Open Source Flash Programmer Software - minipro FTW

minipro repo:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IoT Pentesting Certification from TCM:

Need IoT pentesting services?
Please consider Brown Fine Security:

Come join us on Discord for some device hacking!

🛠️ Stuff I Use 🛠️

🪛 Tools:

🫠 Soldering & Hot Air Rework Tools:

🔬 Microscope Setup:

About Me:
My name is Matt Brown and I'm an Hardware Security Researcher and Bug Bounty Hunter. This channel is a place where I share my knowledge and experience finding vulnerabilities in IoT systems.

- Soli Deo Gloria

💻 Social:

[featured]

love this guy's videos. No front, humble, and honest.

[MicheIIePucca]

This rox.. thank I had no idea there was open source software for the xgecu... the manufacturer provided software always set off red flags with virustotal when I tested them.

[DESX]

Insanely good timing! Just got my T56 yesterday and ive been looking for exactly this.

[dingokidneys]

Very cool. Good to see libre/open source expanding into new areas.

[timothygrupp]

This was just the ticket to get me going with Minipro for my XGecu TL866II+. I'm only 72 and have been using M$ for last the 43 years or so (HDOS and CPM before then!) and finally got fed up with the BS and have switched to Linux in the last year. Minipro addresses the last sticking point that will allow me to flush Windows entirely. Thanks Matt!

[TheBrick]

Open source ftw. Always a battle when you have a programmer and only closed source option.

[perkulant]

Loving minipro. Epic project. Thanks Matt, I hate using Windows if i can help it. Will be testing this a lot vs reads on windows.

[frotz]

Minipro developer here. I just now released version 0.7.3. Support for the T48 and T56 are greatly improved. Algorithm data are now downloaded and installed for you either at compile-time or any time afterwards.

Here's the deal with the algorithms. They're actually bitstreams for programming the FPGA inside the programmer with whatever it needs to program the device you want to program. For all Xgecu devices but the T56 and brand-new T76, these bitstreams were kept inside the programmers. Now they're supposed to be loaded by the controlling program. The consensus was that these data should not be included in the minipro package or repository for copyright reasons, even though there are compelling legal arguments that doing so is perfectly okay.

[hadiir]

I think comparing FT4232H and CH341 breakouts and other similar hardware to something like Xgecu would be great content too.

[bertblankenstein]

Exactly what I needed. Thank you. Just got a T48 reader and do not want to go back to windoze for that.

[SeanBZA]

XML file is not included because it can be updated for new devices, without changing the program, and allowing new devices to be added easily. Note as well the Windows software will also look for updates, and update itself, and also see if there is new firmware for the USB device, which is why your one has the latest firmware on it, as the open source version has not yet gotten this. You could probably extract the firmware blob and send to the maintainer to allow them to see what has changed in the new one, though they likely can get this simply by using the original software and having it reflash the programmer before it does any actions to the chip.

[gorak]

I have an xgecu T48 or T56 (forget which now), and also run the windows software in wine. I will definitely check out this new opensource project!

[nvt]

I have a windows Laptop lying around, only to read chips with weird chinese software. This Laptop is completely separated from the internet :)
but an open source implementation is nice!

[awesomefacepalm]

I've waited for this program for a long while too

[daze]

this is cool I bought one of these a few months ago and have been putting it to use and found the manufacturer software very cumbersome (and worrisome)

[Ahmedalroky]

Previously I used flashrom, I will check this out

[weinihao]

That is really cool! Waited a long time to find a programmer that has support for an apparently obscure FLASH chip on toshiba hardisk PCBs called 25U81A (apparently used to store the cached data in disk RAM in case of an unexpected power failure). Finally I can add it myself! I'll order a T48 today!

[ChrisLinehan]

@MattBrown you’re the frickin man! Thanks for the video!!

[adortubia]

👋 hello Matt. awesome video. I see you from Chile

[brettemurphy]

FYI the large socket is called a ZIF (Zero Insertion Force) socket.