Category: closed_qa
Instruction: Given this article about the NSA's ANT catalog, Which hacking tools are used to infect the BIOS of computers or networking devices?
Context: The ANT catalog (or TAO catalog) is a classified product catalog by the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) of which the version written in 2008–2009 was published by German news magazine Der Spiegel in December 2013. Forty-nine catalog pages with pictures, diagrams and descriptions of espionage devices and spying software were published. The items are available to the Tailored Access Operations unit and are mostly targeted at products from US companies such as Apple, Cisco and Dell. The source is believed to be someone different than Edward Snowden, who is largely responsible for the global surveillance disclosures since 2013. Companies whose products could be compromised have denied any collaboration with the NSA in developing these capabilities. In 2014, a project was started to implement the capabilities from the ANT catalog as open-source hardware and software.

Background
The Tailored Access Operations unit has existed since the late 90s. Its mission is to collect intelligence on foreign targets of the United States by hacking into computers and telecommunication networks.

In 2012, Edward Snowden organized a CryptoParty together with Runa Sandvik, a former colleague of Jacob Appelbaum at The Tor Project. In June 2013, Snowden took internal NSA documents which he shared with Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras, resulting in the global surveillance disclosures. It has been speculated for years before that capabilities like those in the ANT catalog existed.

Publication
Jacob Appelbaum co-authored the English publication in Der Spiegel with Christian Stöcker  and Judith Horchert, which was publicized on 29 December 2013. The related English publication on the same day about the TAO by Der Spiegel was also authored by the same people, and including Laura Poitras, Marcel Rosenbach, Jörg Schindler and Holger Stark. On December 30, Appelbaum gave a lecture about "the militarization of the Internet" at the 30th Chaos Communication Congress in Hamburg, Germany. At the end of his talk, he encouraged NSA employees to leak more documents.

Apple denied the allegations that it collaborated on the development of DROPOUTJEEP in a statement to journalist Arik Hesseldahl from All Things Digital (part of the Wall Street Journal's Digital Network). The Verge questioned how the program developed in later years, since the document was composed in the early period of the iPhone and smartphones in general. Dell denied collaborating with any government in general, including the US government. John Stewart, senior vice president and chief security officer of Cisco stated that they were "deeply concerned and will continue to pursue all avenues to determine if we need to address any new issues." Juniper stated that they were working actively to address any possible exploit paths. Huawei stated they would take appropriate audits to determine if any compromise had taken place and would communicate if that had taken place. NSA declined to comment on the publication by Der Spiegel.

Source
The source who leaked the ANT catalog to the press is unknown as of 2023.

Author James Bamford, who is specialized in the United States intelligence agencies, noted in a commentary article published by Reuters that Appelbaum has not identified the source who leaked the ANT catalog to him, which led people to mistakenly assume it was Edward Snowden. Bamford got unrestricted access to the documents cache from Edward Snowden and could not find any references to the ANT catalog using automated search tools, thereby concluding that the documents were not leaked by him. Security expert Bruce Schneier has stated on his blog that he also believes the ANT catalog did not come from Snowden, but from a second leaker. Officials at the NSA did not believe that the web crawler used by Snowden touched the ANT catalog and started looking for other people who could have leaked the catalog.

Content
The published catalog pages were written between 2008 and 2009. The price of the items ranged from free up to $250,000.

Capabilities in the ANT catalog 
Page	Code name	Description	Unit price in US$
NSA CANDYGRAM.jpg	CANDYGRAM	Tripwire device that emulates a GSM cellphone tower.	40,000
NSA COTTONMOUTH-I.jpg	COTTONMOUTH-I	Family of modified USB and Ethernet connectors that can be used to install Trojan horse software and work as wireless bridges, providing covert remote access to the target machine. COTTONMOUTH-I is a USB plug that uses TRINITY as digital core and HOWLERMONKEY as RF transceiver.	20,300
NSA COTTONMOUTH-II.jpg	COTTONMOUTH-II	Can be deployed in a USB socket (rather than plug), and, but requires further integration in the target machine to turn into a deployed system.	4,000
NSA COTTONMOUTH-III.jpg	COTTONMOUTH-III	Stacked Ethernet and USB plug	24,960
NSA CROSSBEAM.jpg	CROSSBEAM	GSM communications module capable of collecting and compressing voice data	4,000
NSA CTX4000.jpg	CTX4000	Continuous wave radar device that can "illuminate" a target system for recovery of "off net" information.	N/A
NSA CYCLONE Hx9.jpg	CYCLONE-HX9	GSM Base Station Router as a Network-In-a-Box	70,000
NSA DEITYBOUNCE.jpg	DEITYBOUNCE	Technology that installs a backdoor software implant on Dell PowerEdge servers via the motherboard BIOS and RAID controller(s).	0
NSA DROPOUTJEEP.jpg	DROPOUTJEEP	"A software implant for the Apple iPhone that utilizes modular mission applications to provide specific SIGINT functionality. This functionality includes the ability to remotely push/pull files from the device. SMS retrieval, contact list retrieval, voicemail, geolocation, hot mic, camera capture, cell tower location, etc. Command, control and data exfiltration can occur over SMS messaging or a GPRS data connection. All communications with the implant will be covert and encrypted."	0
NSA EBSR.jpg	EBSR	Tri-band active GSM base station with internal 802.11/GPS/handset capability	40,000
NSA ENTOURAGE.jpg	ENTOURAGE	Direction finding application for GSM, UMTS, CDMA2000 and FRS signals	70,000
NSA FEEDTROUGH.jpg	FEEDTROUGH	Software that can penetrate Juniper Networks firewalls allowing other NSA-deployed software to be installed on mainframe computers.	N/A
NSA FIREWALK.jpg	FIREWALK	Device that looks identical to a standard RJ45 socket that allows data to be injected, or monitored and transmitted via radio technology. using the HOWLERMONKEY RF transceiver. It can for instance create a VPN to the target computer.	10,740
NSA GENESIS.jpg	GENESIS	GSM handset with added software-defined radio features to record the radio frequency spectrum	15,000
NSA GODSURGE.jpg	GODSURGE	Software implant for a JTAG bus device named FLUXBABBITT which is added to Dell PowerEdge servers during interdiction. GODSURGE installs an implant upon system boot-up using the FLUXBABBITT JTAG interface to the Xeon series CPU.	500
NSA GINSU.jpg	GINSU	Technology that uses a PCI bus device in a computer, and can reinstall itself upon system boot-up.	0
NSA GOPHERSET.jpg	GOPHERSET	GSM software that uses a phone's SIM card's API (SIM Toolkit or STK) to control the phone through remotely sent commands.	0
NSA GOURMETTROUGH.jpg	GOURMETTROUGH	User-configurable persistence implant for certain Juniper Networks firewalls.	0
NSA HALLUXWATER.jpg	HALLUXWATER	Back door exploit for Huawei Eudemon firewalls.	N/A
NSA HEADWATER.jpg	HEADWATER	Persistent backdoor technology that can install spyware using a quantum insert capable of infecting spyware at a packet level on Huawei routers.	N/A
NSA HOWLERMONKEY.jpg	HOWLERMONKEY	A RF transceiver that makes it possible (in conjunction with digital processors and various implanting methods) to extract data from systems or allow them to be controlled remotely.	750
NSA IRATEMONK.jpg	IRATEMONK	Technology that can infiltrate the firmware of hard drives manufactured by Maxtor, Samsung, Seagate, and Western Digital.	0
NSA IRONCHEF.jpg	IRONCHEF	Technology that can "infect" networks by installing itself in a computer I/O BIOS. IRONCHEF includes also "Straitbizarre" and "Unitedrake" which have been linked to the spy software REGIN.	0
NSA JUNIORMINT.jpg	JUNIORMINT	Implant based on an ARM9 core and an FPGA.	N/A
NSA JETPLOW.jpg	JETPLOW	Firmware that can be implanted to create a permanent backdoor in a Cisco PIX series and ASA firewalls.	0
NSA LOUDAUTO.jpg	LOUDAUTO	Audio-based RF retro-reflector listening device.	30
NSA MAESTRO-II.jpg	MAESTRO-II	Multi-chip module approximately the size of a dime that serves as the hardware core of several other products. The module contains a 66 MHz ARM7 processor, 4 MB of flash, 8 MB of RAM, and a FPGA with 500,000 gates. It replaces the previous generation modules which were based on the HC12 microcontroller.	3,000
NSA MONKEYCALENDAR.jpg	MONKEYCALENDAR	Software that transmits a mobile phone's location by hidden text message.	0
NSA NEBULA.jpg	NEBULA	Multi-protocol network-in-a-box system.	250,000
NSA NIGHTSTAND.jpg	NIGHTSTAND	Portable system that installs Microsoft Windows exploits from a distance of up to eight miles over a wireless connection.	N/A
NSA NIGHTWATCH.jpg	NIGHTWATCH	Portable computer used to reconstruct and display video data from VAGRANT signals; used in conjunction with a radar source like the CTX4000 to illuminate the target in order to receive data from it.	N/A
NSA PICASSO.jpg	PICASSO	Software that can collect mobile phone location data, call metadata, access the phone's microphone to eavesdrop on nearby conversations.	2,000
NSA PHOTOANGLO.jpg	PHOTOANGLO	A joint NSA/GCHQ project to develop a radar system to replace CTX4000.	40,000
NSA RAGEMASTER.jpg	RAGEMASTER	A concealed device that taps the video signal from a target's computer's VGA signal output so the NSA can see what is on a targeted desktop monitor. It is powered by a remote radar and responds by modulating the VGA red signal (which is also sent out most DVI ports) into the RF signal it re-radiates; this method of transmission is codenamed VAGRANT. RAGEMASTER is usually installed/concealed in the ferrite choke of the target cable. The original documents are dated 2008-07-24. Several receiver/demodulating devices are available, e.g. NIGHTWATCH.	30
NSA SCHOOLMONTANA.jpg	SCHOOLMONTANA	Software that makes DNT implants persistent on JUNOS-based (FreeBSD-variant) J-series routers/firewalls.	N/A
NSA SIERRAMONTANA.jpg	SIERRAMONTANA	Software that makes DNT implants persistent on JUNOS-based M-series routers/firewalls.	N/A
NSA STUCCOMONTANA.jpg	STUCCOMONTANA	Software that makes DNT implants persistent on JUNOS-based T-series routers/firewalls.	N/A
NSA SOMBERKNAVE.jpg	SOMBERKNAVE	Software that can be implanted on a Windows XP system allowing it to be remotely controlled from NSA headquarters.	50,000
NSA SOUFFLETROUGH.jpg	SOUFFLETROUGH	BIOS injection software that can compromise Juniper Networks SSG300 and SSG500 series firewalls.	0
NSA SPARROW II.jpg	SPARROW II	A small computer intended to be used for WLAN collection, including from UAVs. Hardware: IBM Power PC 405GPR processor, 64 MB SDRAM, 16 MB of built-inflash, 4 mini PCI slots, CompactFlash slot, and 802.11 B/G hardware. Running Linux 2.4 and the BLINDDATE software suite. Unit price (2008): $6K.	6,000
NSA SURLYSPAWN.jpg	SURLYSPAWN	Keystroke monitor technology that can be used on remote computers that are not internet connected.	30
NSA SWAP.jpg	SWAP	Technology that can reflash the BIOS of multiprocessor systems that run FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris, or Windows.	0
NSA TAWDRYYARD.jpg	TAWDRYYARD	Radio frequency retroreflector to provide location information.	30
NSA TOTECHASER.jpg	TOTECHASER	Windows CE implant for extracting call logs, contact lists and other information.	N/A
NSA TOTEGHOSTLY.jpg	TOTEGHOSTLY	Software that can be implanted on a Windows mobile phone allowing full remote control.	0
NSA TRINITY.jpg	TRINITY	Multi-chip module using a 180 MHz ARM9 processor, 4 MB of flash, 96 MB of SDRAM, and a FPGA with 1 million gates. Smaller than a penny.	6,250
NSA TYPHON HX.jpg	TYPHON HX	Network-in-a-box for a GSM network with signaling and call control.	N/A
NSA WATERWITCH.jpg	WATERWITCH	A portable "finishing tool" that allows the operator to find the precise location of a nearby mobile phone.	N/A
NSA WISTFULTOLL.jpg	WISTFULTOLL	Plugin for collecting information from targets using Windows Management Instrumentation	0
Follow-up developments
Security expert Matt Suiche noted that the software exploits leaked by the Shadow Brokers could be seen as genuine because it matched with names from the ANT catalog. John Bumgarner has stated to IEEE Spectrum that US government suspicion of Huawei is based on its own ability to add backdoors as shown in the ANT catalog.

NSA Playset
The NSA Playset is an open-source project inspired by the NSA ANT catalog to create more accessible and easy to use tools for security researchers. Most of the surveillance tools can be recreated with off-the-shelf or open-source hardware and software. Thus far, the NSA Playset consists of fourteen items, for which the code and instructions can be found online on the project's homepage. After the initial leak, Michael Ossman, the founder of Great Scott Gadgets, gave a shout out to other security researchers to start working on the tools mentioned in the catalog and to recreate them. The name NSA Playset came originally from Dean Pierce, who is also a contributor (TWILIGHTVEGETABLE(GSM)) to the NSA Playset. Anyone is invited to join and contribute their own device. The requisites for an addition to the NSA Playset is a similar or already existing NSA ANT project, ease of use and a silly name (based on the original tool's name if possible). The silly name requisite is a rule that Michael Ossman himself came up with and an example is given on the project's website: "For example, if your project is similar to FOXACID, maybe you could call it COYOTEMETH." The ease of use part stems also from the NSA Playset's motto: "If a 10 year old can't do it, it doesn't count!"

Name	Description
TWILIGHTVEGETABLE	a boot image for GSM communication monitoring.
LEVITICUS	a hand held GSM frequency analyzer disguised as a Motorola phone; named after GENESIS.
DRIZZLECHAIR	a hard drive with all the needed tools to crack A5/1 including the rainbow tables.
PORCUPINEMASQUERADE	a passive Wi-Fi reconnaissance drone.
KEYSWEEPER	a keylogger in form of a USB wall charger, that wirelessly and passively sniffs, decrypts, logs and reports back (over GSM).
SLOTSCREAMER	a PCI hardware implant, which can access memory and IO.
ADAPTERNOODLE	a USB exploitation device.
CHUKWAGON	uses a pin on a computer's VGA port to attack via the I²C bus accessing the computer's operating system.
TURNIPSCHOOL	a hardware implant concealed in a USB cable which provides short range radio frequency communication capability to software running on the host computer.
BLINKERCOUGH	a hardware implant that is embedded in a VGA cable which allows data exfiltration.
SAVIORBURST	a hardware implant exploiting the JTAG interface for software application persistence; named after GODSURGE. FLUXBABBIT is replaced by SOLDERPEEK.
CACTUSTUTU	Portable system that enables wireless installation of Microsoft Windows exploits; covers NIGHTSTAND.
TINYALAMO	software that targets BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) and allows keystroke surveillance (keylogger) and injection.
CONGAFLOCK	Radio frequency retroreflector intended for experimentation. Intended use would be the implantation into a cable and data exfiltration based on radio reflectivity of the device.(FLAMENCOFLOCK (PS/2), TANGOFLOCK (USB), SALSAFLOCK (VGA) are retroreflectors with specific interfaces to test data exfiltration.)
See also
Cyberwarfare in the United States
Equation Group
MiniPanzer and MegaPanzer
Stuxnet
WARRIOR PRIDE
Explanatory notes
 Whether ANT stands for Advanced Network Technology or Access Network Technology is not known.
 The article from Der Spiegel notes that it is a "50-page document" and that "nearly 50 pages" are published. The gallery contains 49 pages. Der Spiegel also noted that the document is likely far from complete.
 If the price is listed in bulk, a calculation is made to get the unit price
 For two months
 Including installation costs
 When ordering 25 units, the price per item is US$1000
 Up to 4,000
 Varies from platform to platform
 Data Network Technologies, a division of the Tailored Access Operations
 100 units for 625,000
Response: DEITYBOUNCE, IRONCHEF, SOUFFLETROUGH, and SWAP are hacking tools that can be used to infect servers, computers, and networking devices.
DEITYBOUNCE is technology that installs a backdoor software implant on Dell PowerEdge servers via the motherboard BIOS and RAID controller(s).
IRONCHEF is technology that can "infect" networks by installing itself in a computer I/O BIOS. 
SOUFFLETROUGH is BIOS injection software that can compromise Juniper Networks SSG300 and SSG500 series firewalls.  
SWAP is technology that can reflash the BIOS of multiprocessor systems that run FreeBSD, Linux, Solaris, or Windows.