Covert Data Exfiltration Using Light and Power Channels

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to expand into every facet of our daily lives, security researchers have warned of its myriad security risks. While denial-of-service attacks and privacy violations have been at the forefront of research, covert channel communications remain an important concern. Utilizing a Bluetooth controlled light bulb, we demonstrate three separate covert channels, consisting of current utilization, luminosity and hue. To study the effectiveness of these channels, we implement exfiltration attacks using standard off-the-shelf smart bulbs and RGB LEDs at ranges of up to 160 feet. We analyze the identified channels for throughput, generality and stealthiness, and report transmission speeds of up to 832 bps.