LinuxQuestions.org
Visit Jeremy's Blog.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Security
User Name
Password
Linux - Security This forum is for all security related questions.
Questions, tips, system compromises, firewalls, etc. are all included here.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 12-20-2013, 02:24 AM   #1
displace
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2013
Location: EU
Distribution: Debian
Posts: 268

Rep: Reputation: 25
Covertly activate a webcam without turning on its LED?


http://rt.com/usa/apple-mac-webcam-fbi-508/

Okay, with these kind of worrying news I can't help, but wonder...
Is it possible to covertly activate a webcam without turning on the webcam LED on a laptop with a linux OS i.e. debian or arch? How difficult would this be to pull off on a linux PC? What would a remote attacker need to do to achieve this in linux? Does he have to replace the webcam kernel driver modules? Can it be done from sysfs? The news post suggests that the webcam's microcontroller was reprogrammed - can that be done on a linux pc, possibly from userspace? I take it this would differ for each webcam vendor.


Thoughts?
 
Old 12-20-2013, 03:50 AM   #2
acid_kewpie
Moderator
 
Registered: Jun 2001
Location: UK
Distribution: Gentoo, RHEL, Fedora, Centos
Posts: 43,417

Rep: Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985Reputation: 1985
The ability to do this will have nothing to do with the OS running on the system. It's down to how the cameras hardware interfaces are exposed to the system as a whole. You'd need to have a sutiable level of privilege on the host OS, but again exploiting that wouldn't relate to the end goal you have in mind once those rights are obtained.

Last edited by acid_kewpie; 12-20-2013 at 03:52 AM.
 
Old 12-20-2013, 04:34 AM   #3
aus9
LQ 5k Club
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Western Australia
Distribution: Icewm
Posts: 5,842

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
may be a good reason to have a bit of tape handy?

2) some bios allow you to disable the webcam and/or internal mic
 
1 members found this post helpful.
Old 12-22-2013, 04:38 AM   #4
displace
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2013
Location: EU
Distribution: Debian
Posts: 268

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 25
acid_kewpie: Can it be done by modifying the linux webcam driver (the UVC kernel module) or does the webcam's microcontroller have to be reprogrammed? I mean can the led be controlled from a driver or not?

aus9: Yeah, I used a thick black insulation tape on my old laptop. Still, there are external USB webcams...
 
Old 12-22-2013, 05:32 AM   #5
aus9
LQ 5k Club
 
Registered: Oct 2003
Location: Western Australia
Distribution: Icewm
Posts: 5,842

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
IMHO now we know you have an uvc compliant webcam things are looking better

Code:
su
modinfo uvcvideo | grep parm

(for me result no led)
parm:           clock:Video buffers timestamp clock
parm:           nodrop:Don't drop incomplete frames (uint)
parm:           quirks:Forced device quirks (uint)
parm:           trace:Trace level bitmask (uint)
parm:           timeout:Streaming control requests timeout (uint)
 
Old 12-22-2013, 10:53 AM   #6
metaschima
Senior Member
 
Registered: Dec 2013
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 1,982

Rep: Reputation: 492Reputation: 492Reputation: 492Reputation: 492Reputation: 492
My old logitech camera has a shutter that you can swing over the camera just to be extra sure. My netbook webcam has a similar shutter built-in.

The only remaining problem is the mic.
 
Old 12-22-2013, 08:09 PM   #7
weirdwolf
Member
 
Registered: Jun 2007
Location: 1 AU from a G2V star
Distribution: PCLinuxOS LXDE / Android
Posts: 247

Rep: Reputation: 434Reputation: 434Reputation: 434Reputation: 434Reputation: 434
Quote:
Originally Posted by aus9 View Post
may be a good reason to have a bit of tape handy?

2) some bios allow you to disable the webcam and/or internal mic
I'm told a small band-aid works good. You can color it with a sharpie
 
Old 12-23-2013, 11:29 AM   #8
displace
Member
 
Registered: Jan 2013
Location: EU
Distribution: Debian
Posts: 268

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 25
Well you could just physically disconnect the camera and mic, if you don't plan to use them. I did this in one of my old laptops.
 
  


Reply

Tags
webcam


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Raspberry pi red LED on solidly with flashing green led. darkstarbyte Linux - Hardware 19 01-05-2013 06:54 PM
activate webcam in LINPUS netbook adelia280594 Linux - Laptop and Netbook 3 07-28-2012 04:43 PM
Turning Camera Phone into a webcam ntd172 Linux - Kernel 0 11-20-2010 07:53 PM
how to activate laptop integrated webcam dell inspiron 1525 RajahBrooke Slackware 2 10-31-2010 08:38 PM
I can't activate (i'mean activate) my wireless card Mardrus Linux - Newbie 5 05-04-2008 06:35 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Security

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:17 AM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration