CIP Cyber

Log In
Menu
Log In
  • Opinion
  • Product Reviews
  • Industrial Cybersecurity
  • Videos

Crack & Decrypt BLE (Bluetooth) encryption

Table of Contents

crackle exploits a flaw in the BLE pairing process that allows an attacker to guess or very quickly brute force the TK (Temporary Key). With the TK and other data collected from the pairing process, the STK (Short Term Key) and later the LTK (Long Term Key) can be collected.
With the STK and LTK, all communications between the master and the slave can be decrypted.
crackle has two major modes of operation: Crack TK and Decrypt with LTK.

Crack TK

This is the default mode used when providing crackle with an input file using -i.
In Crack TK mode, crackle brute forces the TK used during a BLE pairing event. crackle exploits the fact that the TK in Just Works(tm) and 6-digit PIN is a value in the range [0,999999] padded to 128 bits.
crackle employs several methods to perform this brute force: a very fast method if all pairing packets are present in the input file, and a slow method if a minimum set of packets is present.

Example usage:
$ crackle -i input.pcap -o decrypted.pcap

Decrypt with LTK

In Decrypt with LTK mode, crackle uses a user-supplied LTK to decrypt communications between a master and slave. This mode is identical to the decryption portion of Crack TK mode.

Example usage:
$ crackle -i encrypted.pcap -o decrypted.pcap -l 81b06facd90fe7a6e9bbd9cee59736a7

Sample Files

The test files included in the tests directory serve as interesting input for playing with crackle. Review the README files included in each test’s subdirectory.
Grab some sample files for cracking with crackle. Refer to the README inside the tarball for more information:
Download and learn more here
Irfan Shakeel

Irfan Shakeel

Irfan Shakeel is a distinguished cybersecurity professional, thought leader, and trainer. As a director at CIP Cyber, he contributes valuable insights and opinions on the industrial cybersecurity domain. In addition to his written expertise, Irfan hosts the popular CIP Cybersecurity webinar, further showcasing his extensive knowledge and commitment to enhancing critical infrastructure protection.

Most popular

Opinion

Password Cyberattack: Everything You Need to Know

November 7, 2023

Industrial Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Spotlight on ICS/OT Security

September 28, 2023

Opinion

How to Protect IoT Devices in Critical Infrastructure Networks

September 15, 2023

Want always be up to date?

Don't miss the latest news

By subscribing to our mailing list, you will be enrolled to receive our new trainings, latest blog posts, product news, and more.

CIP Training & Certifications

Transform your cybersecurity skills with CIP Cyber’s comprehensive training & course offerings

Choose Training

Related Articles

Want always be up to date?

Don't miss the latest news

By subscribing to our mailing list, you will be enrolled to receive our new trainings, latest blog posts, product news, and more.

CIP Training & Certifications

Transform your cybersecurity skills with CIP Cyber’s comprehensive training & course offerings

Choose Training