.
However, I tried MSI controller encrypted 2GB chip and SD failed to find any valid data node on it.
I am not sure about PC-3K flash.
Yes, I too find it hard to believe that SD can recover from encryption, specially since their more experienced competitors can not.
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 7th, 2010, 14:50
by dobrevjetser
I think they are referring to the "xor" encryption which is not really an encryption and quite easy to find.
If they can break the AES-128 encryption i think they will have a customer at the CIA
Dobre
Re: Crypted controllers
Posted: January 7th, 2010, 16:00
by pepe
I am sure CIA has the power over AES. Otherwise we weren't allowed to use it...
