Intel ME: Flash File System Explained
summary
Explains the ME 11.x on-flash layout with precise constants: 8 KB pages, every 12th page is a system page, 64-byte payload chunks, 120/122 chunks per page, two-byte CRC and a 52‑byte integrity trailer. Provides extraction tools (GitHub project to split images and a vendor FIT resource) and counts: up to 2056 file slots, SVN versions up to 3, and typical flash erase lifetimes. Key finding: a GEN partition allows deriving non-Intel keys so protected files can be decrypted and an ME-stored remote-access password was recovered.
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chapters (24)
- 0:00Intro
- 3:24black hat ME Position in Computer System
- 5:18black hat MFS Partition Layout
- 6:19black hat Flash Memory Characteristics
- 7:55black hat Flash File System Design Goals
- 9:14black hat Recommended Materials
- 11:06black hat MFS Pagination
- 14:11black hat Page Chunks Single Chunk (66 bytes)
- 15:15black hat System Pages
- 17:35black hat Data Pages
- 18:31black hat Data Area Reconstruction
- 19:10black hat System Area Reconstruction
- 22:18black hat Data Extraction from Files
- 24:34black hat MFS Templates from fit.exe
- 26:41black hat Special Files
- 30:18black hat intel.cfg (fitc.cfg) Structure
- 32:51black hat intel.cfg Partial Dump
- 33:40black hat MFS Directory
- 36:46black hat Integrity, Encryption, Anti-Replay
- 39:57black hat FS Security Keys
- 43:09black hat Crypto Engine / Usage Practices
- 45:54black hat Key Derivation and Usage
- 49:52black hat File System Types in VFS
- 51:35black hat Black Hat Sound Bytes
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